Nehemiah

Themes and Insights from Nehemiah


Theme 1: (1-4): Following the Lord involves repenting of one’s sin and trusting him for guidance. Nehemiah confessed the sin of his people, his household and his own personal sin. ( 1:6-7). He confronted his enemies who were opposing the rebuilding of the walls and the fortifying of the city , not allowing the plans to be compromised or delayed. (2: 19-20). From Nehemiah’s success and the success of those who worked at rebuilding the city , I am reminded that the Lord blesses the work of those who follow him ( 3: 28-32). Nehemiah overcame the plot of those who tried to kill those who worked on the wall by dividing them into groups and having men work with spears to protect the others. (4:15-18).

Theme 2: (5-8): The individual or individuals who are faithful to obey the Lord and are just will experience success and victory from the Lord as their work prospers. Nehemiah instructed the rich landowners, rebuking them and telling them to treat the people fairly. (5:9). He continued his task of reconstruction not giving into the opposition he faced (6: 1-14). As a result of this the Lord gave him success and the repairs were completed in only 52 days. (6: 15-16). Chapter 7 of Nehemiah recorded the details of the establishment of order in Jerusalem through having soldiers posted in the fortifications in the walls and the restoration of the Temple worship through the establishment of priests and Levites. The people heard the covenant read to them by Ezra (8:1-4) and later commit themselves to it by observing the ceremonies God had given them by celebrating the Festival of Booths in which they remembered the Lord’s faithfulness to them in the desert. (8:13-18).

Theme 3: (9-13): The Lord is merciful and faithful to us and in reverence we must worship him and have times of celebration and thanksgiving for what he has done. Through the people repenting as a nation when they assembled as a people and were instructed by Ezra , I am reminded that remembering the Lord’s goodness allows an individual or group of people to boldly pray and ask the Lord to restore what had been lost. ( 9:1-32). Pray and petition involves faith and commit as the people had to sign an oath of allegiance promising to follow the Lord. ( 9:38-10:39). From the detailed record of the people and the account of the Levites and Priests performing their duties ( 11-12) , I am reminded that the Lord was faithful to his promise of restoration ( Deuteronomy 28). Nehemiah upon returning from a visit to King Xerxes , found that the people had strayed from the Lord and so he urged the people to come back to the covenant and to abandon their foreign wives and children. (Nehemiah 13).