THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the
prior devotions by Scripture, just clik
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for
the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
NEHEMIAH
INTRODUCTION
About 13 years after Ezra had gone to Jerusalem, Nehemiah
received his call from God to return also. He heard about the
deplorable conditions there, and prayed for God to forgive, and
to heal the land. He became part of the "healing" God
sent.
God sent Nehemiah to revive the people and aid Ezra in building
the walls. Within 52 days the work was completed.
After Nehemiah had been in Jerusalem about 12 years, he returned
briefly to the position as "cupbearer" to Artaxerxes.
Then he returned to Jerusalem and continued to be a revivalist in
Judah.
CHAPTER 1
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
The "twentieth year"
would refer to the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, who was the king
of the Persian empire at that time.
Nehemiah was "cupbearer" to the king. He was the
"taster" for the king. It was his responsibility to see
that the king drank or ate no poison. As such, he probably was a
good friend of the king, and perhaps advisor.
It is possible that the events of disturbance which caused Ezra
to stop work (Ezra 4), were relieved by Nehemiah. His position
with the king would certainly afford him the opportunity to
refute the letter sent by Ezra's opposition.
When good men are put in responsible postions they must take a
stand for that which is right.
When Nehemiah heard of the conditions in Jerusalem, he was deeply
burdened. He fasted and prayed.
When good men are disturbed by difficulty they should be on their
knees toward God.
5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: 6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. 8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
Nehemiah's prayer deserves
study. This man was truly humbled before God.
He recognized that the situation in Jerusalem was due to sin. He
also confessed that he and his family before him were sinners and
part of the REASON for those conditions.
He attributed justice to God on the part of His treatment of the
people.
Nehemiah recognized also that God is FAITHFUL. Therefore, he
begged God to forgive and to help.
Nehemiah's intention is somewhat revealed in the closing of his
prayer (verse 11). He asks God to "prosper, I pray thee, thy
servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this
man..." This "man" being the king of Persia,
Artaxerxes.
Nehemiah believed that his spiritual burden required action on
his part. And he desired God's help in formulating and executing
that action.
When good men are in responsible positions, and see that there is
something wrong, they should indeed pray for God's help in
formulating action to relieve the situation.
Also, they should expect God to use them as part of the
relief.
Please continue in Bible
Study with us.