Nehemiah - Chapter Eighteen

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 18

A GENERAL HISTORY OF ISRAEL FROM ABRAHAM THROUGH NEHEMIAH

Nehemiah 9

Part 4

Intro.

Nehemiah 9 is primarily a history of the nation of Israel from its beginning as a nation up to the time of Nehemiah.

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

B. Background information on God is given which qualifies Him as the ultimate authority and being over Israel and every other people. Neh. 9:6

II. THE ABRAHAMIC ERA. Neh. 9:7-8

A. The nation of Israel is God's idea. Neh. 9:7

B. God made a covenant with Abraham. Neh. 9:8

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.

III. THE EGYPTIAN ERA. Neh. 9:9-10

A. The emphasis of this part of the history is on the ill that came upon the Egyptians as a direct result of their mistreatment of the Jews.

B. The Egyptians were in a position to have the upper hand on the Jews.

C. God, who knows exactly where His people are at every moment, dealt harshly with the Egyptians as a direct result of their mistreatment of His people.

D. God gained fame far and wide in view of what He did to the Egyptians.

IV. THE EXODUS ERA. Neh. 9:11-14

A. The miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. Neh. 9:11

B. God's divine protection. Neh. 9:12

C God's giving of the law. Neh. 9:13-14

V. THE WILDERNESS ERA. Neh. 9:15-23

A. God's faithful and generous provision for His people. Neh. 9:15

B. The sins which defeated Israel. Neh. 9:16-17

C. The patience and mercy of God. Neh. 9:17

D. Israel's preservation in the wilderness by God in spite of their sins. Neh. 9:18-21

E. God's preparations to bring Israel into the promised land. Neh. 9:22-23

VI. THE CONQUEST ERA. Neh. 9:24-25

A. They took the land of Canaan and became rich therein.

B. The credit for their great victories & success goes to God.

VII. THE JUDGES ERA. Neh. 9:26-27

A. The period of the judges was one of the lowest times in the life of Israel. Neh. 9:26 Five specific offenses are named in this verse.

1. "Nevertheless they were disobedient."

a. God said take the land. Joshua 1 Consider Judges 2:2.

b. Judges is given to complacency and a refusal to fully take the land as God had commanded.

c. Consider the book of Ruth. Sin had brought famine to Bethlehem (the house of bread and praise). Rather than address the sin, the family of Elimelech left the land.

2. "And rebelled against thee."

Consider Judges 6:2 & 11:30-40. Judges 21:25.

3. "And cast thy law behind their backs."

Consider Judges 10:6 & chapter 17.

4. "And slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee"

They did not want to hear the truth and killed the messengers who brought it to them.

Consider Judges 6:30.

5. "And they wrought great provocations."

In eight cycles of God's goodness and deliverance followed by safety and prosperity followed by backsliding and deep sin followed by captivity and oppression, the seemed to learn nothing. Each time, they were delivered and blessed, they soon returned to their sinful ways.

Study notes:

With each of the five above-named charges against Israel worth 20 points, what would be your grade?

What verse in Judges best summarizes the era of the Judges?

B. In spite of their repeated turning from God into self-will and wickedness, God delivered them from every enemy. Neh. 9:27

1. He brought enemies to punish them. "Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them."

a. Among the enemies who came and placed them into captivity and oppression were the Canaanites, the Medianites, the Philistines, the Ammonites and the Moabites. There was also civil war.

b. It is noteworthy that these enemies did not prevail over Israel because of their superior military might. They prevailed because they were tools in the hand of God which He was using for the specific purpose of punishing Israel for her sins.

Study notes:

Have you ever recognized the hand of God in bringing a mortal enemy to punish you?

2. He brought "saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies."

a. For every enemy, God also provided a savior, some means of deliverance. 1 Cor. 10:13. 2 Chron. 7:14.

b. Among Israel's saviors (judges) were Gideon, Deborah, Samson and others.

Study notes:

In less than three minutes, summarize your favorite Judges story.

VIII. THE ERA OF THE KINGS. Neh. 9:28-29

A. Verses 28-29 summarize 1 Samuel through 2 Chronicles, the era of the kings.

1. "After they had rest."

Actually, Samuel was the last of the judges and during his day, Israel "had rest" or peace.

2. Israel was dissatisfied with the direct leadership of God over them through judges. They demanded a king, or monarchy which God permitted without His blessing. See 1 Samuel 8.

Study notes:

Name something specific that you have insisted on to your own hurt.

B. Israel's era of the kings had its glorious moments, but overall the trend was toward failure and ruin.

1. Under David and Solomon, the kingdom flourished.

2. At the death of Solomon, the kingdom split into two factions. Each had a king. Often the two sides fought each other. Each faction ever grew more wicked and rebellious against God. See 2 Chron. 36:16. Mat. 23:37-38.

Study notes:

Name three kings who ruled from Samaria.

Name three kings of Judah during the divided kingdom.

IX. THE ERA OF THE CAPTIVITY. Neh. 9:30-31

A. God brought the entire nation of Israel into captivity. Neh. 9:30

1. The Assyrians captured Israel with its headquarters at Samaria and removed this faction of the Jews from the land. See 2 Kings 17. Consider especially verse 6.

Study notes:

What happened to the ten northern tribes of Israel after their captivity?

2. The Babylonians captured Israel (Judah) with its headquarters at Jerusalem and removed this faction of the Jews to Babylon. See 2 Kings 25 and 2 Chronicles 36.

B. In spite of their great wickedness and during their captivity, God mercifully and graciously preserved His Jewish people. Neh. 9:31

1. In spite of 70 years in Babylon, God saw to it that Israel did not perish. Seen Jeremiah 25:11-12.

2. Through men and women such as Daniel and Esther, God showed them favor and preservation.

Study notes:

What happened to Judah after her captivity?

3. The time of the captivity is a marvelous example of God's ability to couple discipline with mercy in an equitable and just way.

X. THE PRESENT STATE OF ISRAEL IN THE DAYS OF NEHEMIAH. Neh. 9:32-37

A. These verses are a confession of the sins of Israel and the truth of this history.

"Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them. For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works" vss. 34-35.

Study notes:

When was the last time that you seriously, systematically and fully confessed your sins?

B. These verses are also a plea for the mercy and help of God.

"Let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us" vs. 32. "We are in great distress" vs. 37.

Study notes:

Have you noticed how much more prone we are to call on God for help when we're in trouble?

C. Verse 33 is the true analysis, judgment and key of this history.

"Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly."

Study notes:

What is the true analysis of God in your heart?

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"