Nehemiah 2

OUTLINE:
I. \\#1:1-7:13\\ Restoring the Wall
    A. \\#1:1-2:20\\ Catching A Burden
        1. \\#1:1-4\\ Hearing the News
        2. \\#1:5-11\\ Nehemiah’s Prayer
        3. \\#2:1-8\\ Nehemiah’s Opportunity
        4. \\#2:9-20\\ Nehemiah’s Mission Begun
    B. \\#3:1-7:7\\ Building the Wall
II. \\#8:1-13:31\\ Restoring the People

I. \\#1:1-2:20\\ Catching A Burden
    A. \\#1:1-4\\ Hearing the News
    B. \\#1:5-11\\ Nehemiah’s Prayer
    C. \\#2:1-8\\ Nehemiah’s Opportunity
        1. \\#1\\ "in the month Nisan"-Nisan is the first month of
            the Jewish year.  \\#Neh 1:1\\ said that Hanani came in
            the month of Chisleu.  Chisleu is the 9th month of the
            Jewish year.  He had been grieving for 3 months.
        2. "I took up wine, and gave it unto the king"-Nehemiah was
            doing his job.
        3. "I had not been beforetime sad in his presence."
            a. Nehemiah’s grief was not getting better.
            b. No doubt during those 3 months, Nehemiah had been
                considering what needed to be done for he was ready
                when the king asked what he desired.
        4. \\#2-3\\ The king asked about Nehemiah’s sadness which he
            had likely been noticing for some time.
        5. \\#2\\ "Then I was very sore afraid."
            a. Not just afraid, not just sore afraid, but VERY, sore
                afraid.
            b. To bring displeasure to the king could result in
                death.
        6. \\#4\\ "For what dost thou make request?"-The king asked
            Nehemiah what he would like to do.
        7. "So I prayed to the God of heaven."
            a. At that moment, Nehemiah only had opportunity to
                quickly ask for God’s guidance.
            b. In the three months that Nehemiah had been grieving
                over the fallen wall, no doubt he had prayed and had
                a plan.
        8. \\#5\\ Nehemiah asked that he might go to Jerusalem to
            build it.  I wonder if he had any experience, but if not,
            it did not matter.  He had God.
        9. \\#6\\ "For how long…?"-Although the answer to the
            question is not given in the Scripture, the question
            itself indicates that Nehemiah would not be returning to
            Israel to stay.
       10. \\#7-8\\ Nehemiah made a request for safe passage to
            Israel.  The king also gave him wood for gates and walls
            of Jerusalem, as well as, a house for him to live within.
    D. \\#2:9-20\\ Nehemiah’s Mission Begun
        1. \\#9\\ "the king had sent captains of the army and
            horsemen with me."-There is no record of Nehemiah
            organizing or bringing a great company of Jews and wealth
            back with him, but the king sent a more-than-sufficient
            force to ensure his safety.
        2. \\#10\\ Israel’s Enemies
            a. "Sanballat the Horonite"-Horonite is built on a
                word that refers to a Moabite city.
            b. "Tobiah… the Ammonite"-A descendent from Ammon.
            c. Both of these nations were cousins to Jacob, both
                lines belonging to Lot.
            d. These men did not know what Nehemiah came to do for he
                kept it a secret \\#12, 16\\.  They only assumed that
                he had come to seek "the welfare of the children of
                Israel."
        3. \\#11\\ "was there three days"-Nehemiah arrived and
            shared with no one what his purpose was for at least
            three days.
        4. \\#12-15\\ Then he went out "in the night" to view the
            damage first hand.
            a. \\#13\\ "and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were
                broken down, and the gates… consumed with fire."
            b. It had been 142 years since Nebuchadnezzar destroyed
                the city and 92 years since the first Jews had
                returned, but the walls still lay largely in the
                same condition as when they were first destroyed.
        5. \\#16\\ "neither had I as yet told it"-This is the
            second time Nehemiah emphasized that he told no one of
            his intentions.  (See also \\#12\\.)  Even with the
            king’s command and provisions, he felt it best not to
            divulge that information.
        6. \\#17-18\\ "let us build up the wall of Jerusalem…."
            "And they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’"  - When
            Nehemiah revealed his plan, the people quickly agreed.
        7. \\#19\\ "Geshem the Arabian"
            a. Arabia seems to begin at the Jordan River and goes to
                the ocean.  It would include Jordan, Moab, Ammon, and
                other countries.
            b. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem laughed at the Jews and
                falsely insinuated that they were "rebelling against
                the king."
        8. \\#20\\ Nehemiah’s answer was "The God of heaven… will
            prosper us…."
            a. As always. with their godly cause came an ungodly
                enemy,
            b. Difficult times and enemies help to produce FAITH

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