Study Notes Ed Underwood

Nehemia: Return from Exile: Rebuild the Walls

“Our enemies...knew that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”

(Nehemiah 6:15-16)

The fifth major unit within the seventeen Historical Books is referred to as the Post Exilic Period. The books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther record Israel’s “second exodus,” this one from exile in Babylonia. This mini-exodus that only involved a returning remnant came in three waves. Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple in the first wave of 50,000. After God foiled a Satanic plot to exterminate God’s people in Persia, godly Esther reigns as Queen of Persia. Eighty-one years after Zerubbabel’s return, Ezra brings 5,000 Jews to Jerusalem to rebuild their godly culture. Finally, Nehemiah leads the third and last return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. This was the time when the prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi spoke.

The chronology of Nehemiah’s time is important:

Ezra 1-6

Restoration under Zerubbabel 538-515 First Return (50,000) Rebuild the Temple Haggai-Zechariah

Esther

58-year gap No Journeys Home Life in Persia

Reformation under Ezra

457 Second Return (2,000) Rebuild the People

Reconstruction under Nehemiah 444-425

Third Return

Rebuild the Walls Malachi

Esther

Ezra 7-10

Nehemiah

The book of Nehemiah covers the 20-plus years of history from the year Nehemiah first heard the news of conditions in Jerusalem (445 B.C.) to the early years of Darius’ reign in Persia (423 B.C.). Most of the events took place in 444 B.C.—when he arrived in Jerusalem and rebuilt the walls within 52 days (chapters 1-7), and in 432-432 B.C.—when he returned to institute spiritual reforms in partnership with Ezra (chapters 8-13). I believe Nehemiah wrote the book while in his 60s, soon after Darius replaced Artaxerxes (4423 B.C.). “The books of Ezra and Nehemiah reflect some of the bleakest and most difficult days in Israel’s long Old Testament history. Though the Exile was over and a remnant people was in process of rebuilding the superstructures of national life, the prospects for success paled in comparison of the halcyon days of the past when the Davidic kingdom dominated the entire eastern Mediterranean world. What was needed was a word of encouragement, a message of hope in the God who had once blessed His people above all nations of the earth and who had promised to do so again.” (Eugene H. Merrill, “A Theology of Ezra-Nehemiah and Esther, in A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament, pp. 200-201)

The Book of Nehemiah demonstrates how God uses His people in fulfilling His promises. Ezra the priest and Nehemiah the cupbearer were God’s choice to guide Israel to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. Nehemiah was one of the greatest leaders of Israel:

Although Israel had failed as God’s people and seemed hopelessly exiled, God had not forgotten His covenants with Abraham and David. His mighty and merciful hand worked through the Gentiles to restore a true form of worship and true worshippers separated to Himself in the land of promise. It would be to the descendants; these restored and purified worshipers that Messiah would come to be worshipped in Spirit and truth. The lesson for God’s people is clear: God is always working to move His agenda forward. The darkest days cannot extinguish the light of God’s truth and grace.

I. REBUILDING THE WALLS: God stirs the heart of a privileged Jew (Nehemiah) to take bold action for his people and the welfare of Jerusalem. 40 year-old Nehemiah relies on God and leads with courage to build the walls in record time in spite of intense external and internal opposition. Jerusalem now exists in its historical location pursuing its historical religion—Judaism. (1-7)

God uses leaders who work hard, pray even harder, and refuse to quit!

Thirteen Year Gap

The cupbearer of a Persian king was the ultimate insider. Nehemiah had the king’s complete trust and confidence. Esther is Artaxerxes’ stepmother. She must have been influential in Nehemiah’s appointment to such a high office.

1. PREPARING TO BUILD: The project to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem fails and they are torn down again. Nehemiah cannot tolerate the news from his homeland and takes courageous action. Thirteen years after Ezra and ninety-four years after Zerubbabel, Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem to inspect the walls and plan their restoration. (1-2)

2. BUILDING: Opposition quickly arises, but Nehemiah presses on in bold faith and effective leadership. The project is completed in an incredible fifty-two days, and even the enemies recognize that it can only have been accomplished with the help of God. (3-7)

II. RESTORING THE PEOPLE: The construction of the walls is followed by the consecration and consolidation of the people. Ezra and Nehemiah lead the people in repentance for the sins of the Jews and resolve to remain pure from foreign influence. (8-13)

RENEWING THE COVENANT: Ezra again leads the people toward revival by reading and teaching the Word of God. This revival takes the same course of the reforms Ezra led thirteen years before. (8-10)

OBEYING THE COVENANT: Unfortunately, Ezra’s revival is short-lived; and Nehemiah, who returned to Persia in 432 BC, makes a second trip to Jerusalem about 425 BC to reform the people. He cleanses the temple, enforces the Sabbath, and requires the people to put away their foreign wives (11-13).

Messiah: In the book of Nehemiah the Old Testament historical books end leaving everything restored except the king. The temple is rebuilt, Jerusalem is reconstructed and secure, the covenant is renewed, and the people are reformed. The messianic line is intact, but the King is yet to come. The decree of Artaxerxes in his twentieth year (2:1) marks the beginning point of Daniel’s prophecy of the Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9:25-27). The Messiah will come at the end of the sixty-nine weeks, and this is exactly when Jesus Christ showed up—AD 33! The decree took place on March 4, 444 BC. 69 weeks x 7 years = 483 years or 173,880 days (using the 360-day prophetic year). This leads to March 29, AD33—the exact day of the Triumphal Entry! (Luke 19:28-40)

III. NEHEMIAH AND YOU: Nehemiah worked hard, prayed harder, and refused to quit!

1. “Nehemiah’s singleness of purpose, attention to detail, willingness to delegate authority, dedication to service, and dependence on God were combined in a man who can simply be labeled as a servant of God.” (Merven Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, p. 59) Would the people you lead in your life, your work, and your home describe you in this way? How do you feel you can become a more “Nehemiah-like” leader?

2. Nehemiah worked hard! Do you? The best way to find out if you’re the type of person who works hard is to ask someone who loves you enough to tell you the truth.

3. Nehemiah prayed even harder! Do you? What would your Heavenly Father say about your prayer life? Are you one of His children He hears from a lot when you’re going through tough times? Or do you sulk because you “don’t think prayer works”?

4. Nehemiah refused to quit! Do you? Is your history in meeting challenges the history of a persevering leader or a quitter?