NEHEMIAH LESSON 1


     Nehemiah was at one time part of the book of Ezra. This book
covers the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. It is, also, a time
of return to the laws of God. Some believe that most of it is an
autobiography of Nehemiah's life. It is not certain, however, who
penned it.

     We will now begin the verse by verse study in Nehemiah 1:1 "The
words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the
month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,"
Nehemiah 1:2 "That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and [certain]
men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped,
which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem."

     Nehemiah was living at the Persian court. Chisleu is the month of
December on our calendar. This 20th year is speaking of the 20th year
of the reign of Artaxerxes. It appears that Hanani was the brother of
Nehemiah.  He came to Nehemiah to tell him of his homeland. Israel was
a nation of people, but it was, also, God's family. Nehemiah wanted to
know how the people who had gone back to Jerusalem from captivity were
doing.

     Nehemiah 1:3 "And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of
the captivity there in the province [are] in great affliction and
reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also [is] broken down, and the gates
thereof are burned with fire."

     The gates had been burned with fire before the captivity. The
walls were broken down at that time, as well. These were things that
had been left undone, since their return to Jerusalem. It seems, they
had never re-established themselves in their land.

     Nehemiah 1:4  "And it came to pass, when I heard these words,
that I sat down and wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and
prayed before the God of heaven,"

     Nehemiah had assumed, incorrectly, that everything in Jerusalem
had been totally repaired. He was not aware that there was still much
to be done. Nehemiah was brokenhearted at hearing this. He fasted and
prayed to find the will of God in this for himself.

     Nehemiah 1:5 "And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the
great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that
love him and observe his commandments:"

     This was almost identical to what Daniel had to say. Nehemiah was
a believer in God. He called Him LORD. "Beseech" means pray, in this
instance. He realized the omnipotence of God. God is all powerful. God
keeps covenant with mankind, when they obey His commandments.

     Nehemiah 1:6 "Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes
open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray
before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy
servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we
have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned."

     We see an humble man confessing to the LORD that he had sinned.
The weight of the sins of his father, and of the Hebrews, seemed to
weigh as heavy on his conscience as did his own sins. He confesses for
them all. His plea to God was that He had not turned completely away
from His people. He was saying, Please hear my prayer.

     Nehemiah 1:7 "We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have
not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which
thou commandedst thy servant Moses."

     This was speaking of the wide range of sins they committed. They
mainly had totally disregarded the wishes of God for their lives, and
were living to please themselves. He was aware that the condition
attached to being blessed of God, included keeping God's statutes and
His commandments.

     Nehemiah 1:8 "Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou
commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, [If] ye transgress, I will
scatter you abroad among the nations:"

     God had warned them in advance through Moses, that to disobey God
brought curses, one of which was scattering into foreign countries as
captives. They had disregarded the Word of God, and He had done just
as He had promised. Their captivity was brought on them by their own
transgressions.

     Nehemiah 1:9 "But [if] ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments,
and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part
of the heaven, [yet] will I gather them from thence, and will bring
them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there."

     The best explanation of this Scripture is another Scripture.
II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall
humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their
wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land."  God would forgive them, if they were truly
seeking forgiveness for their sins. God had saved this remnant of His
people to start with again. God would gather them like a hen gathers
her chicks. God loved them.

     Nehemiah 1:10 "Now these [are] thy servants and thy people, whom
thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand."

     It is as if Nehemiah was reminding God that these are the same
people He had promised to forgive. II Chronicles 7:15 "Now mine eyes
shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer [that is made] in
this place." God promised Solomon that anyone looking toward the
temple and praying would be heard of Him. God had redeeemed them from
captivity, now He must help them even more keep their relationship
with Him. They were back in their land, but not in fellowship with the
LORD as they needed to be. God would bless them, but they needed
someone to help them stay in fellowship with God. It seems, they were
quick to drift away, if there was not someone with a strong hand to
keep them from it.

     Nehemiah 1:11 "O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be
attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy
servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy
servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I
was the king's cupbearer."

     It appears, that Nehemiah had made himself useful to the king and
had acquired the distinction of the king's cupbearer. It would be easy
for him to be satisfied with what he had, and forget about Judah and
Jerusalem. If Nehemiah was to go to Jerusalem, God would have to make
it alright with Artaxerxes. Nehemiah had it in his heart to go to
Jerusalem, and help with the work in rebuilding the walls and the
gates. He felt he could be an asset in leading them back into good
relations with God.



































                           Nehemiah 1 Questions


1.  What does the book of Nehemiah cover?
2.  It is, also, a time of returning to the _______ of God.
3.  Some believe it to be an _______________ of Nehemiah's life.
4.  Who was the father of Nehemiah?
5.  The month of Chisleu is similar to what month on our calendar?
6.  The twentieth year of the reign of ______________ is mentioned
    here.
7.  Who was Hanani?
8.  What did Nehemiah inquire of him about?
9.  Where was Nehemiah living at the time?
10. Israel was a nation of people, but it was also ________ _______.
11. What report did Hanani give Nehemiah?
12. What effect did this have on Nehemiah?
13. What did he do about this, besides pray?
14. What did Nehemiah call God in verse 5?
15. What does "beseech" mean?
16. When does God keep covenant with mankind?
17. In verse 6, we see an _________ man confessing.
18. What was the confession?
19. Who was he confessing for?
20. What had God said He would do to them, if they transgressed His
    law?
21. What was the fulfillment of that?
22. What would God do, if they repented?
23. Quote 2 Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14.
24. Why had God saved this remnant of His people?
25. What was Nehemiah reminding God of in verse 10?
26. What was missing, since they had gone back to their homeland?
27. Whose prayers was Nehemiah asking God to be attentive to?