Nehemiah

2. Nehemiah Part 2, The Man

3. Nehemiah • 486-464 BCE Ahasuerus was King of Persia • Greek name was Xerxes, husband of Esther • Esther would be stepmother to Artaxerxes I • Perhaps influential in helping Nehemiah become cupbearer to the King • Nehemiah is named as a book, was a cupbearer, governor, and leader • What kind of man would he have been?

4. What Kind of Man was Nehemiah • He was a trustworthy worker • He was ever prayerful • And loyal to his brethren

5. What Kind of Man was Nehemiah • He was a trustworthy worker • He was ever prayerful • And loyal to his brethren • He set great store by knowledge Nehemiah was knowledgeable of God’s word and stood for it.

6. Nehemiah 1:9 • …if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ Knew about restoration promises

7. Nehemiah 5:9 • So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? 10 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest Knew about usury

8. Nehemiah 7:64-65 • 64 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise. Knew about lineage

9. Nehemiah 13:7-8 • I asked leave of the king 7 and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber. Knew about Gentiles in the Temple

10. Nehemiah 13:10-11 • 10 I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. 11 So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. Knew about tithing

11. Nehemiah 13:15-17 • 15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food. 16 Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself! 17 Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? Knew about the Sabbath

12. Nehemiah 13:23-25 • 23 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. 25 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. Knew about the danger in mixed marriages

13. Nehemiah 2:11-16 • 11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night … and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. …15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, … and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work. Gained knowledge before he went to work set to work

14. Hosea 4:6 • My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; • because you have rejected knowledge, • I reject you from being a priest to me. • and since you have forgotten the law of your God, • I also will forget your children. Our God is a TEACHING God with “disciples”

15. What Kind of Man was Nehemiah • He was a trustworthy worker • He was ever prayerful • And loyal to his brethren • He set great store by knowledge • Was personally active in the work • No vision, he asked permission to go • No work list or personal invitation • Wasn’t nagged, persuaded, or procrastinating

16. Luke 14: 18, 24 • 7 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses... • 24 For I tell you,none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. Visiting, encouraging, inviting, work lists, etc…..

17. What Kind of Man was Nehemiah • He was a trustworthy worker • He was ever prayerful • And loyal to his brethren • He set great store by knowledge • Was personally active in the work • He was conscious of his example

18. In ALL his works he was conscious of his example • Food allowance a burden? He wouldn’t take it • Did not buy land, busied self/servants with the work • Fed others at own expense • Lent money & grain without interest What was the result of his good example? The people listened to him!

19. Nehemiah 2:18 • 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. To work

20. Nehemiah 4:14-15 • 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” 15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. To put down fear

21. Nehemiah 5:7-13 • 7 …I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” … 8 … They were silent and could not find a word to say. 9 So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of … our enemies? 10 … Let us abandon this exacting of interest. 11 Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.” 12 Then they said, “We will restore these and … We will do as you say.”. … And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised. To deal kindly with others

22. Nehemiah 13:23-25 • 23 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. 25 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. To cleanse themselves

23. 1 Peter 2:12 • 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. • Colossians 4:5 • 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. We have an example to set toward outsiders

24. Matthew 18:6-7 • 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. We have an example to set toward those tender in faith

25. Galatians 6:2 • 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. • 1 Thessalonians 5:11 • 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We have an example to set toward our brethren

26. Traits of Great Leadership Our example says who we are better than our words. • A trustworthy worker • Ever prayerful • Loyal to brethren • Gaining knowledge • Personally active in the work • Conscious of example Where are you, in your leadership for the Master?