The Hallows Church

Nehemiah 9 reminds us that is God is faithful to his covenant promises even when his people are unfaithful.

Summary: Nehemiah 9 describes a day of confession and solemn worship just 24 days after the joy of Nehemiah 8. The Levites pray a prayer which might as well be a sermon. They skillfully condense the whole O.T narrative down into a few paragraphs, recounting the story of God’s persistent faithfulness to his covenant promises in the face of his people’s consistent unfaithfulness. Their prayer ends abruptly as they cry out for God to hear them in their distress as they are slaves in the land (under Persian rule). This points us forward to Jesus, the one who ever lived who was perfectly faithful to the covenant yet died a cursed death, so that, unfaithful men and women, through faith can graciously receive the blessing and life that Jesus deserved for his obedience.

Nehemiah 8

Nehemiah 7

Nehemiah 6- the trouble with good intentions, hearts that need changing and the work that needs to be done.

Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 4 sees the return of Sanballat and his cronies,

Nehemiah’s chief opponents. They escalate their threats from merely verbal, to physical and then mortal, making death threats against Nehemiah’s team. Nehemiah shows us how to face opposition to God’s work, be it physical opposition or spiritual opposition from the devil. The key in both Nehemiah’s day and in our day is God’s decisive victory that changes everything for God’s people. In the gospel, Jesus vanquished our greatest opponents, Satan sin and death and gives the upper hand in spiritual warfare, in which we are to be vigilant whilst also safe in the knowledge that Satan cannot do us any real harm.

Nehemiah 3 can look at first glance like a long and dare I say boring list of names and places. A closer look, however, reveals a wealth of beautiful truth for us to ponder. This chapter highlights that unity is possible even in a diverse group of people when God is at work in and through them. We also see in this chapter that there is a

wide range of ways to serve in God’s kingdom that means anybody can do something regardless of capacity and gifting. Lastly chapter 3 shows us about the importance of humility in God’s kingdom and it reminds us that though other people may overlook our efforts, God see it all and he is pleased when we have hearts that long for his glory and not our own.

1. A divine building project

2. A diverse and united work party

3. A defined role for everyone

Nehemiah 2 | Frank Mayfield by The Hallows Church

Luke 18:31-43 | Frank Mayfield by The Hallows Church

Luke 18:19-14 | Frank Mayfield by The Hallows Church