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Week Six Nehemiah Six and Seven

Discernment is truly one of the greatest gifts God gives a believer. The ability to see motives, dangers and the possible spiritual impact of our actions allows a Christian to make wise choices in life. Nehemiahs walk with the Lord provided him the discernment he needed to do what was right and to recognize the most deceptive moves of the enemy. As you study this week, ask God to give you an eye for what is right and the discernment to follow Him in all things.

Day One:
Today, well discover some history of the enemy that will help explain the very real danger Tobiah, Sanballat and their friends were to the people of God and the work of God. Lets read Nehemiah 6:1-2. 1) Verse 1 begins by pointing out the enemy. Before looking to the enemy though, lets first look at what God had accomplished through Nehemiah. How far had he come in the rebuilding?

2) As soon as Nehemiah had completed the wall structure, with only the doors of the gates left, the enemy came to hinder him again. What did they do?

3) The attacks came in the form of ridicule, pressure, oppression, doubt and threats. What new tactics did they try in verse 2?

4) To fully understand the danger posed by these men, go back to Ezra 4:7-24. Ezra was in a very similar situation to Nehemiah. He led a group of Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and then the city. In the process of rebuilding, the very same enemy groups tried everything they could to stop him. How were they (the enemies) finally able to accomplish their goal?

5) The work in Jerusalem was halted for 16 years. Nehemiah knew this. He knew these men could not be trusted. He resisted and they persisted. How have you seen the enemy persist in your own life?

Day One: (continued)

When the enemy persisted in his temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4), His answer was, It is written, man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We must hang on His every word. Take a look at these powerful verses and choose one to commit to memory as your battle cry against the enemy: Matthew 4:10 Matthew 5:6 Matthew 6:31-34 1 Corinthians 15:33, 58 2 Corinthians 12:9 Galatians 5:1 Philippians 4:8 Titus 3:9-10 Colossians 2:6-7 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

Day Two:
A rumor is tough to control. Someone starts it, others believe it, and hearts are crushed by it. Today, well see how the enemy sets out to destroy Nehemiah by spreading rumors about his motives for rebuilding. Read Nehemiah 6:3-9. 1) How many times did Sanballat, Tobiah, Gesham, and the rest of Nehemiahs enemies try to draw him out to meet them? How did Nehemiah respond?

2) In verses 5-7, we see Sanballats attempt to threaten Nehemiahs standing with the people and the kings. An open letter meant that anyone could hear the contents. It was meant to be disrespectful to Nehemiah. Summarize the contents of the letter here:

What threat did Sanballat make?

3) What indicated Sanballat wanted Nehemiah to believe others were questioning Nehemiahs motives?

4) Nehemiahs response was bold and confident. He smashed the rumors and called Sanballats bluff. Nehemiah knew the intent of his enemys attacks. He realized their ultimate goal was to stop the work by making the people weak. How significant is Nehemiahs prayer in verse 9. Why do you think he did not ask God to annihilate his enemy?

Day Two: (continued)

How does Nehemiahs prayer reflect the same sentiment as Jesus prayer for His disciples in John 17:15-19? 5) Think about your own prayers in a difficult spot. Maybe someone has spread a rumor about you. Or, maybe someone has set out to make your life difficult. In light of these two examples, how might your prayers need to change?

Day Three:
Tobiah, Sanballat and the others move from outward threats to inward deception. They move into Nehemiahs inner circle to hire a betrayer to deceive him. John MacArthur explains Shemaiah to son of a priest who was an intimate friend of Nehemiah (p. 677). Without the discernment that comes from the Holy Spirit, Nehemiah could have walked right into a trap set by the enemy. Read Nehemiah 6:10-14. 1) What warning did Nehemiah receive from Shemaiah? How did he suggest Nehemiah protect himself?

2) Lets look at Nehemiahs three part response. First, he asks Should a man such as I flee? What kind of man was Nehemiah?

Next, he asks, And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life?

Nehemiah knew Gods command in Numbers 18:7. What did God say about anyone but the High Priest going into the Holy Place of the Tabernacle (or Temple)?

The last sentence of Nehemiah 6:11 emphatically communicated his final answer. He says, I will not go in!

3) Verse 12 shows us how Nehemiah knew he was being set up. He says, Then I perceived that God had not sent men at all the Hebrew word for perceived is nakor, which means, to scrutinize, look intently at (with recognition implied). In other words, because Nehemiah knew God, he knew he could compare what he heard to what God said and recognize it was not Gods voice leading him through this false prophet. What discernment! This is huge! How did Nehemiah know the prophet was false and lying? Because he knew the Word of God! What does Isaiah 8:20 say about a man like Shemaiah?

Day Three: (continued)

4)***Hebrews 5:12-14 describes how to have the same discernment Nehemiah had. Read these verses and explain how discernment grows in a believer.

5)

Nehemiah 6:13-14 reveals the extent of the enemys plot. What was their goal?

Nehemiah was in good standing with the king. He could have taken revenge, reported them to the king and called on him to send his troops to destroy the enemy. Instead, Nehemiah went to the King of Kings. How did he leave the enemy to God, trusting Him to exact justice on these evil men?

Day Four:
Today is a day to celebrate! Even now, centuries later, I hope your heart celebrates over Nehemiahs victory really, Gods victory. I pray the joy of Nehemiah 6:15 will be the joy you will sense over Gods victory building in your life today. Lets read verse 15 and let it sink in before moving on to the end of Chapter 6. 1) How long did the whole building project take?

Amazing!! After everything the people had endured, all of the threats, opposition, oppression, discouragement, they persevered and God did a great work in and through His people! 2) How does Hebrews 12:1-3 fit what weve seen of Gods people?

3) Ultimately, God is the One Who did the work. Read verse 16 and note the effect this reality had on all of the non-believers.

Think back to another great work of God in Joshua 4-5. The children of Israel crossed the Jordan River just like they had crossed the Red Sea earlier. God opened the waters for what very specific reason? (Joshua 4:24)

The people of Jericho and surrounding areas were affected in the same way as the people of Nehemiahs day. What happened to the kings in Joshua 5:1?

Day Four: (continued)

As a result of Gods mighty hand moving in the lives of His people and working wonders in their midst, one woman and her family believed and were saved. Go back to Joshua 2:10-11. Who believed based on the miracles shed been told? Do you see Gods grace in the purpose of their trials? In allowing His people to serve as Egyptian slaves, He opened the door to work miracles in the midst of a truly pagan people. In allowing His children to be chased by Pharoahs army, He opened a miraculous way of escape for them, thereby making a way for one womans family to be eternally saved. By making a way through the Jordan where the people thought there was no way, God provided a testimony of His might to future generations. Think about your own trials. What if God is carrying you through them; instead of snatching you out of them, because someone will be drawn to Him by the miracles they see in you? Would your heartache be worth it?

4)

Nehemiah gives more insight to what was happening during the building process. Read verses 17-19. We see now that the nobles from Nehemiah 3:5 who would not work were in allegiance with Tobiah. What relationship created the bond between them?

5)

Nehemiah also said there was much betrayal and talebearing going on. What do Proverbs 16:28-30 and Leviticus 19:16 say about that?

***Why is it important that we keep away from using our words to stir up trouble? Use a Bible concordance to look up verses about our tongue and copy some that help us to remember to use our words to glorify God.

Day Five:
Chapter 7 is a long chapter that consists mainly of a list of names God prompted Nehemiah to make. The list is of genealogies of the Jews who returned to the land from the captivity of Babylon. These lists were important to the citizens of Nehemiahs day and to those who would come later. Jewish people had a strong sense of heritage and ancestry. Warren Wiersbe points out, These people were Gods bridge from the defeats of the past to the hopes of the future. These Jews were the living link that connected the historic past with the prophetic future and made it possible for Jesus to come into the world. Well skim the list, focusing on verses 1-5 and verse 73. 1) What major decision did Nehemiah make in verse 2?

Why did he make this choice?

Day Five: (continued)

2) Describe the system of protection Nehemiah put in place according to verse 3.

3)

Nehemiah worked to put things in order as God led him. He established the offices of service, leadership, a method of protection, and a way for the people to reconnect with their heritage. How was he able to accomplish this work in such a short time?

4)

The city was large and there was only a remnant of Jews that had returned. They did not fill the city. God directed Nehemiah to register the people by genealogy. Nehemiah found a registry that had been completed by Ezra (Ezra 2:1-70) before the return of the captives. He used the registry process to reestablish the people, giving them a sense of place, belonging and citizenship. As you scan through the list, take note of the vital roles the people played within the community. Verses 61-65 describe a group of people (including some priests) who could not identify where they fit into the genealogy. How did the governor handle it? (Verse 64) The Urim and the Thummim were used by the Priest to determine the will of God. (Exodus 28:30)

5) Verse 73 speaks of restoration. The word dwelt means to dwell, to settle, or to abide. How important is it to have a place, a people and a purpose, all ordained by God?

As you close out this intense week of study, think about the place, the people and the purpose God has given you and thank Him for all of it. But, also consider the place (John 14:3), the people (Hebrews 11) and the purpose (1 Corinthians 2:9 and Revelation 22:3) God has planned for your eternity. Thank Him for your future as well.

Building Block: Learning Gods Word leads to a depth of discernment that will keep us from falling prey to false teachings, as well as keep us confident in the Lords justice prevailing on our behalf. The more you study Gods Word, the more clearly you will hear His voice. What a wonderful gift.