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Episode #18: "Rebuilding the Walls"
HOST: Michael Whitworth
SPONSOR: BibleTalk.tv
Along with Ezra, the book of Nehemiah deals with the final events of the OT story. The story of Ezra ended with the exiles struggling to truly revive their existence in Palestine, even though they had been successful in rebuilding the Temple. The story of Nehemiah deals with their efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, a challenge that seemed daunting, but under Nehemiah’s leadership was completed in a mere 52 days. (A city’s walls may not seem important to us, but they were a source of physical defense and emotional strength for its citizens, cf. Prov. 25:28).
Authorship
Much of Nehemiah was written in the first-person, so it is clear that we are effectively reading Nehemiah’s memoirs. Originally, Ezra and Nehemiah were one book, so while Nehemiah wrote down his memoirs of the events described, what was preserved for us was likely the product of a compiler/editor who perhaps finished his work around 400 BC.
Date & Audience
The events of the book take place somewhere around 450 BC. As stated above, an editor likely gave Ezra/Nehemiah its final form some fifty years later. Nehemiah was particularly important to God’s people as a reminder that they were capable of great things if they would only turn back to God in faith and obedience. Nehemiah’s memoirs are particularly concerned with even the slightest slip back into idolatry or unfaithfulness to the covenant.
Nehemiah & the NT
Nehemiah’s story is not one that echoes in the NT as much as other OT books, but there are some important themes. Prayer becomes an important part of spirituality in the book of Nehemiah, and it is a trend that continues into the NT. The importance of godly leadership and a godly work ethic are important NT themes as well.
Keys to Reading
The book of Nehemiah teaches us a lot about leadership, including:
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By Michael WhitworthHOST: Michael Whitworth
SPONSOR: BibleTalk.tv
Along with Ezra, the book of Nehemiah deals with the final events of the OT story. The story of Ezra ended with the exiles struggling to truly revive their existence in Palestine, even though they had been successful in rebuilding the Temple. The story of Nehemiah deals with their efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, a challenge that seemed daunting, but under Nehemiah’s leadership was completed in a mere 52 days. (A city’s walls may not seem important to us, but they were a source of physical defense and emotional strength for its citizens, cf. Prov. 25:28).
Authorship
Much of Nehemiah was written in the first-person, so it is clear that we are effectively reading Nehemiah’s memoirs. Originally, Ezra and Nehemiah were one book, so while Nehemiah wrote down his memoirs of the events described, what was preserved for us was likely the product of a compiler/editor who perhaps finished his work around 400 BC.
Date & Audience
The events of the book take place somewhere around 450 BC. As stated above, an editor likely gave Ezra/Nehemiah its final form some fifty years later. Nehemiah was particularly important to God’s people as a reminder that they were capable of great things if they would only turn back to God in faith and obedience. Nehemiah’s memoirs are particularly concerned with even the slightest slip back into idolatry or unfaithfulness to the covenant.
Nehemiah & the NT
Nehemiah’s story is not one that echoes in the NT as much as other OT books, but there are some important themes. Prayer becomes an important part of spirituality in the book of Nehemiah, and it is a trend that continues into the NT. The importance of godly leadership and a godly work ethic are important NT themes as well.
Keys to Reading
The book of Nehemiah teaches us a lot about leadership, including: