Nehemiah Lesson 1

OUTLINE OF NEHEMIAH

KEY VERSE: Nehemiah 6:3 “And I sent messengers unto them, saying I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease whilst I leave it, and come down to you?”

THEME: In the twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes 1, ruler of Babylon (445 B.C.), Nehemiah, the King’s Cupbearer, received royal permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the ruined city (Nehemiah 1:11; 2:16). The walls were built in fifty-two days in the face of opposition from without and discouragement within. For twelve years he worked to restore civil and religious order in Jerusalem, and then he returned to Babylon. During his absence from Jerusalem, moral and religious abuse arose, and he hastened back to deal with the issue.

DATE: 432 B.C. Events cover a period of eleven years (from 445 B.C. to 434 B.C.

WRITER: Nehemiah. He held the office of cupbearer to the king of Persia. He was a worthy member of the old line Hebrews, and fits into the same category as Moses, Joshua, and David. He was sent to be governor of Palestine for and by the Persian king. Some think Ezra wrote the account and that the books Ezra, I and II Chronicles, and Nehemiah were all one book.

WRITTEN: Largely as an autobiography of Nehemiah. It opens and closes with prayer. Its message is for those who would serve.

THE BOOK: Number in the Bible: 16th of 66 books. Number of chapters: 13. Number of verses: 406. Number in order of writing: 11th book of history.

PURPOSE: To give a description of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, the renewing of the Covenant, and the temple and Sabbath reforms.

DIVISIONS: 1. The discouraging report (1:1-11) 2. The expedition to Jerusalem (2:1-20) 3. The list of builders (3:1-32) 4. The opposition and discouragement (4:1-5:19) 5. The adversaries craftiness (6:1-7:4) 6. The remnant under Zerubbabel (7:5-73) 7. The revival: causes and effects (8:1-10:39) 8. The redistribution of the population (11:1-36). 9. The dedication of the walls (12:1-43). 10. The disorder and reformation (12:44-13:31)

FACTS: 1. Nehemiah was born in exile. 2. Nehemiah’s character was without blot. 3. Nehemiah became the king’s cupbearer. 4. Nehemiah represents the dedicated businessman. 5. The word “So” (key word) appears thirty-two times. 6. The book opens and ends with prayer. 7. Nehemiah’s administration covers a period of thirty-six years. 8. Nehemiah was the civil governor while Ezra was the priest. 9. Almost one hundred years had gone by since the return, and no progress, except for the temple.

OUTLINE: I. The work of construction (Chapters 1-7). 1. The prayer (Chapter 1) 2. The place (Chapter2). 3. The plan (chapter3). 4. The problems (chapter 4-5). 5. The prize (chapter 6). 6. The poll (chapter 7). II. The work of consecration (chapter 8-10). 1. The construction (chapter 8). 2. The confession (chapter 9). 3. The covenant (chapter 10). III. The work of consolidation (chapters 11-13). 1. How it was commended. (Chapters 11-12:26) a. Distribution of the population. b. Descendants of the priests. 2. How it was completed –twelve years later. (Chapters 12:27-13:21). a. Dedication of the city (chapter 12:27-47) b. Dealing with the sin (chapter 13).

MISCELLANEOUS: The teaching of the gates (chapter 3): 1. The sheep gate (v.1) Lamb led to slaughter (John 1:29) (I Peter 1:18) 2. The fish gate v.3 Fishers of men; soul winning. (Mark 1:17) (Matt. 4:19) 3. The old gate (v.6) Old paths-old truths (Jer. 6:16; 18:15) 4. The valley gate (v.13) Speaks of humility. (James 4:10) 5. The dung gate (v.14) Putting away uncleanliness; separation. (II Cor. 6:14-16). 6. The fountain gate (v.15) Fresh spring water. Speaks of the Holy Spirit. (John 7:37). 7. The water gate (v.26) No repair needed here. Speaks of the Word of God (Ps 119:9). 8. The horse gate (v.28) Soldiers enter here. We are in spiritual warfare. (Eph. 6:12)9. The east gate (v.29) Closed; reserved for messiah (Malachi 4:2) (Titus 2:13). 10. The judgment gate (v.31) Means appointed place. Speaks of judgment seat. (II Cor. 5:10) (Rev. 14:10).

ENEMIES OF THE WORK: 1. Sanballat Means “Hate in disguise” – Angel of light. 2. Tobiah means “The servant” – He was Sanballat’s puppet. Good appearance, bad heart. 3. Geshem means “A violent shower” He brought a shower of ridicule and criticism.

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