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This summer the men are invited to study the book of Nehemiah with one of four groups that will meet twice per month. Nehemiah, however, has valuable truths for the whole church family. I will use this avenue to share some of my findings from studying Nehemiah. Why does Nehemiah risk so much for the wall construction project in Jerusalem? He was the cupbearer for arguably the most powerful man in the world. He lived in luxury and comfort. He had wealth and resources. And yet, when he heard of the dire state of Jerusalem, he left that life behind in order to travel 1,000 miles to a land he had never seen. He used his own resources to support the people and the project. He endured threats against his life and position. What was it all for? We have already had a glimpse into the heart of Nehemiah when we considered his prayer in chapter 1. He is driven by a passion for the glory of God and the hope of mankind. This passion is fleshed out in a practical way in chapter 8, after the wall is complete. 6:15 stated, “The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.” Chapter 7 records a genealogy of those who returned at the first. So chapter 8 is the first recorded action of the people after the wall is complete. What do they do? They gather to hear the Word of God. We read in 8:1, “And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord has commanded Israel.” This gathering was not possible until the wall was complete. The people were scattered outside of Jerusalem in nearby villages. It would not have been safe to gather in the open without the protection of the wall. The wall project provided the means for the people of God to glorify and enjoy God. This was the ultimate goal of Nehemiah. Let’s consider some of the details of this gathering. ... Keep Reading

This summer the men are invited to study the book of Nehemiah with one of four groups that will meet twice per month. Nehemiah, however, has valuable truths for the whole church family. I will use this avenue to share some of my findings from studying Nehemiah. If you have ever read through the book of Nehemiah, you may have skimmed or even skipped over chapter 7. Verses 5-73 contain a “genealogy of those who came up at the first” (v. 5). This long list of names and numbers of people is almost identical as what is recorded in Ezra 2. As with most genealogies in the Bible, we are tempted to gloss over these repetitive accounts with names we cannot pronounce. But this is God’s word; there must be value for recording this (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16). What makes the genealogy in Nehemiah 7 even more intriguing are the words Nehemiah records in verse 5. He says, “Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy.” We can observe a few details from this statement. ... Keep Reading

This summer the men are invited to study the book of Nehemiah with one of four groups that will meet twice per month. Nehemiah, however, has valuable truths for the whole church family. I will use this avenue to share some of my findings from studying Nehemiah. The side quests continue in Nehemiah 6. In chapter 5 we saw Nehemiah “distracted” by a great outcry for food in the city. He addressed that need head on, knowing that God is glorified when his people care for such physical needs of others. But the work on the wall continued. Chapter 6 contains a different distraction. This was a personal attack on Nehemiah. He responds very differently to this issue. Let’s consider what happens. Nehemiah’s enemies are at it again. 6:1 names three: Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab. These three men held oppressive power over the Jews and Jerusalem. Their position was threatened by Nehemiah’s efforts. They jeered (2:19); they mocked (4:2-3); and they plotted violence (4:8). In chapter 6 they invite Nehemiah to meet with them. On face value, this may seem like a conciliation to Nehemiah and his leadership. But Nehemiah sees right through the offer. He records in 6:2, “But they intended to do me harm.” And he replies to their request, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” (v. 3). There is a principle here for us to consider. In chapter 5, Nehemiah would have had to step away from the work on the wall to address the food shortage issue. And yet, in chapter 6 he says he cannot leave that work when faced with a personal threat. How does Nehemiah choose what to address and what to pass over? I know I would not let personal threats and provocations idly pass me by. We learn about priorities from Nehemiah. We have seen already that Nehemiah is motivated by a passion for God’s glory. This is why he cares about the state of Jerusalem. This is why he cares for the poor and oppressed. This is why he is generous with the governor’s stipend. Nehemiah makes choices with his time based upon what honors God. This is the command of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” We must evaluate our priorities and organize our time around God-honoring priorities. Sanballat and his associates are persistent. They request Nehemiah to meet with them four times. Then on a five occasion, they sent an open letter, which contained slanderous accusations against Nehemiah (v. 5-7). And they hired a man to try to lure Nehemiah away from the work in fear for his life (v. 10-13). How does Nehemiah respond? He prays. He entrusts himself and the justice due to his enemies into God’s hands. In verse 9, it is the simple statement: “But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah’s ability to stay focused on God-honoring priorities was not from his own strength. He humbly relied upon the Lord. His habits of prayer demonstrated a dependence on the strength of the Lord. The second prayer comes in verse 14, “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.” Nehemiah used this word “remember” in a prayer for himself in chapter 5. He prayed, “Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people” (v. 19). It has a similar meaning in both instances. With this word, Nehemiah seeks and submits to God’s justice, whether for blessing or for judgment (ESV Study Bible note on 6:14). Nehemiah does not seek to resolve the matters with his enemies on his own. He entrusts the situation to the Lord. This reveals a heart that has been quieted and satisfied by the Lord. ... Keep Reading

This summer the men are invited to study the book of Nehemiah with one of four groups that will meet twice per month. Nehemiah, however, has valuable truths for the whole church family. I will use this avenue to share some of my findings from studying Nehemiah. Those who are familiar with the biblical book Nehemiah know that there is a wall building project. But Nehemiah addresses so many more matters to restore Jerusalem and her people to their covenant relationship with God. Chapter 5 records one of those other matters. If the wall construction is the “main quest” (chap. 1-4), then we learn about a “side quest” in chapter 5. Chapter 5 opens with this statement: “Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.” Before we look at what the “outcry” was about, we need to put this in context. Nehemiah and the people were consumed with the wall building project. We noted that 42 different groups of people contributed to the work (see chap. 3). And then the opposition threatened violence against the workers. So, Nehemiah equipped the workers with weapons (see chap. 4). This was a high-pressure, high-stress, and all-consuming project. A “great outcry” at this moment could be disastrous. Nehemiah’s response is all-the-more impressive in this context. The subject of the outcry is described in verse 2. “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.” There was a food shortage. Another threat to the well-being of the Jewish people in Jerusalem. There were several causes to this food shortage. First, since this cry originates from the wives, we can understand that the men who focused on the work of the wall have not been available to provide for their families. Second, there was a famine in the land that limited the amount of available grain (v. 3). Third, the Persian Empire taxes were significant, so the people had to borrow money on their fields (v. 4). Fourth, taking advantage of the poor, the officials were charging excessive interest and enslaving even their Jewish brothers and sisters (v. 5). ... Keep Reading

This summer the men are invited to study the book of Nehemiah with one of four groups that will meet twice per month. Nehemiah, however, has valuable truths for the whole church family. I will use this avenue to share some of my findings from studying Nehemiah. For the wall building project, there are two types of opposition that Nehemiah must deal with: opposition from within and from without. The outside opposition is easy to identify. Chapter 4 opens, “Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews” (v. 1). Sanballat was a Samaritan. Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. When the Assyrian Empire conquered Israel in 720 BC, they scattered many of the people of Israel across there empire. And then they scattered other conquered people groups across the empire. Eventually, there came to be a mixed group of people living in and around Samaria. This multi-ethnic group came to be known as the Samaritans. They did not have a unified religion. And the Jews did not welcome Samaritans into the Jewish worship. Back to Sanballat. He obviously had some level of leadership with the Samaritans because verse 2 says he spoke “in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, ‘What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?’” Later, in verse 8, he plots with his associates to attack the Jews. So Sanballat had leadership of the Samaritan army. He probably operated as a regional bully, harassing the Jews. Sanballat felt threatened by the Nehemiah and his efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The opposition from within is a bit more subtle. In verse 10 we read, “In Judah it was said, ‘The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.’” This is the voice of despair. The people of Judah were losing hope that the work could be done. Then in verse 12 we find, “At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, ‘You must return to us.’” Many of the people who worked on the wall traveled from nearby villages and cities. Verse 12 tells us that their families were begging them to come home (I hear “begging” in the “ten times”). Nothing tugs on a worker’s heart like the fears vocalized by family members. While we might categorize these “concerns” from within as good-intentioned, the despair and fear both serve as opposition to the work. ... Keep Reading

This summer the men are invited to study the book of Nehemiah with one of four groups that will meet twice per month. Nehemiah, however, has valuable truths for the whole church family. I will use this avenue to share some of my findings from studying Nehemiah. Most people familiar with the Bible think that the book of Nehemiah is about building walls. But as we have seen in the opening chapters, there is so much more happening than rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was a man rooted in and enflamed by the promises of God. The walls are just an outward expression for his passion for the glory of God. We also see that Nehemiah’s passion for God’s glory spills over to a passion for the people of God. We will see this throughout the book as Nehemiah organizes the people to rebuild the wall, protects them from their enemies, oversees just food distribution, encourages the proper place of reading God’s word, and confronts covenant breaking. This is why I say the focus of Nehemiah is not the rebuilding of walls but living as people who are passionate for the glory of God. Let’s look at the wall project through this lens. When Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem, he secretly inspects the walls at night (2:11-16). Then he gives a brief motivational message to the people (2:17-20). And chapter 3 records a long list of people who contributed to the work by focusing each on a specific section of the wall. How does this all tie to the glory of God? ... Keep Reading

This summer the men are invited to study the book of Nehemiah with one of four groups that will meet twice per month. Nehemiah, however, has valuable truths for the whole church family. I will use this avenue to share some of my findings from studying Nehemiah. The Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 11 defines providence: “God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.” In other words, God’s providence is his holy and wise control of all creatures and events. Nothing or no one acts outside of God’s governance. How does this truth impact you? We have to admit that there is an element of mystery behind God’s providence. Humans still have agency and are still held accountable for their actions, but God preserves and governs everything. Our finite minds cannot logically work that perfectly out. So, how does God’s providence make a difference in your life? ... Keep Reading

This summer the men are invited to study the book of Nehemiah with one of four groups that will meet twice per month. Nehemiah, however, has valuable truths for the whole church family. I will use this avenue to share some of my findings from studying Nehemiah. The book of Nehemiah opens with the main character hearing a report of Jerusalem. 1:3 explains that the remnant in Jerusalem is in “great trouble and shame” and the wall is still broken down and the gates are still destroyed by fire. This is nearly 100 years after Cyrus decreed that the exiles could return to Jerusalem and rebuild. Nehemiah responds with weeping and mourning and he continues fasting and praying before the God of heaven (v. 4). 1:5-11 records the prayer of Nehemiah in response to the devastating news. Read this prayer and then I will make some observations. “5 O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” ... Keep Reading

This summer the men are invited to study the book of Nehemiah with one of four groups that will meet twice per month. Nehemiah, however, has valuable truths for the whole church family. I will use this avenue to share some of my findings from studying Nehemiah. While it is not the last book of the Old Testament, Nehemiah, chronologically, contains the last parts of the historical account covered by the Old Testament. Understanding the historical context of Nehemiah is valuable for understanding the meaning and significance of this biblical book. Let me start with a brief timeline of some Old Testament events: 1010-970 BC — The Reign of King David 970-930 BC — The Reign of King Solomon 930 BC — The Kingdom Divides: Israel in the North; Judah in the South 720 BC — Israel Falls to the Assyrian Empire 700 BC — Jerusalem is besieged by Assyria during King Hezekiah’s reign 605 BC — Babylon’s First Invasion of Judah, Exiles taken, including Daniel 597 BC — Babylon’s Second Invasion, more Exiles taken, including Ezekiel 586 BC — Babylon Destroys Jerusalem and burns the temple; Jeremiah writes Lamentations 539 BC — Cyrus, King of Persia, decrees that Israelites can return to Jerusalem and rebuild 520-516 BC — Rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem; Led by Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6); Helped by the prophecy of Haggai and Zechariah 480 BC — Esther becomes queen of Persia under Xerxes (Ahasuerus) 457 BC — Ezra leads a group of exiles back to Jerusalem (Ezra 7-10) 445 BC — Nehemiah learns of the state of Jerusalem (Neh. 1); Malachi is a contemporary ... Keep Reading

Genesis 36 contains an extended genealogy of the family line of Esau. Once again, in our study of Genesis, we ask about the value of chapters like these. Edom is the nation that arises from the family of Esau. Throughout Old Testament history, Edom plays a prominent counterpart to Israel. The king of Edom denied passage to Israel after the Exodus (Num. 20). There was conflict between Israel and Edom during the reigns of Saul, David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram. Then, when Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon in 587 BC, Edom stood by celebrating Israel’s fall. One of the reasons for the genealogy in Genesis 36 is for the reader to be familiar with this people group who ends up being in conflict with Israel throughout the Old Testament. A harder question is what is God’s plan for Esau and his descendants, the Edomites? Today, I want to draw your attention to the minor prophet Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament. Obadiah is just one chapter with 21 verses. But the focus of his prophecy is Edom. It is dated shortly after the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC. Obadiah starts with delivering God’s message to Edom: “Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised” (v. 2). This is a general statement of judgment against the nation. We can ask why God would judge the nation like this. The answer is given immediately in verse 3, “The pride of your heart has deceived you.” Pride is the great sin of the human heart. Edom fell into this pride, thinking they were immune to the world powers attacking them. They operated as if they had no need for God. ... Keep Reading