This week, we began a new sermon series called, I Was Made for This, where we are studying the book of Nehemiah and talking about how to respond when God gives us a divine burden. Nehemiah's burden was so great that he risked everything to do something about it. As we study throughout this series, we will discover the divine burdens that God has placed within us, and we will be challenged by Nehemiah’s example to respond and do something about the burdens God has given us.
Who are some people (either past or present) who had a divine burden from God and did something about it? Describe their impact.
WATCH SERMON RECAP HERE
1. Read Nehemiah 1:1-4. Why was Nehemiah distraught over the walls of Jerusalem being torn down and the gates being destroyed? What was the significance of the city of Jerusalem having no walls?
Nehemiah 1:1-4
In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” 4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.
2. What stands out to you about the way Nehemiah responded to the news that the walls of Jerusalem had been torn down?
3. Read Nehemiah 1:5-11. What did Nehemiah pray for as he talked to God about his grief that the walls of Jerusalem were torn down? (There are multiple answers to this question.)
Nehemiah 1:5-11
Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. 8 “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. 9 But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’ 10 “The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants. 11 O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.
4. What evidence do you see in Nehemiah’s prayer (both from what he included in his prayer and what he did not include) that he took personal responsibility when it came to the divine burden God laid on his heart?
1. What divine burden has God placed on your heart? (If you need help understanding the divine burden God has given you, ask yourself these questions: What are you passionate about? What gets you out of bed in the morning? What need do you see in our world today that you can't quit thinking about?)
2. What is holding you back from taking personal responsibility and acting on the divine burden God has given you?
3. How can you follow Nehemiah’s example of the way he responded to the divine burden God placed on his heart?
Take a few moments now to follow Nehemiah’s example from Nehemiah 1 and pray. Get alone and pray about the divine burden God has placed on your lives. As you pray, acknowledge God’s amazing character, confess your sins, and ask God for an opportunity to do something about the burden He has placed on your life.
As we dive into the book of Nehemiah over the next few weeks, it will be helpful to have a better understanding of this book of the Bible. For the next few moments, read the introduction portion of the commentary on the book of Nehemiah from Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes. Then, discuss what you learned about this significant book of the Bible. The commentary can be found here.
Under the Introduction section of Dr. Constable's commentary on the book of Nehemiah that can be found here, read the sections under the headings that say “Title,” “Writer and Date,” and “Scope.” After you read, come back together with your group and answer the questions below.
1. Who is the author of Nehemiah, and how do we know?
2. What do we know about the authority that Nehemiah held during the time he wrote this book?
3. How quickly were the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt? What does this teach us about Nehemiah?
Under the Introduction section of Dr. Constable's commentary on the book of Nehemiah that can be found here, read the sections under the headings that say “Historicity” and “Outline.” After you read, come back together with your group and answer the questions below.
1. In what ways did Nehemiah lead the people of Israel, based on the outline of the book of Nehemiah that you read?
2. How does understanding an outline of the book of Nehemiah help you better understand this book of the Bible?
3. Name some of the reforms that Nehemiah instituted as he led the people of Israel.
Under the Introduction section of Dr. Constable's commentary on the book of Nehemiah, which can be found here, read the section under the heading that says “Conclusion.” After you read, come back together with your group and answer the questions below.
1. What two steps were critical to “reestablish God’s people in His will and in their land?”
2. What does the book of Nehemiah teach us?
3. What do you think some of the purposes of the book of Nehemiah were after reading this conclusion?
After reading the commentary on Nehemiah and discussing what you learned about this book of the Bible with your group, answer the question below:
1. How does understanding more about the book of Nehemiah help your understanding of Nehemiah 1, which you read earlier with your group?
When everyone has shared, end your time in prayer. Thank God for the book of Nehemiah, which encourages us to work hard and act on the divine burdens that God places on our hearts.
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