Rebuilding for God's Glory

Book Nehemiah Church New Hope Baptist Date 26 January 2025

Bible Reading: Nehemiah 1 Scripture Ref: Nehemiah 1:4-11

Title: Rebuilding for God’s Glory

Introduction

Good morning, Church. Good to see you all this morning and praise God for the ministry of His Word, which leads us toward holiness and righteousness.

Today, we are beginning a new series in the book of Nehemiah. Please open your Bibles to Nehemiah chapter 1 and place your bookmark there as we embark on this journey through God’s Word.

By God’s providence, as Pastor Sam preaches on rebirth, regeneration, and being a new creation in Christ from the Gospel of John, and as Pastor Renel begins his series on God’s grace and last Sunday he focused on God’s sovereignty, the book of Nehemiah beautifully ties into the same theme: God’s sovereignty in His covenantal love and faithfulness.

This morning, my intention is to introduce the book of Nehemiah by giving a survey—a high-level overview of its history, context, and timeless truths. We will lay the foundation for understanding how God worked through Nehemiah to restore and reform His people for His glory.

Let us all stand now as we read Nehemiah chapter 1 together.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We praise You for being a faithful, true, and unchanging God. From everlasting to everlasting, Your sovereign rule and unchanging Word remain steadfast and true to us today.

We thank You for the book of Nehemiah and for the work You will do in us through its message. Use this series to exhort us to faithfulness in prayer, steadfastness in trials and afflictions, and righteousness in our actions, because You, the God we worship and serve, are unchanging in Your covenantal love.

Please forgive us for the sins we have committed against You. Our rebellion and disobedience in the flesh continue to plague us, and we long for Your coming, when we will dwell in Your holy presence, free from sin.

Grant us clarity and understanding as we hear Your Word today. By Your Spirit, lead us toward holiness, so that we may reflect, meditate on, and apply what we learn today in our lives.

Preach to us Your Word and minister to our souls. Show us how Your covenantal love surpasses all expectations and understanding.

We give You all the worship and praise through Christ, who perfectly fulfills Your covenant.

Amen.

Rebuilding for God’s Glory

Create a Propositional Statement with the 3 points

In a world broken and corrupted by sin, where every aspect of life is marred by its effects, how can we find hope and purpose in rebuilding what has been devastated by our own sin?

The book of Nehemiah reveals that God’s sovereign covenantal love is the foundation of His restoration and renewal of His people. Through His divine ordinance and plan, His steadfast protection and provision, and His ultimate spiritual purpose and design, God faithfully brings His people back to Himself, ultimately pointing to Christ, the true restorer and redeemer of His eternal kingdom.

God is glorified as He displays and keeps His covenantal love. In turn, we as God’s people are blessed as we are restored to worship, humbled in submission to His Kingship, strengthened in perseverance, and purified in obedience.

·        God’s Sovereign Plan (Preparation) Nehemiah 1:4-10

·        God’s Steadfast Protection – (Perseverance) Nehemiah 4 – 6

·        God’s Spiritual Purpose (Purification) Nehemiah 8:1-12, 9:1-38

1 God’s Sovereign Plan (Preparation) Nehemiah 1:4-10

To understand the restoration of Israel in Nehemiah’s time, we must begin with God’s covenant with David, which forms the foundation of Israel's hope and identity.

In 2 Samuel 7:12–16, God promises to establish David’s dynasty:

12 And when thy days (David) be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

This passage presents the Davidic Covenant. At this point in David’s reign, he had secured peace and stability in Israel and desired to build a permanent house for God.

However, through the prophet Nathan, God declared that David would not build Him a house; instead, God would establish David’s “house”—a dynasty.

God promised that one of David’s descendants would build the temple, and his kingdom would endure forever. While this promise was partially fulfilled in Solomon, it ultimately points to Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of David, whose reign is everlasting.

The Davidic Covenant reveals God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and commitment to His redemptive plan through the line of David, despite Israel’s repeated sin against Him.

What happens after David?

Following Solomon’s reign, the kingdom was divided: Israel in the north, with Samaria as its capital, and Judah in the south, with Jerusalem as its capital.

Despite this division (which was caused by sin), God remained faithful to His covenant with David.

He sent prophets to call the nations back to covenant faithfulness:

To Israel: Prophets like Elijah and Elisha called for repentance, while Amos and Hosea warned of Assyria’s impending judgment, yet also pointed to God's unwavering love.

To Judah: Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk proclaimed both judgment and hope for restoration. Isaiah pointed to the coming Messiah, and Micah foreshadowed Christ’s birth in Bethlehem.

To Gentiles: Jonah and Nahum delivered God's message of mercy to Nineveh, showing that His compassion extends to all nations.

Despite these warnings, both Israel and Judah fell because of their idolatry and rebellion: Israel to Assyria in 722 B.C. and Judah to Babylon in 586 B.C.

Yet, even in judgment, the prophets pointed to future restoration, fulfilled in the coming Messiah. God’s mercy never departed from them.

In 539 B.C., Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians. After 70 years of exile, God began to fulfill His promise of restoration.

King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to their land:

Ezra 1:1–4 1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. 4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

Remarkably, Isaiah prophesied about Cyrus by name nearly 200 years before, declaring that he would rebuild Jerusalem and its temple. This decree by Cyrus set into motion the return of the exiles, fulfilling God’s covenant promises and demonstrating His sovereign hand over history.

Isaiah 44:28 28 That saith of Cyrus, He (Cyrus) is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

When Cyrus made this decree, the Jews returned to their land in three waves:

1.     538 B.C. – Led by Zerubbabel, they rebuilt the temple (Ezra 1–6).

2.     458 B.C. – Led by Ezra, they focused on spiritual reform and the teaching of God’s law (Ezra 7–10).

3.     445/444 B.C. – Led by Nehemiah, they rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls and gates and renewed the covenant.

This is where the story of Nehemiah begins. Look at the opening scene of this narrative.

Nehemiah 1:1 1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu (November to December), in the twentieth year (King Artaxerxes reign), as I was in Shushan the palace.

Nehemiah’s name means “Yahweh comforts,” an appropriate reminder of God’s covenantal love toward His people. And Yahweh comforts His chosen nation through Nehemiah by restoring them back to their land.

Though some 42,360 Jews had returned to Jerusalem under Cyrus’ decree, not all chose to return. Most remained in the land where they were exiled for over 50 years.

And Nehemiah is in the royal palace, living a life of comfort and prestige. We see that Nehemiah is in Shushan or Susa, which is one of the capital cities of the Persian Empire, now located in modern-day Iran. This is the administrative centre and the winter residence for Persian kings. He lives in the heart of this royal city, far from his ancestral homeland of Jerusalem.

And we see that Nehemiah stays and lives with great comfort and luxury, because later on, we’ll understand why he is in Shushan, the palace.

That happiness, success, contentment, achievement, safety, comfort and lifestyle of working in the royal palace was shattered when we are introduced to the first tension of this narrative.

His brother Hanani who came to visit him in Susa had just arrived from Judah with some other men. So, he asked Hanani about the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem and about how things were going over there. What was Hanani’s reply?

Nehemiah 1:3 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province (Judah is now a province of Persia) are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

Just like when reading a book or watching a film, I want us to intentionally pause here, where the tension lies, to keep us in suspense. As I mentioned earlier, my goal today is to provide only an introduction—a high-level overview of what the book of Nehemiah is about. If you'd like to find out what happens next, you're welcome to read ahead, but we will do a deep dive into the story, Lord willing, next month.

But this is what I would like us to remember from this first point:

God’s sovereign plan will never be thwart, and He prepares people, places and things to accomplish His will and purpose.

And God’s covenantal love is forever faithful and true. Whenever God makes a covenant, it involves four aspects:

1.     People: God makes His covenant to a specific people, demonstrating His commitment to them.

2.     Protection/Presence: God promises to remain with His people, never forsaking them. His mercy never departs, and it endures forever.

3.     Program: God outlines His redemptive plan, He reveals what He will do to His people so that they may have hope and confidently wait on Him.

4.     Place: God provides a place where His people will dwell with Him.

Loved ones, do you see the constant and sovereign hand of God at work throughout Israel’s history? His covenantal love is steadfast and unchanging, faithfully guiding His people even through their rebellion and exile.

When God made a covenant with David, promising that His mercy would never depart from him, He remained faithful to that promise despite the failures of the kings who came after David. Through the warnings of prophets, God called His people back to Himself, reminding them of His covenantal love and their responsibility to walk in obedience.

Even in judgment, God’s hand was evident. He prepared foreign nations to bring justice upon His people, showing that sin has real and serious consequences. Yet, God’s justice was always tempered by His mercy.

He prepared foreign kings, like Cyrus, to command the return of His people to Jerusalem, displaying His willingness to forgive and restore.

God’s providence didn’t stop there. He raised up faithful leaders like Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, placing them in strategic positions to fulfil His purposes and bring Him glory. Each of these leaders was part of God’s unfolding plan to restore His people, pointing forward to the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant in Jesus Christ.

**Christ, the true Son of David, is the culmination of God’s promises. His eternal kingdom provides redemption, restores us to fellowship with God, and guarantees us an eternal home in glory. Just as God’s covenantal love sustained Israel through exile and restoration, it is His unchanging love that anchors our faith today.

In the return from exile, we see a shadow of the greater redemption that Christ provides. Through Him, we are restored not just to a physical place but to a perfect relationship with our Creator.

Exhortation to the Church:

Church, let this truth remind us that God’s faithfulness is unwavering, and His promises never fail. As we study Nehemiah, we are reminded that God’s covenant offers hope and comfort, even in the midst of affliction and uncertainty.

Let us trust in His sovereign plan, resting in the assurance that He works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Let us live as His redeemed people, called to reflect His glory in this broken world, as we eagerly await the full realization of His eternal kingdom.

May we take heart in knowing that the same God who restored Israel through Nehemiah’s leadership is at work in our lives today. His providence is never delayed, His love never falters, and His plan is always perfect.

Will you trust in covenantal unchanging love and sovereign care?

2 God’s Steadfast Protection (Perseverance) Nehemiah 4-6

Having seen God's covenantal love and sovereignty in accomplishing His purposes, we now encounter the reality that living in a world corrupted by sin involves contending with ongoing spiritual battles.

Nehemiah chapters 4 to 6 vividly illustrate this tension: God remains steadfast in His protection and faithfulness, yet the reality of sin—both within and around His people, and the world —brings conflict, opposition, and trials.

In Nehemiah 4, we encounter opposition from those outside of God’s covenant—Sanballat, Tobiah, and others—who mock the rebuilding efforts of the wall.

Sanballat ridicules the Jews: “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can rebuild the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices?” (Neh. 4:2).

Tobiah join in the mockery, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” (Neh. 4:3).

When mockery fails, these enemies conspire to attack Jerusalem. Yet, in the face of this threat, Nehemiah models faithful leadership.

What is his response to the insults? He prays, “Hear, O our God, for we are despised...” (Neh. 4:4-5), and he takes practical action: “We made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night” (Neh. 4:9).

This demonstrates the balance of trusting God’s sovereignty while taking diligent steps in our own responsibilities. In contrast, the world often relies on self-sufficiency, dismissing the need for God’s intervention and sovereignty. Many take matters into their own hands, trusting in their own strength, wisdom, or strategies to navigate challenges.

Unfortunately, even some Christians can fall into this mindset, forgetting to actively trust in God’s plan and power, relying instead on their own efforts or worldly solutions. Worse still, they may act passively, offering prayers without taking corresponding action. Their faith, without works, is dead.

Scripture, however, affirms this balance:

Proverbs 21:31: “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.” While we prepare, ultimate trust remains in God for deliverance.

James 2:17: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Nehemiah’s leadership shows living faith—acting on trust in God.

Philippians 4:6-7: “ 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Nehemiah’s prayer reflects the peace that comes from trusting God amidst threats.

Matthew 26:41: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” Nehemiah’s call to watch and pray reflects vigilance and dependence on God.

Nehemiah’s example calls us to trust in God's sovereignty while actively working. Our faith should move us to action, knowing God works through our efforts to fulfill His purposes.

In Nehemiah 5 the focus shifts within, exposing sin even within the covenant community. Some Jews exploit their fellow countrymen through high-interest loans, leading to poverty and servitude.

Nehemiah confronts this injustice boldly: “Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them” (Neh. 5:7).

He reminds them of God’s law and the witness of their actions to the nations: “Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?” (Neh. 5:9).

When they heard this, the people repented, and Nehemiah ensures restitution: “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them” (Neh. 5:12).

This calls us to confront sin courageously, even within the church.

The Scriptures remind us:

Galatians 6:1: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.”

Matthew 18:15: “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone.”

James 5:19-20: The one who restores a sinner “shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

Loved ones, listen carefully. True repentance involves not just confession but restitution. Nehemiah’s focus on the fear of God challenges us to live holy lives that reflect His righteousness. We must confront sin within the church, seek restoration, and live as a holy people, displaying God's mercy.

Finally, Nehemiah 6 recounts the relentless schemes of Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, who seek to derail the work through intimidation and deceit.

However, Nehemiah’s trust in God’s protection and discernment allows him to resist these plots, and the wall is completed within 52 days despite the opposition.

As we face opposition—external and internal—how will we respond?

When the world mocks our faith or righteousness, do we retreat in fear, or do we respond in faith, trusting in God’s protection?

When sin arises within the church, do we confront it with courage, trusting that God is sovereign over our actions, or do we remain passive?

Nehemiah’s example reminds us that perseverance requires both trust in God’s sovereignty and active obedience. We are not called to passivity but to endurance in faith, knowing that God is working through us for His glory.

**Opposition to the gospel is inevitable because the holiness of God offends the sinfulness of man. The light of the gospel exposes darkness, and the truth of God’s Word reveals error.

Yet, as believers, we are called to confront sin with grace, seeking restoration, not condemnation.

Nehemiah exemplified this in both external and internal opposition, focusing on God’s glory and His people’s well-being.

Galatians 6:1 reminds us: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

Our confrontation of sin must be gracious and firm, motivated by a desire for holiness and reconciliation.

Perseverance in faith, as seen in Nehemiah, mirrors our own Christian walk. We face trials knowing that God is steadfast in His protection, but we must endure, trusting in His sovereignty.

Hebrews 12:1 encourages us, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

Nehemiah’s prayer in Neh. 4:4-5 reminds us that we must bring opposition and injustice before God: “Hear, O our God, for we are despised... cover not their iniquity.”

In this, Nehemiah shows that we are not to seek vengeance or act with hostility, but rather trust in God, the just Judge, to handle the wrongs done to us.

He also demonstrates the balance of prayer and action in verse 9: “We made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night.”

Christian perseverance requires this same balance—trusting God, leaving judgment to Him, and taking action where necessary.

God’s covenantal love gives us the foundation for endurance, and we are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that He is at work within us (Phil. 2:12-13).

Will you persevere in faith? Will you confront sin in your life and community with courage, trusting God’s sovereignty? Will you lead with integrity, working out your salvation with God’s help?

God has promised His steadfast protection, but the question remains: How will you live in light of this truth? Let us be a people who, like Nehemiah, pray, act, and persevere for the glory of God.

3 God’s Spiritual Purpose (Purification) Nehemiah 8:1-12, 9:1-38

We see God’s sovereign plan to purify His people, marked by His covenantal love and His sovereignty. His steadfast love works in harmony with His sovereign will to shape us into a holy people. Through His Word and through trials, God refines and sanctifies His people, making them holy for His purposes.

In Nehemiah 8, when the walls of Jerusalem were completed, a far more pivotal moment occurred in the history of the exiles.

The people of Israel gathered at the Water Gate with one request: to hear the Word of God.

Ezra was called to read from the Book of the Law of Moses, and as he did so, the people stood in reverence. This act of standing symbolized their acknowledgment of God’s authority.

Nehemiah 8:5: “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people); and when he opened it, all the people stood up.”

This response reveals the people’s deep reverence for God’s Word, understanding that it was not just a reading of text, but an encounter with God Himself.

As the Word was read and explained, the people were moved deeply.

Nehemiah 8:8 recounts how they gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading. The people wept—not out of emotional manipulation, but because the law revealed their sin. It exposed their covenantal failure and the reason for their exile: disobedience to God’s Word.

Loved ones, this is where we see the connection to God's spiritual purpose of purification. God uses His Word to convict, leading to repentance. The sorrow over sin is the first step toward purification, but it doesn’t end there.

Nehemiah 8:9–10 reveals the response of Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites: “This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep... for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Their sorrow was transformed into joy—a joy not from earthly circumstances, but from the forgiveness and grace of God. As they obeyed and celebrated the Feast of Booths, they demonstrated a renewed commitment to follow God's Word and to remember His provision.

Now, Nehemiah 9 builds on this by narrating the people's national repentance. They gathered in humility, fasting, wearing sackcloth, and confessing their sins.

The Levites led the people in worship and prayer, recounting God's faithfulness throughout Israel’s history, and acknowledging their own repeated rebellion.

Despite God’s patience and mercy, their sins had led to their suffering under Persian rule.

Hebrews 12:10-11 reminds us that God’s loving discipline is not to harm us but to produce the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Hebrews 12:10–11: 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

The Israelites were experiencing the consequences of their sin, but this was not the end of God’s story with them. His discipline was meant to purify them, and through repentance, they were drawn closer to Him.

1 Peter 1:6-9 affirms that trials refine faith like gold. 1 Peter 1:6–9: 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

As we endure hardships, our faith is tested and purified. Just as the Israelites were purged through their national repentance, we too are sanctified through God’s work in our lives, especially through trials.

2 Corinthians 7:1 calls us to actively participate in our sanctification: 2 Corinthians 7:1: 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

We are called not just to be recipients of God's sanctifying work but also to actively pursue holiness by separating ourselves from sin and worldly influences.

Closing Appeal

God’s covenantal love and sovereignty work together for our purification. His loving discipline, through trials, and His Word convict us, lead us to repentance, and purify us for His glory.

Loved ones, this call to holiness and righteousness is not optional but essential for those in covenant with God. Holiness is a response to His love—a response that reflects His transforming work in our lives.

Beloved, as you face trials, do not be dismayed. View them as God’s loving discipline—His means of refining you.

Hebrews 12:10-11 assures us that trials produce the peaceful fruit of righteousness, and 1 Peter 1:6-7 teaches us that trials refine our faith like gold. They are not meaningless or punitive but serve to purify us.

As you walk through trials, commit yourselves wholly to walking in His ways.

Let us examine our lives, root out any sin, and make a deliberate separation from the world.

2 Corinthians 7:1 exhorts us to cleanse ourselves and perfect holiness in the fear of God. Holiness is not just for our good but for God's glory, as it proclaims His sanctifying work in us.

Christ, the ultimate source of our comfort in suffering, endured trials and suffering on our behalf. His sacrifice is the ultimate picture of God’s refining process.

As we face trials, we must rely on Him who knows suffering intimately. Christ’s example in the midst of trial should encourage and strengthen us in our own.

Are you willing to allow God’s Spirit to purify you? Will you heed the call to holiness, trusting that it will lead you to greater joy in Him?

God’s covenantal love calls us to be holy as He is holy. Let us pursue this high calling with all our hearts, walking in righteousness and living lives that glorify His name.

Conclusion Application

Prayer

Heavenly Father, We thank You for Your sovereign plan that prepares us, and for Your covenantal love, mercy, and faithfulness that never depart. Your mercy endures forever, and we praise You for that.

We acknowledge that, even when we sin against You, Your truth and faithfulness remain steadfast in us. You continue to protect us, shaping us to be more like Christ through every trial.

Father, we confess that at times we are slow to trust in Your purposes. Forgive us, and help us to remember that our trials are not in vain. We thank You for Your spiritual purpose in refining us, and we trust that You are at work to strengthen our faith through the power of Your Word.

We praise You for the richness, authority, and comfort of Your eternal, immutable Word. It gives us peace and joy, and we are thankful for the guidance it provides.

Lord, as we leave this place, empower us by Your Spirit to pursue holiness. Help us to turn from sin, living lives that reflect Your glory. Strengthen our faith and help us to persevere, trusting in Your perfect will, knowing that You will complete the work You have begun in us.

We thank You for the precious gift of salvation through Christ. May we walk in His steps, and as we face life’s challenges, may we remain steadfast in You.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.