Neh1 1-4 Sermon

Title: Concern for people

Text: Nehemiah 1:1-4

THE words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah (Ha-call-ia). And it came to pass in the month Chisleu (kis-liv), in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

Intro: Background of events

586 BC fall of the Southern kingdom (destroyed the temple and wall) Major Exile - Up to 80,000 led into captivity in Babylon.

Persians defeat Babylon

538 King Cyrus Edict: 3 ‘Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. Ez. 1:3. (Ezra 1:2-4)

538 BC Zerubbabel led 49,697 exiles to rebuild temple and repopulate land

516 BC Temple is complete

458 BC Ezra leads 2nd group 1,758 starts to rebuild Jerusalem but is ordered to stop

445 BC Nehemiah (name: Yahweh comforts) (cupbearer)

Events – Shushan Palace Brother comes, He asks about the people He is broken over their condition

CPS: Nehemiah is a man of God with a heart for the people, we as Christians (men and women of God) should find a great lesson in concern for people in this text

1st Point Nehemiah is concerned about his people and Jerusalem

Vs. 2-3 THE words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah (Ha-call-ia). And it came to pass in the month Chisleu (kis-liv), in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire

(Kis-liv) our mid Nov – mid Dec (the 9th month of Jewish Calander)

Hanani (short from Hananiah which mean Yahweh is gracious) Brother Neh. 7:2

Asked about the Jews who had Escaped Hebrew (Pla-ta) meaning Survived (Captivity, journey, conditions in Jerusalem)

He asked about Jerusalem

Their Answer

The remnant that are left, the remaining people had they left? Had they died?

Affliction and reproach (how so)

The wall is broken and gate burned down (not from 586 B.C.) 90 years has passed by since Cyrus Decree The people have failed to rebuild Jerusalem.

Why?

Fear of enemies

Artaxerxes order to stop construction (Ezra 4:7-23)

Misplace priorities (Hag 1) If reluctant to rebuild the temple they could have been reluctant to rebuild city

The exile are struggling to survive

A genuine concern

Ill: How are you? I’m dying

2nd point Nehemiah’s response to the

4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,Vs. 4

Sitting down Wept (Ba-Hah) it means to cry freely and profusely from sadness or distress

Mourned (like the lost of a loved one)

Fasted - He identified with them denying himself the luxuries of the palace in order to fast mourn and pray

Prayed (4 months - Kis-liv – Nisan 4 months)

Nehemiah isn’t the only person that wept over Jerusalem (Jesus weeps over Jerusalem)

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 38 “Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!

39 “For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’ ”

Billy Graham wept over NY

Application: Genuine concern

Prayer