How much do you love God?

Nehemiah 10

• Like the American Declaration of Independence, this covenant was witnessed and signed by representatives of the people (v. 1-27).
• The people agreed to walk according to God’s law by not marrying unbelievers or engaging in commerce on the sabbath (v. 28-31).
• Further, they pledged to support the ministry of God’s word with the best of their earnings and increase (v. 32-39).

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Three weeks later

Nehemiah 9

• Have you ever separated yourself from others and stood before God confessing your sins (v. 2)?
• Did you ever read the Bible for 6 hours? Did you ever worship God for 6 hours? (v. 3)
• In their rehearsing of God’s dealings with Israel (v. 4-38), the Levites teach us much about God.
• He is the Creator (v. 5).
• He chooses some and passes over others (v. 7).
• He makes a covenant with His people (v. 8).
• He hears their prayers (v. 9).
• He does miracles (v. 10).
• He protects them (v. 11).
• He leads them (v. 12).
• He gives them laws (v. 13).
• He provides food for them (v. 14).
• He pardons them (v. 17).
• He doesn’t forsake them (v. 19).
• He instructs them (v. 20).
• He is longsuffering (v. 21).
• He showers them with blessings (v. 25).
• He delivers them (v. 27).
• He is just (v. 33).
• He is good (v. 35).
• Who would not want to make an agreement with God (v. 38)?

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Genealogies, offerings, and a week of Bible reading

Nehemiah 7

• Is it nepotism if the family member you hire is most qualified for the job? (v. 1-2).
• Does faith in God preclude safety precautions like locking the doors? (v. 3-4).
• Do you like knowing about the family backgrounds of your neighbors? (v. 5-6).
• Those who have lived any length of time in a country other than that of their birth know the problems that often occur in getting residence permits (v. 61).
• Some, who cannot prove their birth, are considered outcasts (v. 64-65).
• The work of God should not be supported by taxes, flea markets, or bake sales, but by the free giving of His people (v. 70-73).

Nehemiah 8

• It wasn’t an angry mob protesting rigged elections that gathered on the streets of Jerusalem that day (v. 1). It was a people who wanted to hear from God’s word.
• They willingly stood and listened to the reading and explanation of scripture for half a day (v. 2-8).
• The leaders instructed the people to rejoice on that holy day (v. 9-12).
• When the people realized that God had ordered a week-long feast, they immediately set about to obey (v. 13-17).
• It was joyous week of Bible study (v. 18).

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Perfect love casts out all fear

Nehemiah 5

• Financial scandals are not only a modern phenomenon (v. 1-5).
• In what must have been an unexpected shake-up, Nehemiah ordered the people responsible for the scandal to repent and make restitution (v. 6-13).
• He himself took no salary for 12 years, providing for himself at his own charges (v. 14-19). Question: how did a king’s cupbearer have so much money? Was he an independent marketer on the side?

Nehemiah 6

• Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem accused Nehemiah of desiring to be king of the Jews (v. 1-9). Obviously they didn’t understand the messianic message of the Hebrew prophets.
• Failing to lure Nehemiah into their midst, they hired others to advise Nehemiah to hide himself in the temple. Nehemiah recognized this ploy to tarnish his reputation and refused. (v. 10-14).
• Because of Tobiah’s family relationships, he had a large group of supporters within the land; and active correspondence passed between the two, with the intent to frighten Nehemiah (v. 15-19).

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