Page 100 - Advanced OT Survey Revised

people have been intermarrying and adopting practice and faith of gentiles! Ezra mourns, prays to
YHWH, confessing sin in shame (chapter 9). Convicted by sin, people confess their sin and covenant with
YHWH to put away their foreign wives, families. After three months, the process is completed (Chapter
10). Also, according to 4:6 and following, the rebuilding of the city walls all but stopped.

Nehemiah 1-2 focuses on the third return of the exiles. Upon receiving the report about Zion people-
that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and in shambles, Nehemiah mourns, fasting and praying
to God, confessing sin and clinging to God’s covenant promises, cf. Deut. 30:1-4 (1). After months of
prayer, Nehemiah requests the king’s commission, protection, and provision to return to Jerusalem!
With God’s good hand, the king grants his request. In his return to Jerusalem (444 B.C.), Nehemiah
arrives safely, and amidst opposition, he assesses situation quietly, and assembles the people to cast
vision for rebuilding city! Assured of divine enablement, people begin rebuilding (Chapter 2).

Nehemiah 2-7 focuses on rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The rebuilding brings about enemy
opposition and Nehemiah’s responses: “We cannot stop building the wall until it is finished.”
Nehemiah’s enemies plot to kill him, but Nehemiah is wise to their plans. With great determination and
organization, the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem is finished in 52 days, with help of God (7). Theme:
necessity of both providence and perseverance!

Nehemiah 8-13 focuses on reforms. When Ezra and the Levites publicly read the Law, the people weep
and celebrate. Realizing their failure to obey, they alter the celebration of Feast of Tabernacles or
Booths which reenacts the desert wandering experiences of Israel. (8) After reading the Law, with
confession and worship, Nehemiah prays to God, retelling Israel’s history, stressing God’s covenant
promises and Israel’s disobedience, concluding with appeal for mercy (9). In sealing the covenant,
certain obligations are stressed: intermarriage, Sabbath, firstfruits (10), ending with the celebration to
dedicate the wall. After priests and people are purified, praise is offered to God (12). There is a gap in
time between chapters 12 and 13. Nehemiah returns to initiate further reform: remove foreigners,
restore tithe, and rebuke intermarriage (13)

Standing for your Faith!
Nehemiah was tasked with rebuilding the walls in Jerusalem. He surveyed the situation, then organized
the people to each build a section of the walls. However, it was not an easy task. Nehemiah’s enemies
tried several different ploys to stop the construction of the walls and to attack Nehemiah. They
volunteered to help. They invited Nehemiah to meet with them. They tempted him to go into the
temple against God’s will. They tried everything they could think of to attack Nehemiah and his people,
but Nehemiah stood faithful to the task God called him to do.

Jude faced similar issues in the New Testament, and he wrote (Jude 3-4)

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to
write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered
unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation,
ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our
Lord Jesus Christ.

As you serve the Lord, don’t let those who would criticize you or attack your ministry win the battle.
Stand strong and contend for the faith!

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