Nehemiah - A brief introduction

Dear fellow believer, I have been meaning to post a few articles now regarding the book of Nehemiah but as you can probably tell from the infrequency of posts, I have been very busy recently and just haven't had the time to write them up! I am committed however to bringing before you a number of short articles in relation to this wonderful book as it is so positive, practical and pertinent for today! It has been most beneficial to me personally and I would like to think that fellow believers would also find profit from studying this book. So let's have a brief overview by way of introduction (you may wish to do a scan-read of Nehemiah!)

The book is divided into 2 sections:

1. ch 1-6 - Rebuilding the Wall (physical repair)


2. ch 7-13 - Rebuilding the People (spiritual repair)

• The book covers the period 445-415BC. This places the book right at the end of the OT, so don't be fooled by it's placement before Job and Psalms! In reality it is one of the final writings of the OT history along with the prophecy of Malachi.


• It records the events of the 3rd return of the people of God from exile in Persia, this time under Nehemiah. The 1st return was under Zerubbabel, the 2nd was under Ezra, then 12 years later come the events of Nehemiah.

We may ask - Why were the people in captivity? This was because they had disobeyed God in respect to the 7th year. Every 7th year should have been God's, with the land lying fallow and having rest, but they had disregarded this command for 490 years! They therefore owed God 70 years hence they were in captivity for 70 years.

A bit of info/background about the man Nehemiah:

• His name means "the comfort of Jehovah" ('Nehem-Yah')


• He was born of Jewish parents in exile (he had never even seen Jerusalem yet it was so close to his heart)


• He clearly had a godly home and upbringing (how privileged to have parents who love the Lord!)


• God prospered him - he was given responsibility from a young age (he was cup-bearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, probably the most powerful man on the planet at that time!)


• He was a formidable man of God: clearly filled with the Spirit, he had an ear for God's voice, and prayer was a natural and essential part of his life


• He knew what work was, and he knew how to inspire others to work with him


• He is strong in the face of opposition and when the odds are stacked against him - he shows wisdom and determination

His example of leadership is inspiring:

• He has a spiritual burden/exercise, which he commits to prayer


• He examines the problem and performs a 'needs assessment'


• He decides on a course of action


• He motivates/inspires others to share the vision and involves them


• He delegates authority and tasks


• He supervises and oversees the work until it is complete

The book of Nehemiah is really a positive account of revival and restoration among the people of God. It charts a work for God from a burden on one man's heart, through to activity and realisation of the work, through to the overcoming of difficulties and the eventual completion and success of that work and the blessing it brings to the people and to God! But the important thing to remember is that it all started with a man with an exercise.

We challenge ourselves today - are we believers with a burden or an exercise to do things for God? We trust that as we look as this wonderful little book together that we will learn much about doing a work for God.

Yours in Christ, Mark