Introduction to Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1-11)

Introduction

The Setting

The book of Nehemiah was written in the 20th year of Artaxerxes’ reign (2:1)

This would be thirteen years after the same king sent Ezra to Jerusalem

Ezra 7:7 “And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.”

He was in Shushan the palace where he was the kings cupbearer.

The Condition of Jerusalem vs 2-3

Nehemiahs brother brings him some news

The journey from Jerusalem to Shushan would’ve been a thousand mile trip that tool around 4 months.

He would’ve arrived in the month of Chisleu which would be our November or December

The people in Jerusalem are in great affliction and reproach

The walls in Jerusalem are broken down

The gates of the city are burned with fire

Jerusalem was in a mess both spiritually and Physically

The reaction of Nehemiah vs. 4-11

When he heard the news he: vs. 4

Wept

Mourned certain days

fasted and prayed before the God of heaven

When we think about the walls that God has built up in our country and how they have been broken down we should react like Nehemiah

When is the last time we wept over the wickedness in our land?

When is the last time we mourned over the lostness of our country?

When is the last time we fasted and prayed for our country?

God is the only one who can heal our land, but we often see prayer as a last resort

Nehemiah’s Prayer vs.5-11

vs. 5

I beseech thee

Nehemiah was praying with some urgency

O LORD God of Heaven

The Great and Terrible God

Terrible - Awesome

That keepeth Covenants and mercy for them that Love him and observe his commandments

Exodus 34:6–7 “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”

Aren’t you thankful that God keeps his covenant and mercies towards us.

vs. 6

Prays that God would hear his request