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George Bernard Shaw, in his play, “The Devil’s Disciple.”
had one of his characters say this, “The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity.”
Main Idea:
Introduction
Introduction
George Bernard Shaw, in his play, “The Devil’s Disciple.”
had one of his characters say this, “The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity.”
This was Jesus’ point of the parable of the Good Samaritan in !
The Samaritan was considered good because he cared and his care led to action.
What is the Biblical Solution?
And as we embark on another book study this morning, you are about to learn about a man who cared deeply.
Dr. Warren Wiersbe said this of Nehemiah...
Nehemiah was the kind of person who cared.
He cared about the traditions of the past and the needs of the present.
He cared about the hopes for the future.
He cared about his heritage, his ancestral city, and the glory of his God.
He revealed this caring attitude in four different ways.
And friends, we need to be a people who care as well.
And care for these things!
Today we go back in time thousands of years to learn some timeless principles.
And one of those principles is care and concern for the things of God!
Who cares?
Hopefully you do!
Main Textual Idea:
Main Idea: Some People Have a Great Concern for the Things of God - Do You?
Transition:
Body (Satisfaction)
1. Do you Care Enough to Know? (vs.
1-3)
Lead in…Do you remember that old TV show called “Hogan’s Heros?”
If you do you will remember Sargent Shultz, who was in charge of looking after the prisoners.
Of course the prisoners were always up to something to aid in the war effort and defeat the germans.
And Sargent Shultz was a conflicted soul.
He desired to be a good soldier for the germans and yet he liked these prisoners of war, and let them get away with things they otherwise should not have.
And when He would see their anti-prisoner antics, he would always say, “I know nothing!”
Well, sometimes not knowing nothing may be easier, but when we know and we choose to do nothing about it, that’s a problem.
Nehemiah didn’t have that problem or attitude.
Nehemiah cared!
Look at the text...
N
Nehemiah was concerned for his God, God’s reputation and God’s people.
Explanation -
Nehemiah was a layman, of Jewish decent, born in Persia (not Jerusalem).
He was well removed from the situation that Jerusalem faced.
He lived in relative comfort and peace.
Yet, he was concerned for his God and God’s people.
His name means - “The Lord has comforted.”
And he is the son of Hacaliah.
There is nothing more known about Nehemiah’s father, but he is mentioned to distinguish this Nehemiah from the others listed in this book.
By the way, we don’t know for sure who wrote this letter, we get a clue in verse one that it was Nehemiah because he says, “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.”
But many scholars believe it was Ezra who compiled this letter, including the first person testimony of Nehemiah.
In other words, Ezra used Nehemiah’s Journal.
In fact, in the Hebrew bible, this book was considered to be the second half of Ezra! We’ll learn more about this as we study.
And this
You’ll notice that something happened in the month of Chislev (Mid November-Mid December).
Something from Nehemiah’s perspective that was quite significant.
The text tells us that it was “in the 20th year.”
The 20th year of what?
The reign of the great “Artaxerxes 1 Longi-man-us” who ruled Persia from 464 to 423 B.C.
Nehemiah received some very disturbing news, 20 years into his 41 year reign.
And we see that Nehemiah was at Susa or Shushan the citadel - The Persian winter palace for Kings and royalty.
It was located about 150 miles North of the Persian Gulf (present day Iran).
By the way, in case you ever get on Jeopardy, the “Citadel” was the royal fortified palace.
You’re welcome!
What was Nehemiah doing there?
Well, he may not have been a prophet, priest or King, but his boss happened to be the most powerful man on the planet at the time - the King of Persia, and Nehemiah was his Cupbearer.
So, what happened in the 20th year of the reign of King Artaxerxes 1 Longimanus?
Look at verse 2...
So Nehemiah’s brother shows up with some other guys from Judah.
Apparently Hanani was part of the exiles that had returned to Jerusalem and Judah.
The Temple had been rebuilt under the leadership of Ezra and Zerubbabel (536-515 B.C.) Which was amazing!
But when Nehemiah saw his brother, he was concerned about how things were going in his beloved homeland.
And so the first thing he asked his brother was about Jerusalem!
And this was Hanani’s response...
Obviously, we see from the text, things were not good!
Nehemiah’s care and concern led to a question that resulted in an answer he did not want to hear.
“The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Nehemiah, a Jewish man, held a remarkable position in the government - So close to the King.
Quite frankly, he was living in the lap of luxury!
But where was his care?
Where was his concern?
Where was his heart?
In the land that God had graciously given His chosen people - Jerusalem.
And the first thing he wants to know when he sees his brother is, how are things at home!
That world was not his home!
His home was with God’s people in Jerusalem!
Nehemiah cared about God’s people and God’s reputation!
Sometimes it’s just easier not to care.
And one way I can avoid caring is to be willfully ignorant.
Just keep at an arms distance from people and especially God’s church, and you won’t have to care.
The one thing I have learned over the 20 plus years I have served in full-time service is that “ministry is messy.”
It’s hard.
It has its ups and downs because it has to do with people.
But knowledge brings concern!
It did for Nehemiah - and it should for every believer.
God does not desire for his children to be willfully ignorant - to, like an ostrich, put our head in the sand and hope all the problems and challenges just disappear as we wait it out, hiding.
No, being a part of a faith community means you will care.
It’s part of the price of admission.
Your care meter for God, His people and His reputation will start to grow.
If you never care, you might reconsider your relationship with God?
Nehemiah cared enough to ask his brother.
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