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Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd.   P.O. Box #3762   Gillette, WY  82717   (307) 686-1516

 

- Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 -

 

 

 

INTRO TO NEHEMIAH

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

2/21/10

 

I.     HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF ISRAEL

 

A.    God’s Warning

 

1.     God had promised Israel that if they obeyed Him, He would bless them as a nation. If they did not, then He would judge them and cause them to be scattered and taken into captivity (Le 26:33; De 4:277; 28:36, 64; Ne 1:8; Je 16:13; Je 50:17; Ez 11:16).

2.     This warning was reiterated to King Solomon in that his kingdom, temple, and people would come to ruin if he did not walk before God (1Ki 9:1-9).

 

B.    Divided Kingdoms

 

1.     Unfortunately, Solomon sinned against the Lord by marrying foreign women and worshiping their false gods. As a result, after Solomon’s death, his kingdom was divided.

2.     All Israel, except for the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, refused to accept the reign of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, from the Davidic line. Thus, the kingdom was divided between the ten northern tribes, called the “Kingdom of Israel” and the two southern tribes, called the “Kingdom of Judah” (aprox. 930 BC).

 

C.    Exile and Captivity

 

1.     Both kingdoms, however, continued to be characterized by idolatry and immorality. As God had forewarned, His hand of judgment fell on all Israel because of their sin.

2.     The Northern Kingdom was conquered by the Assyrian Empire and taken into captivity in 722 BC. The Southern Kingdom continued to exist for about a century and a half until they were conquered by the Babylonians and taken into captivity in 586 BE.

 

D.    Return

 

1.     After the power of Babylon was broken by the Medes and Persians in 539 BC., many Jews returned to their homeland. In 538 BC. the first group returned to Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 1:1-2:2). Over a period of years and tremendous opposition from the Samaritans, the returnees eventually succeeded in rebuilding the temple in 515 BC.

2.     A number of years later—in 458 BC.—a second group of Jews returned, led by Ezra (Ezra 7:1-10). Arriving on the scene, they found the Jews in Israel in a state of spiritual and moral degradation. They had intermarried with the unbelieving peoples of the surrounding nations and were participating in their pagan practices. However, through Ezra’s faithful teaching ministry, the majority of these people turned from their sins and once again followed God’s will for their lives.

3.     In 444 BC. 14 years after Ezra’s return to Jerusalem, Nehemiah also returned and God used him to guide Judah in rebuilding the city’s walls and in reordering the people’s social and economic lives.

 

II.    HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE JEWISH TEMPLES

 

A.    Solomon’s Temple (957-586 BC)

B.    Zerubbabel Rebuilds Temple (515-19 BC)

C.    Walls of Jerusalem Rebuilt – Nehemiah (444 BC)

D.    Herod’s Temple (19 BC-AD 70)

E.    Millennial Temple (Ezek 40-48)

 

III.  BACKGROUND OF NEHEMIAH

 

A.    We really do not know much about the background of Nehemiah. All that we know about him from contemporary sources is found in the book of Nehemiah. His name Nechemyah means “Yahweh comforts” or “comforted by Yahweh,” a name well suited for the accomplishments of Nehemiah. His Father’s name was Hacaliah (Hb Chakalyah) and he had at least one brother named, Hanani (Chanani). He was probably from the tribe of Judah.

B.    Possibly Nehemiah’s great-grandparents were taken into captivity when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. Nehemiah was probably born in Persia sometime during or soon after Zerubbabel’s ministry in Jerusalem.

C.    Nehemiah was the royal cupbearer for Artaxerxes I (464-424 B.C.) (1:11; cf. 2:1).. This was a highly trusted and responsible position, especially for the fact that the father of Artaxerxes was murdered and Artaxerxes gained the throne through in-house revolution.

D.    The walls of Jerusalem were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. There were futile attempts to rebuild the walls (Ezra 4:6-23), but due to fear and apathy, they remained in ruins for almost a century and a half. Nehemiah became the dynamic catalyst and inspired leader to save Israel from national and religious depredation.

 

IV.  THE AUTHOR AND DATE OF NEHEMIAH

 

A.    Usually, the name of the book refers to the individual who wrote it (Ezra, 1 Peter, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, etc.). However, some see Ezra as the author having used Nehemiah’s memoirs making Ezra 1 & Ezra 2. The Talmud (collection of rabbinic writings) and the Hebrew Bible see the books of Ezra and Nehemiah as a single work

B.    Much of the book was written in first person (Ne 1-7; 12:31-13:31) giving support for the authorship of Nehemiah (Ch 1-7; 12:31-13:31). Some portions are written in third person, which may indicate that Ezra may have included Ch. 8-10. This means the book was written about 430 BC. or shortly thereafter.

 

V.    THE TITLE OF NEHEMIAH

 

A.    Because Ezra and Nehemiah are close in date and purpose, the Hebrew Bible includes them in a single book. The Septuagint (Greek translation of the OT) and Latin vulgate name them 1 & 2 Ezra.

B.    But because Nehemiah is seen as a separate author and a distinguishing figure, English Bibles give him a book and title of his own.

 

VI.  THE OUTLINE OF NEHEMIAH – “NEHEMIAH, GOD’S MAN TO REBUILD JERUSALEM”

 

I.     The Rebuilding of the Walls (chaps. 1-6)

A.    Nehemiah’s prayer voiced (chap. 1)

B.    Nehemiah’s prayer answered (2:1-8)

C.    Nehemiah’s preparation for the work (2:9-20)

D.    Nehemiah’s delegation of the work (chap. 3)

E.    Nehemiah’s reactions to opposition (chap. 4)

F.     Nehemiah’s handling of internal problems (5:1-13)

G.    Nehemiah’s service as governor (5:14-19)

H.    Nehemiah’s response to opposition against him personally (6:1-14)

I.     Nehemiah’s completion of the project (6:15-19)

II.    The Restoration of the People (chaps. 7-13)

A.    The security of the city (7:1-3)

B.    The census of the returnees (7:4-73a)

C.    The ministry of Ezra (7:73b-10:39)

D.    The list of Judean residents (11:1-12:26)

E.    The dedication of the wall (12:27-47)

F.     The reforms under Nehemiah (chap. 13)

 

 

VII. APPLICATIONS AND LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES

 

A.    God is sovereign and faithful in the affairs of man.

B.    Leadership qualities are available to anyone regardless of background, status, or pat failures.