Nehemiah 1-3

 Homiletics                                                         Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    23                                                     Passage:    Nehemiah 1-3

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Report and Prayer for people and Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1) REPORT 1. Hanani, a brother came from Judah providing report of Jewish remnant and Jerusalem (1:1-2) 2. Exile Survivors are in trouble, disgrace; walls are down and burnt (1:3) 3. Hearing Nehemiah mourned, fasted and prayed to God (1:4) PRAYER 4. Praise – Great and awesome God; keeps covenant of love; Hear my prayer for the people of Israel Hear my prayer for the people of Israel (1:5-6a) 5. Confession – Sins of Israelites and father’s family: acted wickedly, disobeyed commands, decrees given to Moses (1:6b-7) 6. Calling out promise – “unfaithful” scattered and “return and obey commands” gather and bring to dwelling for your name (1:8-9) 7. Petition – Your servants and people you redeemed through Your strength; give success and favor with the king (1:10-11)

Request, Permission and Preparation for Return to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-10) 1. Nehemiah brings wine to king; displaying sadness with king asking “why” (2:1-2) 2. Nehemiah describes Jerusalem in ruin (2:3) 3. King asks Nehemiah what he wants?” with the response to send him to rebuild it (2:4-5) 4. King asks “how long will it take?”; setting a time (2:6) 5. Nehemiah asks for letters of safe-conduct and for timber to rebuild gates, walls and residence; request granted. (2:7-8) 6. Nehemiah gives letters to governors and king also provided army officers and calvary for protection (2:9) 7. Sanballat and Tobiah heard and were disturbed that welfare of Israel was promoted (2:10)

Survey, Responsibility, and Encourage Rebuilding Walls and Gates (2:11-3:32) SURVEY 1. Nehemiah went to Jerusalem; after 3 days privately surveyed examining walls, gates saying nothing toe the Jews, priests, nobles or officials who would be doing the work (2:11-16) 2. Nehemiah shares findings, and God’s hand and King’s words (2:17-18a) 3.They replied “Let’s start rebuilding” (2:18b) 4. Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem mock and ridicule “What are you doing, rebelling?” – Response God is with us and you have no part (2:19-20) 5. Rebuilding Gates and Walls of Jerusalem – High priest and priests, rulers, Levites, and priests from surrounding region (3)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Report and Prayer for people and Jerusalem	Nehemiah 1
Request, Permission and Preparation to Jerusalem	Nehemiah 2:1-10
Survey, Responsibility and Encourage Rebuilding Walls and Gates	Nehemiah 2:11-3:32

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Nehemiah hears Jerusalem condition, prays, petitions and directs rebuilding efforts

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL that God is faithful to His people and directs their efforts for those who are faithful to Him.

Application Questions

What is your response to hearing devastating news? What do you take to God in prayer?

How do you act and respond when you know something is wrong? How do you engage?

In what ways do you encourage others in their faith walk and service?

Principles to Remember

God engages with us

God encourages us

God enables our efforts

Characteristic of God

Strength

Theme

Nehemiah is used by God to recognize the need, respond responsibly and encourage Jerusalem’s rebuilding.