May 20, 2018
This week begins the first of four on God’s work done through Nehemiah’s leadership.
What do you know about what is written in this book? Consider the following:
Author: Nehemiah probably wrote the book with Ezra serving as the editor.
Original Audience: The exiles who returned from captivity.
Date Written: Approximately 445-432 B.C.
Setting: Nehemiah left a responsible position in the Persian government 1200 km away to return with the third group of exiles to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Discuss in your group the following:
Consider George’s comments:
The Book of Nehemiah is in your Bible not because someone thought it would be a good history lesson, it’s there because God put it in the text of sacred scripture as a necessary and profitable source of spiritual instruction. God’s purpose for our study of Nehemiah is not to fill our heads with facts but to fill our hearts with faith concerning His dealings in the past that affect our understanding of God’s dealings for today. God is after all the same God for us as He was for Nehemiah.
Read Neh.1:1-2:6 and discuss the following:
Consider George’s comments:
Neh. 1:4-11 ….4 months from Dec-April, this was 4 Months of praying, waiting & watching. This was a crucial period for Nehemiah & set the scene for one of the qualities of his life, prayerfulness. Nehemiah became a man of prayer before ever he was a man of performance, prayer made possible his performance.
As you considered God’s work in and through Nehemiah up to Neh.1:1-2:6 what lessons do you see are relevant to your life? How does: “…. these things…. (which) were written down (for) us who live at the end of the age.” (1 Cor. 10:11) apply to you? Revisit the above dot points “About Nehemiah”.
Finish by praying together any things God has brought to your attention so far from Nehemiah.