THE BOOK OF
Nehemiah
The Hebrew name for the Book of Nehemiah is Nehemyah, meaning, “Comfort of Yahweh.” The book is named after its chief character, whose name appears in the opening verse.
Perhaps nowhere is the expression of good leadership better exemplified than in the remarkable life of Nehemiah. As cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia, Nehemiah held a prominent position in the royal court. As cupbearer, Nehemiah was far more than a mere servant. His duties included advising the king and acting as his bodyguard and food-taster (to make sure no one had poisoned the king’s food). All of these were high-level positions requiring loyalty and trustworthiness.
Nehemiah, a contemporary of Ezra, leads the third and last return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. His concern for the welfare of Jerusalem and its inhabitants prompts him to take bold action. It all started when Jews who had survived the Babylonian captivity entered the Persian capital and encountered Nehemiah, who inquired of the people’s welfare in Jerusalem. They responded that the walls surrounding the city lay in ruins, the people felt disillusioned and weary, and the situation had become very depressing. Their discouraging words launched Nehemiah into action.
Granted permission to return to his homeland by the king, Nehemiah challenged his countrymen to arise and rebuild the shattered wall of Jerusalem. Despite opposition from without and abuse from within, they completed the task in only fifty-two days—a feat even the enemies of Israel had to attribute to God’s enabling. By contrast, the task of reviving and reforming the people of God within the rebuilt wall demanded years of Nehemiah’s godly life and leadership.
Theme: The Book of Nehemiah emphasizes restoration, both physical and spiritual. As soon as Nehemiah heard of the nation’s great need, he went to God in prayer (Neh. 1:5–11), then inspected the walls around Jerusalem, then addressed the spiritual condition of the people who lived there—and through his efforts, God restored both the city and its people.
Author: Unknown, but a large portion of this book is thought to be Nehemiah’s autobiography.
Time: The events in the Book of Nehemiah took place around 445 to 420 b.c., a span of about twenty-five years.
Structure: Chapters 1 through 7 record the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem; chapters 8 through 13 deal with the restoration of the people’s spiritual lives.
As you read Nehemiah, watch for several life principles that play an important role in this book: 14. God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.. See Nehemiah 1:4–2:6. 8. Fight all your battles on your knees and you win every time. See Nehemiah 1:4; 2:4; 4:9; 6:9. 13. Listening to God is essential to walking with God. See Nehemiah 9:30. |
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