Lessons from Nehemiah, part 1

Our teacher for the next few weeks is Bob Jamison, Director of Family Guidance, Inc. Click on this link for more info about Family Guidance.

We read Nehemiah, Chapters 1 and 2.

Why is Nehemiah in Persia?

- He was in exile. Many Jews had been captured and taken into exile by the Babylonians, who were in turn conquered by the Persians. The Babylonian policy toward conquered people was assimilation – making the people fully Babylonian. God has a problem with that, because God had promised an everlasting covenant with the people of Israel.

The Babylonians took into exile the upper class and educated Jews and left the rest of the people in Jerusalem. This caused economic disaster in Jerusalem. The symbol of being a conquered people – the broken wall.

The challenge for the people in exile: keeping hold of their heritage and their relationship with God (for example, keeping kosher would be difficult in Babylon). The situation for those left behind in Jerusalem: chaos, false leaders fighting with each other, lack of protection, hopelessness, shame. Can you relate to those who live in a world pressuring you to abandon your faith (like the people taken into exile)? Can you relate to those who are living with crushing defeat (like those left in Jerusalem)?

What happens to a person’s faith in the face of disaster?

- faith can strengthen

- gain compassion for others

- anger

- questioning God’s existence or God’s good will toward people

- emptiness

- confusion

- misplaced blame for the disaster

-depression

How does Nehemiah respond to the news of disaster back in Jerusalem?

1. He identifies with the broken people. As cupbearer to the King, he was in a position of great responsibility and benefit to himself. He didn’t have to care about the Jews in Jerusalem. But he did. He wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed.

2. He turns to God and expresses contrition and repentance (“change of direction”)

3. He is devoted to the word of God; scripture tells of God’s promise. In his prayer, he reminds God of God’s original promise to the people, quoting God’s promises to Solomon.

4. He takes action.

Neh 2:2. Note that it was a capital offense to look sad in the presence of the Persian King! Look sad, and it’s “Off with Your Head.”

Next week – the work on the wall begins. We’ll take a look at some of the people working on this wall.