Second Chances: Nehemiah study

by Verna Hargrove

A study of the Jews returning to Jerusalem after being captives in Babylon for 70 years. When Nehemiah was told about the condition of the walls in Jerusalem, his heart was broken. He cared for his relatives who had returned to Jerusalem. He wanted to leave the solace of his Persian palace and go home to help his people who lived there. The needs of his relatives were great. He wanted to help. This story should challenge us to want to help the hurting lost people around us. We should ask for compassion to lead people to Jesus. The Book of Nehemiah is a real-life story that can put energy to our testimony. Are we ready to let God touch our hearts to help the hurting, lost world and be the hands and feet of Jesus? There was a revival. The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who were able to understand—all these joined together to bind themselves with an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord. They thought that they could do it in their own strength. They did not yet know how sinful their sinful nature was. They had enemies who planned to go among them and kill them, just to put an end to the work. The Jews who lived near the enemies went and told Nehemiah the plan. So he stationed men behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them with their families behind them. They had swords, spears and bows. Once everybody was ready, he stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, will fight for you and your families.”

40 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2016