Bible Survey Notes: Q2 Wk6 A Nehemiah

I. Introduction A. Author 1 I. Introduction A. Author 1. Nehemiah, cupbearer to the King of Persia (Artaxerxes). B. Context 1. Historical Setting: The empire of Babylon was conquered by the Medo-Persians. Cyrus, king of Persia, allows the exiled Jews to return to Judah / Jerusalem in 538 BC (Ezra 1:1-8). 50,000 return and under the leadership of Zerubbabel the governor, Haggai and Zechariah the prophets and Ezra the scribe (who led a second group of exiles back to in 445 BC under the Persian king Artaxerxes – see Ezra 5:25-28), the temple is rebuilt (despite opposition from those who settled in the land after Judah was led into captivity) and dedicated (Ezra 6:13-22).

2. But the walls of Jerusalem were not rebuilt, leaving 2. But the walls of Jerusalem were not rebuilt, leaving it vulnerable to attack. Nehemiah leads the third group of exiles back to Jerusalem in 445 to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and populate the city.

C. Outline (Blueprint): 1. Rebuilding the Wall (Nehemiah 1-7) a C. Outline (Blueprint): 1. Rebuilding the Wall (Nehemiah 1-7) a. Nehemiah prays his way to Jerusalem and begins the building project. b. Nehemiah prays his way to face opposition from Judah’s neighbors as his enemies threaten the work / spread false that Nehemiah is plotting a revolt against the Artaxerxes .

2. Reforming of the People (Nehemiah 8-13) a 2. Reforming of the People (Nehemiah 8-13) a. Ezra reads and explains God’s law to the people / they recommit to God’s ways. b. Nehemiah establishes policies to help the poor and honor the Sabbath day of rest.

D. Theme & Purpose 1. Nehemiah is the last of the historical books of the Old Testament. The prophecies that a remnant of the people would return to serve the Lord anew are fulfilled. 2. Nehemiah demonstrates the power, faithfulness and compassion of God as he fulfills his promises and moves the “powers that be” to do his will.

E. Key Words: 1. God’s faithfulness to his promises / a remnant returns F. Key Verses: 1. Nehemiah 6:15-16 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God

II. Nehemiah’s Highlights A II. Nehemiah’s Highlights A. Throughout the book, Nehemiah relies upon God through prayer to accomplish what he has been called by God to do (Chapter 1:4-11; 4:4,5,9) B. Nehemiah faces down opposition to the building of the walls. 1. From Judah’s neighbors who threaten to stop the work through violence. Nehemiah has his workers build the walls armed and ready for battle. (Nehemiah 4)

2. From Judah’s neighbors who spread false 2. From Judah’s neighbors who spread false reports about the Jew’s planned revolt against Persia ask to speak with Nehemiah in order to kill him. (Nehemiah 5)

C. Ezra the scribe renews the Old Covenant (Mosaic Covenant) with the people 1. Ezra reads the Law of Moses and he and the Levites explained it to the people. 2. The people are grieved and repent.

3. Nehemiah and Ezra tell the people not 3. Nehemiah and Ezra tell the people not to mourn but to rejoice and feast because the Covenant has been renewed! 4. Nehemiah’s Prayer of Renewal (Nehemiah 9 – Recounting the history of Israel and confirming their covenant with the Lord)

D. Nehemiah repopulates Jerusalem D. Nehemiah repopulates Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:1-2), dedicates the wall to God (Nehemiah 12:27-43) “27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres.”

E. Nehemiah returns to serve Artaxerxes but goes back to Jerusalem when he hears of abuses going on in the city and enacts reforms 1. Excludes foreigners from Israel (Nehemiah 13:1-3) 2. Disciplines some priests who were using their position for profit (Nehemiah 13:4-14) 3. Prohibits trade of merchandize on the Sabbath (Nehemiah 13:15-22) 4. Disciplines the people for marrying outside of God’s people like Solomon was guilty of (Nehemiah 13:23-29)