Seven Studies for Small Groups at Emmanuel Anglican Church,

Glenhaven

Based on Peter Adam’s commentary, Ezra and Nehemiah: Walking in God’s

Words

AUGUST 2015

NehemiahWalking in God’s Words

(922)

(597)

(586)

(538)

(458)

(432)

under ZERUBBABEL

under EZRA

under NEHEMIAH

(597-432)

EZEKIEL (593-571)DANIEL (605-530)

ZECHARIAH (520-480)

MALACHI (440-430)

ISAIAH (740-681)MICAH (750-686)

JEREMIAH (626-585)OBADIAH (605-585)

ELIJAH (875-848)ELISHA (848-797)

JONAH (785-775)HOSEA (750-715)

(722)

REHOBOAM (reign 930-913) JEROBOAM I (reign 930-909)

MOSES (c. 1525 - 1405)JOSHUA

SAUL (reign 1050-1010)DAVID (reign 1010-970)

SOLOMON (reign 970-930)

ABRAHAM (c. 2165-1990)ISAAC (c. 2065-1885)

JACOB (c. 2000-1860)JOSEPH (c. 1910-1800)

(c. 1450)

(c. 1380-1050)

ADAM & EVE

(432-5 BC)

(6/5 BC)

(26 AD) JOHN THE BAPTIST

(30)

PENTECOST (30)PAUL CONVERTED (35)

1st MISSIONARY JOURNEY (46-48)2nd MISSIONARY JOURNEY (50-52)3rd MISSIONARY JOURNEY (53-57)

PAUL IMPRISONED IN ROME (59-61)

JAMES MARTYRED + PETER IMPRISONED (44)JERUSALEM COUNCIL (49-50)

JOHN EXILED ON PATMOS (90-95)

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Background InformationDate Kings of

Babylon then Persia

God’s people Ezra/Nehemiah Other Bible books

606-587 BC Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon

Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, and the people were taken to exile in Babylon

Jeremiah and Ezekiel; 2 Kings; 2 Chronicles

587-539 BC Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar of Babylon

The people were in exile in Babylon

Daniel

539 BC Cyrus, King of Persia, conquered Babylon, so also King of Babylon

Sometime after 539 BC the first group returned, led by Sheshbazzar/ Zerubbabel, and Jeshua the priest, and the altar was rebuilt

Ezra 1 -6 Promised in Isaiah 40 - 66; Jeremiah 32, 33; Ezekiel 35 - 48

530 BC Cambyses (from Persia) conquered Egypt

522 BC Darius I 515 BC - the temple was rebuilt

Haggai and Zechariah

485 BC Xerxes / Ahasuerus

Esther in Persia

465 BC Artaxerxes (King of Persia 465-424BC)

458 BC - the second group returned, led by Ezra

Ezra 7 -10 Possibly Malachi

Taken  from  Peter  Adam,  Ezra  and  Nehemiah:  Walking  in  God’s  Words  

445 BC - the third group returned, led by Nehemiah. The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt

Nehemiah 1 -12 Possibly Malachi

432 BC - Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem after a short visit to Babylon

Nehemiah 13 Possibly Malachi

Probably about 400 BC, the book of Ezra was collected and edited

STUDY 1: MEET NEHEMIAHNehemiah 1:1-2:9

Even though it’s not the last book in the Old Testament (that honour goes to Malachi), Nehemiah is the last historical bible book before the time of Jesus. This book is the story of Nehemiah’s return from exile in Persia to Jerusalem in 445BC, and his efforts rebuilding Jerusalem. But more than that, it’s an account of Israel’s great sin, and their great need for God’s mercy. Nehemiah, like Ezra, understands the need for God’s people to come back to him and listen to his words.

1. What does your name mean? Do you know why your parents gave you your name?

A. THE REPORT FROM JERUSALEM - NEHEMIAH 1:1-3

Read Nehemiah 1:1-3

2. What is the situation for Israel and Nehemiah in these opening verses?

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‘Ezra and Nehemiah followed the words of God, and taught and encouraged God’s people to do the same.’ P. Adam, Ezra and Nehemiah: Walking in God’s Words

‘Nehemiah means “the LORD comforts”.’P. Adam, Ezra and Nehemiah: Walking in God’s Words

B. NEHEMIAH’S PRAYER - NEHEMIAH 1:4-11Read Nehemiah 1:4-113. What is Nehemiah’s first response to Israel’s situation?

4. Complete the following table in pairs to show the nature of Nehemiah’s prayer:

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Background reading (optional)

Read Genesis 12:1-7 and notice what God promised to do for Abram’s descendants and the whole world.

Read Deuteronomy 29:22-30:6. What warning does God give? What promise does he make?

‘This is a great prayer - a good prayer to learn from. We can learn from the people who pray great prayers, and we can

learn from what they pray. We should learn most of all from the great prayers of the Bible, and make them our own.’

P. Adam, Ezra and Nehemiah: Walking in God’s Words

5. What can we learn from this prayer that might help shape our prayers?

C. THE BOLD REQUEST - NEHEMIAH 2:1-9Read Nehemiah 2:1-9

Reference What it says about God What it shows about Nehemiah

eg. Neh 1:4 Nehemiah knew this was serious - he prayed and fasted for days

Neh 1:5 God keeps his promises

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Note: the dates mentioned in 1:1 and 2:1 show that 4 months had passed since Nehemiah originally received the news of Jerusalem.6. What does Nehemiah ask for?

7. Why is Nehemiah’s request bold?

8. How does Nehemiah explain the success of his bold request?

9. In what ways is Nehemiah a model of faith for us to follow?

10. How does what we’ve learnt about God’s character in Nehemiah 1:1-2:9 help us in times of difficulty? List three things you’ve learnt.

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‘the decisive factor, as [Nehemiah] recognized, was not his faith but the object of it: the God who was his God, whose

good (i.e. gracious) hand’ was upon him.’D. Kidner, Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary

STUDY 2: REBUILDING THE WALLS AND GATES OF JERUSALEMNehemiah 2:10-4:23

A. INSPECTING THE WALLS - NEHEMIAH 2:10-20Read Nehemiah 2:10-201. Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, and then inspected the walls by night.

Why do you think he went at night?

2. How does he motivate the people to rebuild the wall (vv17-18)?

3. What does Nehemiah’s response to opposition show us about him (vv19-20)?

B. REBUILDING THE WALLS - NEHEMIAH 3:1-324. Read through Nehemiah 3:1-32 together. If you have time, have a group

member make note (on butcher’s paper or a whiteboard) of who builds what. You could use a table format, eg.

Who built What they built

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5. The Bible shows that Jerusalem is central to God’s plans for the world. How was Jerusalem part of God fulfilling his promises to Abram (see Study 1 and Genesis 12:1-7)?

6. The New Testament talks about building in a different way to the Old Testament. Read Ephesians 4:11-13. How can we put into action this building plan?

C. OPPOSITION AND WORK - NEHEMIAH 4:1-23Read Nehemiah 4:1-237. How would you describe Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s reactions to the building

of the wall?

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Peter Adam observes three purposes of the wall: 1. Protecting God’s name (see eg. 2:17)2. Protecting from enemies3. Protecting distinctiveness (a symbol of the differences

between Israel and her neighbours)

‘This great distinction between Jews and Gentiles was necessary to identify the people of God, and to preserve their

holiness.’ P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

8. Describe the manner of the Israelites’ work in Neh 4:15-23.

WHO ARE THE ENEMIES OF GOD’S PEOPLE TODAY?Read Ephesians 6:12-189. Paul outlines first what our struggle is not against, and then what it is

against. What does he say?

10. Who provides us with the armour to defend ourselves? How can we stand our ground when evil comes?

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‘See the great combination of trust in God and wise actions, for example in 4:9: “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” … We need to keep

the right balance between trusting God and taking responsibility.’

P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

STUDY 3: FEAR GODNehemiah 5:1-19

Read Nehemiah 5:1-19

A. COMPLAINT AND COMPENSATION - NEHEMIAH 5:1-13

1. How would you summarise the complaint of Neh 5:1-9?

2. What was wrong with this situation? (For the biblical background, split into two groups and look at Leviticus 25:36-38 and Leviticus 25:39-46, thinking about the situation described and the motivation for right behaviour).

3. How does Isaiah connect the rebuilding of the walls with the moral change of the people (Isaiah 58:9-10, 12)?

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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

To him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10

See also Proverbs 9:10, Ecclesiastes 12:13

4. How did the nobles and officials respond to Nehemiah’s charge (vv9-13)? How would you have responded?

B. LEADING FROM THE HEART - NEHEMIAH 5:14-195. What does Nehemiah tell us about his use of the food allowance?

6. How would you describe Nehemiah’s leadership?

7. How does Nehemiah explain his behaviour (v15)?

8. The word translated ‘reverence’ in v15 (NIV) can also be understood as ‘fear’ (see eg. v9 NIV). What do you think it means to ‘fear God’?

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9. As Jesus speaks to his disciples in Luke 12:4-7, who does he say not to fear, and why? Who does he say to fear, and why?

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‘One of the most frequent instructions in the Bible is: “Don’t be afraid”. … But the Bible also tells us to “fear God”, that is, to rightly reverence and respect God, to know that he is great, powerful and holy. He is not our servant, he is not our equal —

he is our Lord, and the Lord and King of everything.’ P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

‘May God in his mercy give us leaders of our churches who fear him. May God in his mercy teach us to fear him, even as we are also secure in his love and compassion in Christ, and

walk in his words.’ P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

STUDY 4: STRENGTHEN MY HANDS, O GOD Nehemiah 6:1-7:23

Read Nehemiah 6:1-7:5

1. Has fear of others ever stopped you from doing what you knew, as a Christian, you should do? What were the circumstances?

A. THREATS FROM OUTSIDE - NEHEMIAH 6:1-92. Split into two groups. One group will look at Nehemiah 6:1-4, the

other will look at 6:5-9. Answer the following questions in your group, and then report back to the larger group:

i. What threat against Nehemiah and Israel is recorded here?

ii. How does Nehemiah respond?

iii. What do you think of his response? What does Nehemiah’s response show about him?

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B. BETRAYAL AND TRIUMPH - NEHEMIAH 6:10-193. What is the nature of Shemaiah’s warning?

4. What does Nehemiah’s conviction that he shouldn't go into the temple show us about him? (Note that Nehemiah is not a priest - see Numbers 18:7)

5. What do you think of Nehemiah’s prayer in 6:14? Why?

6. How do their enemies respond to the completion of the wall?

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‘Here is God’s grace, that he frustrates those who oppose him, so that they will recognise his great power. So God revealed his power to Pharaoh, King of Egypt (Exodus 12:30-32), and when the people of Israel entered the Promised Land, Rahab of Jericho had heard of the Lord’s power and their victories. She asked for their protection, and joined the people of God.’

P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

7. What was the final source of intimidation to which Nehemiah was subjected (6:17-19)?

C. THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY - NEHEMIAH 7:1-5

8. Nehemiah looks like a very strong leader! But he constantly asks for God’s strength. How does a passage like 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 help us see the true source of strength?

9. In what situations do you need to ask for God’s strength so you don’t give in to fear?

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Of Nehemiah’s arrangements to keep the city safe in 7:1-5, Peter Adam says, ‘Nehemiah trusted God, and also made wise

practical decisions for this time of crisis.’ P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

‘…Nehemiah needed to clarify the ancestry of the people, so that only authentic Jews were brought to inhabit the city. So we have here in Chapter 7 the list of those who were the first to return from Babylon from 520 BC, the list we have already

read and studied in Ezra 2.’ P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

STUDY 5: OUR GREAT, MIGHTY, AWESOME AND LOVING GODNehemiah 8-10

A. PREACHING - NEHEMIAH 8Read Nehemiah 8:1-121. Who initiates the scene that unfolds at the Water Gate?

2. What is the Book of the Law of Moses?

3. How did the people react to hearing the Scriptures read? Why do you think they reacted this way?

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‘The next three chapters of Nehemiah are full of action and full of content. In Chapter 8 we read of Ezra preaching and

teaching God’s people from God’s law in the Bible, in Chapter 9 we have the prayer that was prayed in response to that

preaching, and in Chapter 10 the promises that they made to God in response to that preaching. It is very moving to see God’s people from so long ago doing what we do today. For every Sunday we hear the Bible read and taught, we respond

in prayer, and we respond by changing the way we live.’ P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

4. How does your reaction to the word of God compare to that of the Israelites?

B. PRAYER - NEHEMIAH 95. Read Nehemiah 9:1-38. As you read through, have a group member

record the group’s observations (on butcher’s paper or a whiteboard, if available) on the following:

i. what God is likeii. what the people didiii. what God did

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When there is faithful teaching of God’s word, ‘the people of God walk in God’s words, are built up, know how to obey God, and honour God. When it does not happen, the people of God are stunted, are not trained for ministry, and do not know how

to obey God or honour him.’ P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

Pause and spend a few minutes praying together, giving thanks for Jesus, and praying for those who haven’t put their trust in him. Note down 2 or 3 people you are praying for.

C. PROMISE - NEHEMIAH 10

Read Nehemiah 10:28-29.

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‘What the people were doing in Nehemiah 9 was pleading for God’s mercy in a time of judgement. This is a good prayer to pray, of the times in which we live are also the times of God’s judgement, which will climax in the return of Jesus Christ as Judge and Saviour. We live in a time when “the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven” (Romans 1:18), as well as a

time when “in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed” (Romans 1:17). And only those who turn to God and

his Son will be saved from the coming wrath…’P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

6. How can we learn to better respond to God’s word? Share with the group what has worked well for you, or what you’ve seen done, that could help us hear and respond to God’s word in faith.

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‘The word of God has been read, studied, explained, understood and received. The people have responded with

grief and joy. They have celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles. Then they have turned to God in prayer, confessing the sins

of their ancestors, and their own sins, and asking God to have pity on them in their distress. Now is the time to

promise true repentance, true amendment of life. Of course this is the shape of what should happen every time we read the Bible, and what should happen after every Bible study

and sermon. The presence of God in and through his words should change our lives.’

P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

STUDY 6: NEHEMIAH AND THE PEOPLE OF GODNehemiah 11-12

A. POPULATING JERUSALEM - NEHEMIAH 11Read Nehemiah 11:1-26

1. How did Nehemiah’s plan to populate the city work (Neh 11:1-2)? Why do you think the people responded the way they did?

2. Complete the following table outlining the people of God as shown in this chapter:

Verses Group11:4-9

11:10-14

11:15-18

11:19-24

11:25-30

11:31-36

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3. This re-populating of Jerusalem marks the culmination of God’s plans to restore his people to the place he had given them. Why do you think Nehemiah takes the trouble again to list their names?

4. What is the importance of Jerusalem, the temple and the priestly system for us as Christians? (You might like to look at Hebrews 9:11-14).

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‘Jerusalem is twice referred to as the “holy city” (11:1, 18) because it was the place where the temple was built, and

included “the holy place” and “the most holy place”. It was the holy city where God lived among his people, and so the home

of his holy people.’P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

B. THE JOYFUL DEDICATION OF THE WALL OF JERUSALEM - NEHEMIAH 12

Read Nehemiah 12:27-47

5. Describe the scene recounted in Nehemiah 12.

6. What is the mood of the scene? (See Neh 12:43 if you’re not sure!)

Read Hebrews 12:22-247. How is it that we have even more reason for joy than Israel in

Nehemiah’s day?

8. How can we remember to ‘rejoice in the Lord always’? (Philippians 4:4-7)

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‘We too are strengthened by our joy in God. If our prayers and our obedience seem weak, it is often because they are not

mixed with joy in God. And even if our circumstances bring no joy to us, we can still rejoice in God.’

P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

STUDY 7: MORE REFORMATION NEEDED! - NEHEMIAH 13Read Nehemiah 13:1-31

1. What does Eliashib do wrong? (you might like to look at Neh 2:10 for some background)

2. What else is going wrong? (see eg. Neh 13:15-16, 23-24, 28, 30)

3. How does Nehemiah respond? Do you think his reactions are warranted?

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‘The books of Ezra and Nehemiah reached their climax in the reading of the law, the repopulating of Jerusalem and the

solemn promises of the covenant in Nehemiah 8-12. But in Nehemiah 13 we encounter mixed marriages; threats to the purity of God’s people, the temple and the Sabbath; and the

wall no longer effective in preserving the purity of the people.’P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

4. Where in this chapter do we see Nehemiah’s frequent prayer, ‘remember me’? What do you think of this prayer?

5. How would you feel about praying, ‘remember me’? Why?

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‘I think that Nehemiah had a profound sense of human weakness and sinfulness, and knew that if God did not

remember Nehemiah’s faithfulness and good deeds, and if God did not use them, then they might well be lost and

destroyed. “Remember me” was the prayer of a powerless man who depended on God to judge. To pray for God to

remember was a desperate prayer that God would act. It was a prayer of humility and trust in God, as well as a desire for

God’s “well done”.’P. Adam, Walking in God’s Words

6. Read Hebrews 6:10 and 1 Corinthians 15:58. How will God ‘remember’ us?

7. Peter Adam writes that if we follow the example of Ezra and Nehemiah, we will ‘resolve to walk in God’s words and God’s ways, and help others to do the same.’ How can we put this into action?

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