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The "Be" Commentary
Be Determined (Nehemiah): Standing Firm in the Face of Opposition
You Can Make a Difference in Tough Situations
God is looking for people who will make a difference in the difficult places of life!
• People with vision who see possibilities, not problems
• People with courage who will finish the job
• People with faith who believe God can use them Nehemiah was that kind of person.
He was a layman called by God to give Jerusalem a new beginning. In spite of opposition, Nehemiah stayed on the job and saw the holy city restored. Nehemiah was a successful leader who teachers us:
• How to encourage others to serve the Lord
• How to detect and defeat the enemy's tactics
• How to keep going when the going is tough
• How to make prayer a vital part of your life
Satan is tearing things down in this world, but Jesus Christ is building things up. For which one are you working? No matter how difficult the situation may be, get acquainted with Nehemiah and learn how to Be Determined!
God is looking for people who will make a difference in the difficult places of life!
• People with vision who see possibilities, not problems
• People with courage who will finish the job
• People with faith who believe God can use them Nehemiah was that kind of person.
He was a layman called by God to give Jerusalem a new beginning. In spite of opposition, Nehemiah stayed on the job and saw the holy city restored. Nehemiah was a successful leader who teachers us:
• How to encourage others to serve the Lord
• How to detect and defeat the enemy's tactics
• How to keep going when the going is tough
• How to make prayer a vital part of your life
Satan is tearing things down in this world, but Jesus Christ is building things up. For which one are you working? No matter how difficult the situation may be, get acquainted with Nehemiah and learn how to Be Determined!
176 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1992
About the author
Warren W. Wiersbe
648 books434 followersWarren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as 'the pastor's pastor.' He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 27, 2020
09/17/20 - reading again. Completed 10/27/20
This series is very helpful when studying your Bible. The commentary is easy to understand.
This series is very helpful when studying your Bible. The commentary is easy to understand.
January 16, 2016
This is a typical installment in Warren Wiersbe's helpful "Be" series. As always, he is fairly light on exegesis but offers good historical background and focuses heavily on practical application. Occasionally the applications are a bit forced, but generally they are helpful and edifying. This book was very helpful in preparing a recent sermon series, but I would definitely recommend using a more exegetical commentary alongside it in sermon or Bible study preparation.
August 25, 2015
I've been studying the book of Nehemiah, for several months and wanted a new commentary. This is excellent! "But the same great God who enabled Nehemiah to finish building the walls of Jerusalem will enable us to finish our course with joy and accomplish the work He has called us to do. There is no reason to quit or even to despair!"
November 24, 2011
Another of Wiersbe's excellent devotional commentaries, this one covering the book of Nehemiah. Not overly technical, these are perfect for use along with your daily Bible reading.
July 28, 2011
Warren W is great.
May 13, 2012
Great commentary on Nehemiah, with lots of parallels to life. Helpful insights in planning out visions, very practical.
February 3, 2013
Awesome book. Used for a small men's group bible study. Questions in book are very applicable to everyday life. My favorite book in the "Be" series.
June 4, 2014
Good discussion of Nehemiah, and of his leadership style.
January 25, 2016
The commentary was very good but the other scriptures used would've been much better if they had been KJV.
February 7, 2016
A look at Nehemiah and his leaderships skills in the opposition that he faces building Jerusalems walls.
July 25, 2017
Very good devoitional on Nehemiah
June 4, 2022
This book is amazing. I love the teachings of Warren Wiersbe, he brings the Bible down to a level for the common man, but has more than enough Biblical insight to fill even the most ardent of scholars. He is a pleasure to read.
On top of that , WOW! Another fantastic message and lesson we can all learn from. The book of Nehemiah is a treasure trove for leaders and workers for the Lord. Wiersbe draws so much we can learn from Nehemiah and grow with, amazing Biblical insight as well as personal insight. Some we will do well, others we will need grow into and improve. No matter what work God has place in front of us, we should strive to finish the job and bring God all the glory and praise.
On top of that , WOW! Another fantastic message and lesson we can all learn from. The book of Nehemiah is a treasure trove for leaders and workers for the Lord. Wiersbe draws so much we can learn from Nehemiah and grow with, amazing Biblical insight as well as personal insight. Some we will do well, others we will need grow into and improve. No matter what work God has place in front of us, we should strive to finish the job and bring God all the glory and praise.
January 22, 2025
This was my first Wiersbe, and my first deep dive into the book of Nehemiah. A lot of churches ignore the prophets because they are historical and require a little more work to decipher. But I read Nehemiah not that long ago, and then our church announced that they will be going through the book over this year. So I was encouraged and decided to read this commentary to understand the history better. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this and by how much I learned from it. I would recommend this series based on this book alone because I liked the layout and the content. I look forward to reading more.
April 2, 2022
I have been using this book to teach our adult Sunday school class. It is a very easy to use, digestible resource. It has some built-in discussion questions as well that might be useful to you.
Nehemiah is a great book, and this particular commentary does a good job providing relevant context and explaining how much determination it really took to keep going while Jerusalem was being rebuilt. Despite the fact that it is a commentary, it would fit quite well into the genre of Christian living as well. I certainly recommend picking up a copy of it if you are studying Nehemiah.
Nehemiah is a great book, and this particular commentary does a good job providing relevant context and explaining how much determination it really took to keep going while Jerusalem was being rebuilt. Despite the fact that it is a commentary, it would fit quite well into the genre of Christian living as well. I certainly recommend picking up a copy of it if you are studying Nehemiah.
June 5, 2025
I did a chapter a week which I wouldn't recommend based on the fact I forgot what had happened in the previous chapter by the following week.
Regardless, I enjoyed reading Nehemiah and finding out more about the book that isn't initially clear from reading it. For example the people involved in rebuilding the wall all had their own sections because of where they lived or something. All in all, a good read and made me think about the sort of leader I would like to be and the sort of characteristics to look for in leaders, church or otherwise.
Regardless, I enjoyed reading Nehemiah and finding out more about the book that isn't initially clear from reading it. For example the people involved in rebuilding the wall all had their own sections because of where they lived or something. All in all, a good read and made me think about the sort of leader I would like to be and the sort of characteristics to look for in leaders, church or otherwise.
March 26, 2018
A very good book on leadership
The book revealed very many instances where leaders of today are weak, and also showed how God is indeed a pillar of our lives. We can not choose to lead His people without relying on Him. This book uses Nehemiah to reveal these simple truths
The book revealed very many instances where leaders of today are weak, and also showed how God is indeed a pillar of our lives. We can not choose to lead His people without relying on Him. This book uses Nehemiah to reveal these simple truths
August 4, 2018
When God has made a job perfectly clear for someone to do, this would be the book to keep them going without faltering. Now it’s up to me to finish the job that God has called me to do. I am very thankful someone recommended this book to me.
March 14, 2019
Good overview of Nehemiah
This wasn't the best book out there, but it was good to go over some of the content of Nehemiah again. It's basically just an overview, one chapter at a time.
This wasn't the best book out there, but it was good to go over some of the content of Nehemiah again. It's basically just an overview, one chapter at a time.
October 16, 2020
A great little book. I read one chapter per day on my Kindle and my Bible. So much to learn so many lessons from one who was indeed Determined to carry out the work of God regardless of the cost. Highly recommended.
April 6, 2021
Be determined
Being determined is a great thing that we should incorporate in our lives. This book gives us insight, encouragement, and motivation to be determined to complete what we set out to do for God.
Being determined is a great thing that we should incorporate in our lives. This book gives us insight, encouragement, and motivation to be determined to complete what we set out to do for God.
November 24, 2023
Nehemiah is one of my favourite books in the Bible. Wiersbe skillfully navigates the narrative of Nehemiah, showing the timeless lessons on determination, leadership, and unwavering faith in facing opposition. It's very inspiring!
April 21, 2024
I've read several books in this series, but this one is probably in the top 3. If you are a leader in any way, shape, or form, this book does an Excellent job at dissecting the character of Nehemiah, his tactics, and God's sovereignty through it all.
May 15, 2018
Wiersbe always provides good commentary for Bible study.
June 3, 2019
18/50 of be series. i read alphabetically.
like any other book in this series, the explanation didn't presented in atrong exegesis but we always could learn something practical here.
like any other book in this series, the explanation didn't presented in atrong exegesis but we always could learn something practical here.
January 2, 2021
Helpful at the start of 2021
June 1, 2021
Excellent
The book was easy to ready as it is with most Warren Wiersbe books. Great questions at the end of each chapter to encourage you to think and reflect!
The book was easy to ready as it is with most Warren Wiersbe books. Great questions at the end of each chapter to encourage you to think and reflect!
December 11, 2022
I love the book of Nehemiah, and Wiersbe's commentary was a very helpful companion.
February 1, 2023
Great book on leadership and determination.
December 16, 2024
Leadership Challenge
Made me aware that often I envy the leader’s position without thinking the responsibilities it entails. Lord please help me develop the qualities of a leader.
Made me aware that often I envy the leader’s position without thinking the responsibilities it entails. Lord please help me develop the qualities of a leader.
July 29, 2023
3.5 stars
This is one of the better books in this series. Wiersbe did a good job of connecting what was happening in Nehemiah back to the Torah. I found the insights on the year of jubilee interesting, and he did a nice summary of Nehemiah’s qualities.
However, I am appalled at how he did not acknowledge corporate sin and repentance which is what makes the book of Nehemiah stand out to me. Then again, he is from that old school, evangelical background that doesn’t like to think about systemic sin.
I found all the random quotes from poets and US politicians annoying. They added nothing of substance or value. He markets this book as a commentary, so more time should be spent explaining the actual biblical text.
He also uses some poor reasoning (which can be due to his American, evangelical, old school background). For instance, he says the people in Nehemiah’s time were willing to listen to the word for hours but Christians today can’t stand when a sermon goes over time (I cringed really hard). He also draws some parallels between church building programs and the wall, giving in the book and tithing, and some contradictory messages on patriotism.
The biggest flaw is the one I see time and time again in Wiersbe’s writing and that is in reading too much into things that may not actually be that important. He seems to think all the gates have some sort of spiritual symbolism which I don’t find convincing (but am willing to be proven wrong).
I do like this book enough to keep it rather than donate it like I have with some of his others. I can see myself coming back to refer to it.
This is one of the better books in this series. Wiersbe did a good job of connecting what was happening in Nehemiah back to the Torah. I found the insights on the year of jubilee interesting, and he did a nice summary of Nehemiah’s qualities.
However, I am appalled at how he did not acknowledge corporate sin and repentance which is what makes the book of Nehemiah stand out to me. Then again, he is from that old school, evangelical background that doesn’t like to think about systemic sin.
I found all the random quotes from poets and US politicians annoying. They added nothing of substance or value. He markets this book as a commentary, so more time should be spent explaining the actual biblical text.
He also uses some poor reasoning (which can be due to his American, evangelical, old school background). For instance, he says the people in Nehemiah’s time were willing to listen to the word for hours but Christians today can’t stand when a sermon goes over time (I cringed really hard). He also draws some parallels between church building programs and the wall, giving in the book and tithing, and some contradictory messages on patriotism.
The biggest flaw is the one I see time and time again in Wiersbe’s writing and that is in reading too much into things that may not actually be that important. He seems to think all the gates have some sort of spiritual symbolism which I don’t find convincing (but am willing to be proven wrong).
I do like this book enough to keep it rather than donate it like I have with some of his others. I can see myself coming back to refer to it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews