January 21, 2007

Nehemiah
Introduction

Steve Lane

A. Background

One interpretation, many applications

Themes - Leadership, Sovereignty of God/responsibility of man, God's word, prayer, vision, risk, opposition, following through, and revival as a result of the Word

722 B.C. Israel defeated and deported by the Assyrians

605 B.C. Babylonians defeated Judah and deported the people in three stages.

70 year exile

Return in three phases - Zerubbabel 538 B.C., Ezra in 458 B.C. and Nehemiah in 445 B.C.

Prophets of the restoration era - Haggai, Zecharaiah and Malachi

A decree from Cyrus, King of Persia in 539 B.C.

1 and 2 Chronicles

B. The Book of Ezra / Rebuilding the Temple under Zerubbabel

Jeremiah 25: 11 - 12
2 Chronicles 36: 20 - 23

Ezra 1: 1 - 3
Sovereignty of God

Cyrus, Xerxes, Artaxerxes

Ezra 2: 2
Around 50,000 left for Jerusalem in this stage of the return

Ezra 3: 3
Built the foundation and an altar to begin sacrifices

Ezra 4: 1 - 5
The opposition began

Ezra 4: 24 - 5: 2, 6: 14

Haggai 1: 2 - 5, 9
Foundation, afraid / satisfied

C. Ezra comes to Jerusalem

Ezra 7: 6, 10
"I am going to seek the mind of God, do the will of God, and teach the ways of God."
(Ezra's approach)

D. Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1: 1 - 6

Exodus 2: 23 - 24, 3: 9

"God's great movements in this world have been conditioned on, fashioned by and continued by prayer"
-Andrew Murray

One test for a real work of God is...

Nehemiah 2: 4 - 5
Nehemiah did not just pray and the carry on with his plan