Introduction to Nehemiah

The book of Nehemiah is the account of a small band of people laboring heroically to build something meaningful with their lives: the city of God on earth.

It’s a story of people laboring on a mighty project while dealing with responsibilities of home life, long work days, constant threats from enemies and continual reminders of their own limitations.

It is the account of a chaotic world and a great and awesome God who can accomplish the impossible through people who are willing to trust God and work wholeheartedly.

And it’s the story of a faithful God who always has a plan, is never surprised and never relents in keeping his promises of covenant love – even when his people fall short in their faithfulness.

In fact especially when they fall short.

It’s been a while since we have been in the OT for a series.

Let’s talk about:

Three things to look out for when reading Old Testament History.

All Scripture reveals God to us. In every study of the Scripture we can ask –

What does this teach me about God?

1. What is God like? How does God like to work in this world?

God reveals himself through stories. One pastor said “God likes to show up in the lives of people with complex lives that don’t always seem to go the way they are supposed to go. People with busy lives. With distractions. God interjects himself into that history.

That’s how we live our lives – an unfolding story. Not precepts. Our individual lives our family lives our church lives have stories with ups and downs, with battles and victories.”

Have you ever looked at your life, at your church and the world around you and thought – “How is this right? Is God anywhere in this picture right now? How can this possibly turn out?”

We live in the same narrative history as the Old Testament saints. It’s the story of God.

Same planet. Same plotline. When we study OT books, especially in context, we can properly understand our own stories.

2. What is the outcome of faith vs. self-effort?

The book of Hebrews is filled with accounts of heroic faith. The writer tells us that we can learn from those saints by considering the outcomes of their choices and imitating their faith.

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:7

When you trust in God in impossible situations, God shows up. Almost never is it the way we thought he would – but he always shows up.

“Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake his life on it a thousand times.” -Martin Luther

The OT saints did not have the gospel, but they had a form of righteousness through faith. (Romans 4 – Abraham) So in a sense we share a common faith.

The faith of Nehemiah is an example to imitate.

For anyone who wants to be a source of strength and stability in chaotic times.

For anyone who wants to see the people of God to grow and thrive.

For anyone who wants to see God glorified and his enemies defeated – the faith of Nehemiah will give us a model to imitate.

3. How does this concern Jesus? 

After the Resurrection, Jesus walked with two men and helped them relearn the Scriptures.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:27

All of Scripture has always been all about Jesus.

Here are questions we can ask to uncover that revelation:

• How does this reveal our common human need?
• How does this point to God’s provision for our need in Christ?
• How does this reveal the person and character of Christ?

We look backwards to find faith so that we can look forward with faith.

We look backwards to see what God does when his people are willing but can’t follow through and we find hope.

As Nehemiah responds to the reports from Jerusalem in verses 1-4, we see faith to imitate and salvation to anticipate.

First, Nehemiah seeks out knowledge of the welfare of his people. When the report isn’t good, he responds instantly with weeping.

Nehemiah’s faith expresses itself in a compassionate interest in the welfare of a world much bigger than the 6 square feet around him.

In the New Testament book of Philippians, Paul highlights this quality.

First by calling for compassionate interest in others in 2:4 –

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

And then by highlighting it in the life of Timothy, in Philippians 2:20 –

“For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.”

Earlier in the story of Jerusalem’s restoration, the prophet Haggai was sent to the people with this message:

“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” -Haggai 1:4

Nehemiah surely faced the same temptation. With a position of wealth, influence and comfort – he could have easily tuned out the needs around him.

Yet he resisted that temptation and sacrificed to enter the suffering and dishonor of his people.

This is faith for us to imitate.

But it’s also more than that.

Nehemiah is considered to be what theologians call a “Type of Christ”. His place in redemptive history and the details of his life seem to point to something bigger than himself.

Nehemiah is a man who sits at the right of the king in wealth, power and privilege.

When he sees Jerusalem in trouble he weeps over the city and its people.

As he weeps he intercedes for the people and asks God to forgive their sins.

His love and his obedience to God motivate him to leave behind his wealth and take on enormous hardship to go and identify with the people of Israel, live among them and lead them into a place of strength and security and obedience to God.

He lives a life of righteousness and leads the people to reestablish a covenant with God and return to him wholeheartedly.

Does all of that sound familiar?

Nehemiah’s life points forward to someone much greater.

We want to imitate his faith, but often we are more like the people in Jerusalem – timid and weak.

We need someone greater than us to see our need, rise in compassion and come to our aid.

When Jesus left the Father’s side, came to Jerusalem and wept over it’s people before offering his life in sacrifice – he became that someone for us.

Jesus is the ultimate example of perfect compassion and concern for others.

He sees your need. He is more than willing to enter into your world with you and lead you into victory.