In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus Christ -Yeshua]
was in the beginning with God.
NEHEMIAH
The Book of Nehemiah is the eleventh of the twelve books of
history.
Nehemiah was a political leader who held a trusted position in the court
of King Artaxerxes I of Persia. He was appointed governor of
Judah in
444 BC. Artaxerxes issued a third decree to Nehemiah in the month of
Nissan (March) to restore
the walls of Jerusalem. Thirteen years earlier, Artaxerxes had given
Ezra permission to return to Jerusalem with anyone who desired to go.
In total, there were three stages of exile to Babylon and three
stages of return to Judah. The three exiles into captivity occurred
605-586 BC. The three decrees permitting the
return of the exiles to Judah occurred 538-445
BC during the reign of the Persian kings. The total time of captivity
was seventy years; it began with the first stage deportation to Babylon
in 605 BC and ended with the beginning of the temple reconstruction
in 536 BC.
While Nehemiah led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls,
Ezra led the
spiritual restoration of the people. They completed the return of the
captives to Judah and the walls of Jerusalem while persevering
through much opposition from inside and outside Judah. Eventually, the
people returned to a heart of coldness toward God. Consequently, this
ended the time of the prophets. God remained silent for over 400 years
until John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
God kept His promise of the
Davidic Covenant.
We must maintain our relationship with God regardless of opposition
we may face. Our obedience will bring us blessings and a closer
fellowship with God while disobedience will separate us from His
fellowship and bring discipline from a loving God.
Nehemiah 1-7: Nehemiah’s rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem; the many
faces of opposition
Nehemiah 8-13: Ezra restores the people; vacillation between
obedience and disobedience