The king sent letters with Nehemiah to Sanballat the Horonite and to Tobiah the Ammonite, the high officials of the region beyond the River, in order to pave the way for what Nehemiah was to accomplish. Additionally, the king commanded Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, to provide Nehemiah with all the timber necessary … Continue reading –>
In our Memory Text, Nehemiah prays ‘O great and awesome God’ as we sing in Hymn 86, “How Great Thou Art”, Hymn 88, “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” and in Hymn 90, “Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds”. Nehemiah reminds God of His promises in Nehemiah 1:8, 9 on Monday as does Hymn 510, … Continue reading –>
1. Arrived and weeping. His wishes have been fulfilled, and the temple rebuilt. Why is Nehemiah so filled with distress that he weeps in mourning for several days? What is the bad news? From the perspective of their neighbors, what has to happen to God’s people? Is their wish fulfilled? 2. Nehemiah receives bad news. Hanani, probably … Continue reading –>
Key Thought : Nehemiah was a man of prayer. He ask4ed the Lord to grant him favor before the king that the plan might be carried out. Nehemiah waited four months for the right moment. October 12, 2019 1. Have a volunteer read Nehemiah 1:1-4. Ask class members to share a thought on what the … Continue reading –>
Nehemiah 1:11 says that Nehemiah is the king’s cupbearer. To us this may seem like an unimportant job, but cupbearers could be men of powerful influence, since they had constant and close access to the king. Cupbearers tasted beverages for the king in order to prevent illness or death of the king. Herodotus points out that … Continue reading –>
Read Nehemiah’s prayer found in Nehemiah 1:5-11. What are the different components of the prayer? Why does he include himself in the prayer as those who are guilty? 1. God you are great and have mercy (Neh. 1:5). 2. Hear me (Neh. 1:6). 3. Confession of sins (Neh. 1:6-7). 4. Remember your promises (Neh. 1:8-9). 3. You have redeemed us (Neh. 1:10). … Continue reading –>
The book of Nehemiah opens somewhat in the same way the book of Daniel did (read Dan. 1:1-2), and that was with bad news. Yes, many had returned to their ancestral homeland, but things weren’t going too well for them there. Read Nehemiah 1:1-4. Why was Nehemiah so distressed? What was his response to the bad news he … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Nehemiah 1:1-2:20, Deut. 7:9, Ps. 23:1-6, Num. 23:19. Memory Text: “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said: ‘I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Ezra, the Priest and Scribe”, pages 607–617, in Prophets and Kings. Consider Ezra’s diligent work: “Ezra became a mouthpiece for God, educating those about him in the principles that govern heaven. During the remaining years of his life, whether near the court of the king of Medo-Persia or at Jerusalem, his … Continue reading –>
Read Ezra 7:6 and Ezra 7:10. What do these texts teach us about the importance of proper religious education? Ezra’s wholehearted devotion to God and his decision to study, practice, and teach the Word of God (Ezra 7:6, Ezra 7:10) prepared him for greater ministry in Israel. The biblical text literally states that he devoted himself to the studying, doing/making, and … Continue reading –>
