"The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we his servants will arise and build"; (Neh.2:20)
The book of Nehemiah continues the story of the Jews who returned to Judah after captivity in Babylon, and takes its name from the central character, the prayerfully determined Nehemiah. This high official in the Persian court asked for the governorship of tiny Judah that he might rebuild the ruined walls of Jerusalem. He awakened the enthusiasm of the people for the project, firmly resisted opposition from without and dangers from within, and saw the holy city once again surrounded by walls.
The book has three main sections:
Rebuilding the walls 1:1-7:73
Reading the law and renewing the covenant 8:1-10:39
Reforming the people. 11:1-13:31
Amidst division, danger, opposition, pride, laziness and unfaithfulness, God uses Nehemiah to reform the people so they are once again devoted to their God and his covenant. Nehemiah teaches us much about godliness, challenges us about unity, and shows us how to tackle opposition from without and dissension from within. He is a godly leader, a political master, a great role model and an enormous encouragement.
In our seven week journey into the life and times of Nehemiah we will meet the man on a mission to produce a righteous, set apart, secure people who worship their unswervingly faithful God.