10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
Nehemiah
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.
To order a copy of Nehemiah,
please visit our Publications section.
Studies in Nehemiah Lesson 15
A GENERAL HISTORY OF ISRAEL FROM ABRAHAM THROUGH NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah
9
Part 1
Intro.
The great wall was completed against all odds. The people were organized into a an effective unit for offering continual worship and praise to God. They had humbled their hearts before God and dealt with their sins. A great revival came and there was joy and rejoicing everywhere.
The revival conditions persisted. Nehemiah 9:1-3 testifies to the fact that the people continued to stay in God's word, deal with their sins and worship God.
The spiritual leaders stood up to remind this people of how specifically
good to them God had been over the years. The remainder of Nehemiah
9 is a brief overview and history of Israel from her inception with Abraham
up to the immediate time of Nehemiah. The emphasis is on the continual
characteristics that prevailed during all those years. Throughout her entire
existence to Nehemiah's day, Israel is characterized by pride, rebellion and
disobedience. During this whole time, God is characterized by mercy, patience,
forgiveness and deliverance. Israel's existence solely by God's grace is vividly
evident in this history. All credit for who they were and all they had
accomplished goes to God. They were in no way deserving of the goodness and
blessings they received.
I. THE THEME OF
THIS HISTORY. Neh. 9:5-6
A. Throughout this history the emphasis is on exaltation and vindication of the Lord. Neh. 9:5
Study notes:
Where should the emphasis always be in all things?
1. In every instance, God had been just, good and right. "Bless the LORD your God for ever and ever."
a. Men can trust God because of His character. His total essence is good. There is no flaw in Him. 1 Chron. 16:34. Dan. 9:14. Isa. 6:3. Rev. 4:8. The Song of Solomon 5:16 says, "he is altogether lovely."
Study notes:
Have you ever found a flaw in God? Do you know anyone who has thought Him unjust? Name specific personal instances of the goodness of God in your life.
b. God is to be blessed and glorified because of who He is. Psalm 103. Rev. 4:2-11. Rev. 5:6-14.
Study notes:
In your own words, explain who God is.
2. God is to get credit for all of the good Israel ever knew. "Blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise." 1 Cor. 4:7. Phil. 2:5-11.
Study notes:
Who should get the credit for all the good you have ever known?
B. Background information on God that qualifies Him as the ultimate authority and being over Israel and every other people. Neh. 9:6
1. He is the only God there is. "Thou art the LORD alone." (Monotheism) Mark 12:29-32. 1 Cor. 8:4. 1 Tim. 2:5. Deut. 4:35. Deut. 6:4. Deut. 32:39. 2 Sam. 7:22. Ps. 86:10. Isa. 43:10. Isa. 44:6. Isa. 45:18.
Study notes:
How does this concept make true Christianity different from most other religious concepts? What is the prevailing God-concept of this day?
2. He created all that is. (Creation) Gen. 1. John 1:1-3. Heb. 1:10-12.
Study notes:
Discuss the world's stance on this concept today.
3. He preserves all that is. (Providence) Rom. 8:28. Col. 1:17.
Study notes:
How does modern evolutionary thinking account for continuing existence? Explain their concept of random chance.
4. The heavenly and natural world worship and obey Him. (Natural laws under His power, not under the power of man) Mark 4:41. Psa. 19:1-3.
Study notes:
Name specific examples of where this is true.
5. These Levitical leaders preface their historical overview of Israel with this foundation, exaltation and justification of the God of the universe who alone is responsible for her existence and her blessings.
God, not Israel, is the center of this story. It is He who is exalted,
not this people.
II.
THE ABRAHAMIC ERA. Neh. 9:7-8
A.
The nation of Israel is God's idea. Neh.
9:7
1. It had its origin with Abraham whom God called out from among the heathen nations of that day. This move by God and the birth of the nation is recorded in Genesis 12:1-3.
2. Three things that God did are named in Nehemiah 9:7. "Thou art the LORD the God, who:
a. "didst choose Abram."
Israel is not an accident. Their existence is the result of a carefully calculated move by God. God chose Abram as the man who would be the father of this people.
b. "broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees."
Ur of the Chaldees was known for its polytheism. The roots of every form of false system of worship are traceable to this region. For Abram, the commitment to follow the one God was tremendous. It meant renouncing all his upbringing and religious background. It meant leaving family, inheritance and all vestiges of home. It meant blindly following God to places unknown. The scope and depth of Abram's commitment is staggering to the comprehension. Consider Heb. 11:8-10.
Study notes:
Discuss conditions and beliefs in the area of Babylon at the time of Abraham. Discuss the magnitude of his commitment.
c. "gavest him the name of Abraham."
God changed his name from Abram meaning "high father" to Abraham meaning "father of a multitude." Read Gen. 17:1-8.
B.
God made a covenant
with Abraham. Neh. 9:8
1. The covenant as set forth in Genesis 12:1-3 is fourfold.
a. God promised to make of Abraham a great nation. This literally meant God would increase Abraham into a numerous people.
Study notes:
Discuss the literal fulfillment of this promise.
b. God promised to bless him. This meant material and spiritual prosperity.
Study notes:
What has been the history of the Jews along these lines?
c. God promised to make Abraham's name great. Abraham was to personally receive honor and the name Abraham would become an honored and oft-used name among men.
Study notes:
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the fulfillment of this promise?
d. God promised to make Abraham a blessing to others. Specifically God promised to bless people who blessed Abraham and curse people who cursed Abraham. Which way it would be was to be entirely dependant upon one's attitude toward Abraham and his offspring.
2. Later, God promised to give the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants. Gen. 17:8.
Study notes:
Who has the real claim of ownership to the land of Canaan?
3. God's covenant with Abraham was to be sealed with each Jewish male by the mark of circumcision. Gen. 17:9-14.
C. The fatherhood of Abraham extended not only to a physical nation, the Jews; it extended to a spiritual nation of believers in Jesus Christ.
1. Romans 4:11-12 says, "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised."
2. While and uncircumcised heathen, Abraham believed God and was justified by his faith. The event is recorded in Genesis 15:1-6. Compare Romans 4:1-3,9-13,17-25.
Study notes:
How does this preclude the justification of Abraham (or anyone) before God by works? See James 2:21-24. Consider the fact that Abraham was circumcised long prior to his offering of Isaac and God affirms that he was saved or justified while he was yet uncircumcised.
3. Abraham is prominent, not only in the lineage of Jews, but also in the spiritual lineage of all believers.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"