NEHEMIAH 6 and 7:1-4

This week we are privileged to focus on Nehemiah 6. What an intriguing chapter! It’s filled with four major attempts to attack Nehemiah’s health, reputation, integrity, and life. For the murder-mystery types, this chapter is for you. Nehemiah truly was an outstanding leader—a hero, in fact. As we focus on his fierce resolve against relentless oppression, we once again read about an Old Testament Christ-figure. Certainly, Christ is the prototype leader who faced oppression no one has ever faced or could ever face. At the same time, just because Nehemiah was a Christ-like figure doesn’t mean we can’t be just as fierce in our resolve in 2025. That Christ gave us the fullest expression of a hero doesn’t let us off the hook. Even today, we are called to live with a fierce resolve to stand on the gospel, willing and able to withstand the devil’s schemes. As we focus on Nehemiah 6, we pray the Holy Spirit will continually strengthen us by grace in Christ (II Timothy 2:1) as Christ’s ambassadors!

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah Chapter 5

More problems plague the first generation of new exiles in Jerusalem in Nehemiah 5. Problems exist from the outside—enemies surround Israel who do not want these Jews to succeed. However, in Nehemiah 5, we encounter significant internal problems. The economy is plagued by, well, a plague. Actually, more than that, the upper class uses extortion, exorbitant taxation, and high interest rates to exploit their own people! So much so, some lower-class farmers are forced to sell their own children into slavery (bondservitude).

The situation is dire, indeed.

Enter Nehemiah! He addresses issues with a stern rebuke, forcing the upper crust to commit to change, including taking religious vows to hold them accountable. It’s hard to imagine how important a figure like Nehemiah was. Without his extreme approach to fixing the economic crisis, one can only wonder how long Israel would self-implode. However, redemptive history involves God’s overpowering and overreaching hand through people to achieve His purposes and promises.

It’s a practical and challenging chapter. May the Lord use this Sunday Sermon for His glory and our good.

Peace,

Pastor Mark

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 4

Paul warned his protege Timothy, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Nehemiah 4 teaches us especially about responding to self-declared opponents of Christ and His people. While openly aggressive persecution of Christians is relatively rare in modern North America, God wants believers everywhere to ready themselves to face opposition faithfully. Because God is worthy of our all, He calls us to respond to this world’s hostility with a fierce obedience, a response that begins with bold prayer, follows with shrewd action, and flows from a heart transformed by God’s love in Christ.

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah faces King Artexerxes downcast and depressed. The King asks him why he looks so gloomy, which opens up the opportunity for Nehemiah to share his desire to leave his post as cupbearer in Susa, to wall builder in Jerusalem. The trajectory of Nehemiah 2 is really quite inspiring. It begins with a downcast Nehemiah, but it ends with resolve, hope, and motivation. As we go through this story, we hope you will feel inspired to grow together in faith, motivated by the Holy Spirit as the Master Contractor.

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 1

The book of Nehemiah begins as a memoir. Nehemiah reflects on his situation—a cushy government job in Susa, a Persian city in modern-day Iran. The Persian Empire had not been the picture of stability during the fifteen years separating Ezra and Nehemiah. However, in 445 BC, Persia experienced a period of relative stability—another “hand of God” moment. According to Dale Davis, this stability may have made it easier for King Artaxerxes to release his trusted cupbearer to help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Before Nehemiah receives this royal green light to leave, he first grieves the dire straits his people are experiencing back in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1 primarily consists of a personal prayer. Like this past Sunday, when we focused on a prayer offered by Ezra, we will now break down Nehemiah’s opening prayer before he sets out to help rebuild Jerusalem.

SCRIPTURE: Ezra 9

It's been 80 years since Cyrus the King of Persia decreed that Jerusalem should be rebuilt. But the rebuilders were opposed by the local inhabitants. King Darius I searched the records and found Cyrus' decree and redecreed that Jerusalem be rebuilt. In Chapter 7, Darius' grandson sends Ezra to Jerusalem. Now finally Ezra arrives and Ezra pulls out his beard in shock. He was commissioned by King Artaxerxes of Persia to enforce God’s Law in Judah. What Ezra discovers, however, is an alarming intermingling with surrounding nations through marriages across religious divides—an act that threatens the very existence of this fragile remnant in Jerusalem. Ezra 9 is a difficult chapter to grasp, but its true challenge lies in its timeless call to faithful holiness. While our context today differs from that small, vulnerable community in fifth-century BC Jerusalem, the call to holiness remains unchanged. How, then, can we pursue holiness in a world like ours while still being winsome with the Gospel?

SCRIPTURE: EZRA 7

Sixty years separate Ezra 6 from Ezra 7. A fresh group of newly deported Jews arrives in Jerusalem, led by Ezra himself.

After spending time this past week exploring the person of Ezra, this week we look at him as an Old Testament, Christ-like figure. Obviously, Ezra was not Jesus, but he does display many characteristics that helped Israel prepare for the coming Messiah. We also see a better Ezra fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.

SCRIPTURE: Ezra 4-6

Ezra 4–6 forms a single, cohesive unit. Two weeks ago, we looked at Ezra 4 — a complex chapter describing opposition in two different historical settings. That chapter is framed by Israel’s struggle during the reign of King Darius as well as King Artexertes 90 years later. Chapters 5–6 pick up the story with King Darius, describing in more detail what that opposition looked like. These chapters offer rich history, but also spiritual insights woven throughout. In this episode we’ll consider both — the historical events themselves and, even more importantly, how the spiritual lessons influence our reliance on God’s provision today.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 31

THIS SUNDAY, we were privileged to welcome Pastor Jonathan (Jono) Darville from Peace Presbyterian Church in Cary. Pastor Darville’s message is from Psalm 31 on the theme, "A Grief Absorbed."

SCRIPTURE: Ezra 4

This Sunday, we tackled a timely question: How should the church respond to opposition? It’s a challenging question in our day and age, especially in light of recent events. Clearly, synchronizing our beliefs to match the ideologies of the age is not an option. And yet, without realizing it, we may already have capitulated in ungodly or unfaithful ways.

When we muster the courage to stand our ground, what does that look like? Who (or what?) even is the opposition? What did this look like for the deported Jews in Jerusalem in the 6th century, and how does it differ for us today through the lens of the Cross? Fortunately, Scripture has plenty of answers for us as we dive into Ezra 4 today

Though we are walking through Ezra-Nehemiah, our subtitle is: Rediscovering Our Foundation in Jesus. We have hope, victory, anticipation, and joy here and now because of what Jesus has already done for us—regardless of opposition!