BOOK OF NEHEMIAH

Nehemiah Background, Overview and Outline

Rebuilding Our Faith

Nehemiah Overview	Overview
Nehemiah Historical	Historical Intro (pdf)
Nehemiah Intro	Rebuilding the Walls (ROF #1)
Nehemiah 01.01_11	Prayer
Nehemiah 01.01_2.5	Love for God
Nehemiah 01.1-4	Compassion (ROF #2 )
Nehemiah 01.05-11	Prayer (ROF #3 )
Nehemiah 01.11-2.8	God Will (ROF #4 )
Nehemiah 02.9-20	Prepare (ROF #5 )
Nehemiah 03.1-32	Hope (ROF #6 )
Nehemiah 03	Jerusalem Map in pdf
Nehemiah 04.1-6	Anger & Despair (ROF #7 )
Nehemiah 04.7-23	Anger & Fears (ROF #8)
Nehemiah 04.7-23	Threats Work (ROF #9 )
Nehemiah 04.7-23	Overcoming Fear (ROF #10 )
Nehemiah 04	Bulletin in pdf
Nehemiah 05.1-05	Loans (ROF #11 )
Nehemiah 05.1-19	Counts (ROF #12 )
Nehemiah 05:1-19	Bulletin #12 in pdf
Nehemiah 06.1-19	Rumors (ROF #13 )
Nehemiah 07.1-73	Restore (ROF #14 )
Nehemiah 08.1-12	Revival (ROF #15 )
Nehemiah 08.13-18	Obedience (ROF #16 )
Nehemiah 09.1-38	Confess (ROF #17 )
Nehemiah 10-12	Covenant (ROF #18 )
Nehemiah 13.1-31	Restoration (ROF #19 )
Nehemiah 13.1-31	Bulletin in pdf

Chapter divisions 1:1-11 2:1-20 3:1-32 4:1-23 5:1-19 6:1-19 7:1-73 8:1-18 9:1-38 10:1-39 11:1-36 12:1-47 13:1-31

Although the theme of rebuilding Jerusalem's wall is often connected with the Book of Nehemiah, we must understand that the wall is the most visible sign of the community of God's people. The wall is symbolic of their identity because by it they are protected.

When we look at the Book of Nehemiah, we will find even more important tasks that must be done to rebuild the people of God. It is inadequate to be satisfied with a city that has tall skyscrapers but does not have law and order. Our society now is coming to grips with what it is like to have a form of organization but disorder in the lives of people.

Nehemiah, as a prophet of old, was calling the people to reassemble before God. Each chapter was a special emphasis on a new kind of restoration. The enemies were not located just on the outside of the walls but also on the inside. It was this 'inside' culprit that before had foiled Israel.

It is naive to think that restoration of the physical walls of a city is the same as true restoration. We can easily remember a time when the walls of Jerusalem were intact but the evil within the walls provoked God to tear those walls down. But we would be fools to think we can have the inner restoration before outer (virtue before godliness). The perfecting of His people must not just think it is to again live in Jerusalem and "come back to this place." God's idea is not just to get us a ticket to heaven but to truly restore us.

The key to the book is the place prayer took in the steps of restoration. Prayer is honest talk with God depicting the prophet's dependence upon God. Sometimes it was for wisdom, sometimes for deliverance. But it was always God that Nehemiah, God's faithful servant, turned toward.

Then I said to them, "You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that we may no longer be a reproach." (Nehemiah 2:17).

What are God's expectations and what are man's? We can get a good picture of Nehemiah's heart through the way he repeatedly in his prayers asked God to remember something special. (See Nehemiah introduction for more detail.)

Nehemiah's Special Theme: Remember

Remember the word Nehemiah 1:8	"Remember the word which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; (Nehemiah 1:8).
Remember me Nehemiah 5:19	Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. (Nehemiah 5:19).
Remember ... these works of theirs Nehemiah 6:14	Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me. (Nehemiah 6:14).
Remember me Nehemiah 13:14	Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services. (Nehemiah 13:14).
Remember me Nehemiah 13:22	And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Thy lovingkindness. (Nehemiah 13:22).
Remember them Nehemiah 13:29	Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. (Nehemiah 13:29).
Remember me Nehemiah 13:31	And I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. (Nehemiah 13:31).

An Outline of the Book of Nehemiah

REBUILDING OUR FAITH An Outline of Nehemiah	Nehemiah has two natural divisions. One focuses on the actual building of the Jerusalem walls while the later describes the shaping of the hearts of God's people there.
A. Devotion to God’s Mission (1-6)     1. Seeing the Need (1)     2. Meeting the Challenge (2)     3. Building with Obstacles (3-6)         a) Completion Gained by Unity (3)         b) Threats Overcome by Boldness (4)         c) Distress Solved by Sacrifice (5)         d) Rumors Silenced by Prayer (6)	Chapters 1-6 focus on God’s work through Nehemiah and the people to rebuild Jerusalem walls. Enemies attacked the people at their many vulnerable places to hinder them from their work. Hopelessness, anger, doubts, intimidation and fears were all targeted to hold this people back. Nehemiah as a type of Christ led the people forward into completion of their task of building the kingdom of God.
B. Dedication to Spiritual Renewal (7-12)     1. Steps to Restoration (7-9)         a) Reorganization (7)         b) God’s Word (8)         c) Repentance (9)     2. Importance of Commitment (10-12)          a) Covenant (10)          b) Appointments (11)         c) Leaders (12)     3. Necessity of Purging (13)	Chapters 7-13 focus on the work of God in the hearts of the people. Attention was given to proper leadership, purity of the people, commitment to God and His Word and Nehemiah’s cry for help. Nehemiah bravely led the people into a deeper walk with God and built a community around Him.