Introduction
Introduction to the Book of Nehemiah
The book of Nehemiah, in a nutshell, is the story of how God resurrected a nation that was dead, or otherwise dispersed to oblivion. God is faithful to His promise to keep the nation of Israel as His people. Underneath the current of the forgotten Jewish exile in a flourishing Persian empire, God was orchestrating the return and the restoration. It is a dramatic story of God moving the hearts of Pagan Kings, and raising up the man of the hour—Nehemiah; among many others to rebuild and to restore a nation back to Himself in Jerusalem.
As in the book of Ezra, the book of Nehemiah showed the faithfulness of God in keeping His promise to Israel. Even though the Israelites were in exile and the nation disintegrated, we see God brought back the people as a nation. It’s amazing to see God’s love and faithfulness in resurrecting a nation that was dead. The continuity of Israel as a nation is important for the promised Messiah to Israel to take placed.
Born of Jewish parents who were taken captives into exile in Babylon, Nehemiah must have been taught the historical heritage as God’s people, both in the Word of the Laws and the Temple Worship. His godly heritage must have prepared him to be the man of the hour for God to use him. When he heard about the broken walls of the city of Jerusalem and the plight of his people, he was grieved and went into prolonged days of fasting and prayer.
We see Nehemiah very much as a great man of prayer. He prayed much about almost every circumstance of his life and work. In fact, much of his works were accomplished by prayer. Facing with the insurmountable task of rebuilding the walls from the rubbles, he prayed. Encountering oppositions from without and civil strife from within, he prayed. His prayer secured the favour of God, so much so that even a Persian King granted him long leave of absence from the palace to rebuild the walls of his homeland and gave him the supports and supplies for the rebuilding project. Nehemiah was a prayerful leader. His prayerful leadership not only had a strong influence on men but also had a profound influence on his God- the God of Israel!
Nehemiah was also an extraordinary man—a man who had a concern in his heart. He was concerned about the plight of the past and the plan for the present. He was concerned about his heritage, his homeland and the glory of the God of Israel. While others saw the impossibilities of the task at hand, he saw opportunities to serve. He asked for the fact, wept over the need, sought the help of God in prayer and then stood up to get the job done.
A contemporary of Ezra who had led the first group to return to rebuild and restored the temple worship, it was Nehemiah who led another group to return for the rebuilding the city walls in Jerusalem. Despite the enormous task of rebuilding from the heap, opposition from without and strife from within, Nehemiah completed the rebuilding in 52 days—a feat that even the enemies must attribute to God’s miraculous enabling.
Brief Outline of the Book of Nehemiah
Chapter 1-2 – Rebuilding Work Envisioned with many Prayers
Chapter 3-4 – Rebuilding Work Ensued amid Resistance
Chapter 5-7 – Rebuilding Work Ended despite Opposition
Chapter 8-10 – Restored Worship Established in God’s Law
Chapter 11-13 – Renewed Nation Enacted in Consecration
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