Introduction to Nehemiah

Introduction to Nehemiah (Personal consequences-How in the world did we get here?)

How in the world did we get here? 1.The beginning of a problem. …Nehemiah’s reference to Solomon

Nehemiah 13:25 25 I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God’s name and said: “You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. 27 Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?”

How in the world did we get here? 1.The beginning of a problem. Nehemiah’s reference to Solomon 2. The problem leads to this. I Kings 11:4&7

I Kings 11 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the L ORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.

How in the world did we get here? 1.The beginning of a problem. Nehemiah’s reference to Solomon 2. The problem leads to this. I Kings 11:4&7 3. God pronounces consequences. I Kings 11:11-13

Consequences Begin: 1Kings So the L ORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

Consequences: God reduces the area He has given Solomon to govern on His behalf. 1. A divided heart results in God reducing the area that He has given us to rule. However, for the sake of David, God will spare Solomon the consequences during his lifetime. 2. Consequences, whether good or bad, cross generations.

SAMARIA

II Kings 17:24 24 The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns. 25 When they first lived there, they did not worship the L ORD ; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people. 26 It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.” 27 Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” 28 So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the L ORD.

Consequences: 1.A divided heart results in God reducing the area that He has given us to rule. 2.Consequences, whether good or bad, cross generations. 3.God is not indifferent to our fate. He does not sit back and watch us self destruct but gives warning after warning.

SAMARIA

Who were the Chaldeans and where was Babylon?

The captivity of the southern kingdom occurs in 3 or 4 events over about 25 years. Event 1: 607 BC – Daniel 1 Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem and carries off temple treasure plus some promising young men such as Daniel. Event 2: 597 BC (10 years later) - 2 Kings 24 The king of the southern kingdom (Jehoiakim), who is now supposed to be ruling under Nebuchadnezzar, decides to rebel.

Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem. During the siege, Jehoiakim dies. His son is put on the throne but 3 months later surrenders. Nebuchadnezzar pillages the city for treasure and takes high grade captives, skilled workers and artisans. Shortly after this event, the prophet Jeremiah sends a letter to the captives in Babylon. Event 3: 586 BC- Jeremiah 52 Another rebellion (Zedekiah), 18 months of siege, famine, Jerusalem burned with fire, walls destroyed, slaughter, captivity for those left.

Jeremiah’s prophecy 2 Chronicles 36: 21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the L ORD spoken by Jeremiah. 1.What were these Sabbath rests? 2.Why was this required? 3.Why did the Israelites drop this? 4.What did they substitute? 5.What was the result?

Consequences: 1.A divided heart results in God reducing the area that He has given us to rule. 2.Consequences, whether good or bad, cross generations. 3.God does not sit back and watch us self destruct. He gives warning after warning. 4.Rejecting God as our sole redeemer leads down a road that is hard and stressful. It’s called slavery. It’s tough to try to be God.

Events Timeline Daniel interprets the king’s dream Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego Ends with writing on the wall Story of Esther

Y ear 0 – The destruction of Jerusalem

Alternate Events Timeline

But where is mercy and grace in all this???

Jeremiah 29: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the L ORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

10 This is what the L ORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the L ORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the L ORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the L ORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Consequences are not the end God’s plans do not end with the consequences of sin. Consequences are intended to be redemptive. Mercy and grace are found in embracing the consequences of sin. It’s the presence of the Redeemer in the consequences, that brings life.

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the L ORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.