Bible Survey: Nehemiah
The theme of Nehemiah is rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king of Persia and could have stayed there in comfort, as most of the Jews did. But when he heard that the walls were broken down, I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven (Nehemiah 1:4).
He was a man of prayer. The book begins with prayer and ends with it: Remember me, O my God, for good (Nehemiah 13:31). When the king asked what he wanted, So I prayed to the God of heaven (Nehemiah 2:4), and only then did he answer.
Sanballat and Tobiah mocked and schemed and tried to draw him away, but Nehemiah would not stop: I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down (Nehemiah 6:3). The builders worked with one of his hands and held a weapon with the other. Spurgeon named his magazine "The Sword and the Trowel" after this. The Christian has to build, and sometimes he has to fight. Many churches that once preached the gospel have gone liberal, and a good many have closed their doors.
With the wall finished, revival came through the Word of God. Ezra read the law distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading (Nehemiah 8:8), which is a good verse for any preacher. The people wept, confessed their sins and renewed their covenant, and they were told, the joy of the LORD is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Politics alone will not turn America around. It will take people getting right with God like this.
The last chapter is the saddest. While Nehemiah was away, the people slid back. They stopped tithing, worked on the Sabbath, and married unbelievers. Those are still the marks of a backslidden heart. A Christian who loves the Lord will give to His work, keep the Lord's day, and not marry an unbeliever.
Next in the series: Esther.
Taught by Brother James Barker in Sunday School at Naples Independent Baptist Church, August 2, 2020. Watch the lesson.
