Seeds for 08/26/2024 - Nehemiah 1:1-2
Today we begin a new series working through the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. We’ll continue our practice of reading, making simple, well-grounded observations, and considering questions that those observations raise for us. I hope you’ll enjoy reading through Nehemiah with me.
Scripture:
1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
Observation:
As we begin reading the book of Nehemiah, he cues us up with a reference to the background of the story. This is clear when he says that he “was in the citadel of Susa” and also when he refers to some men, including a brother, came from Judah and that he was able to inquire “about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.”
What do we need to know as we begin to read Nehemiah? Here’s the big picture in a few very basic bullet points:
Moses led the Hebrew people out from slavery in Egypt. (Exodus-Deuteronomy)
Joshua led the tribes of Israel into the Promised Land. (Joshua)
Israel was a confederation of tribes in the Promised Land for many years. (Judges)
Israel transitioned from a tribal confederation led by prophets to a unified kingdom led by kings Saul, David, and Solomon. (1-2 Samuel, 1 Kings)
Israel is divided into Northen and Southern kingdoms, marked mostly (though not exclusively) by disobedience, bad kings, and idolatry. (1-2 Kings)
Israel was in exile from their homeland for seventy years. (Daniel, Jeremiah, etc)
Some exiles allowed to return and rebuild Jerusalem, both spiritually and physically. (Ezra-Nehemiah)
The exile begins at the end of 2 Kings when Babylon comes and conquers them.
20 Nebuzaradan the commander took them all and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 21 There at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed.
So Judah went into captivity, away from her land.
The book of Nehemiah is part of the story about some of the Israelites’ return to Jerusalem to restore its physical structures and reestablish a faithful presence there.
One thing I observe as we look at these verses that provide setting is that Nehemiah and the other men he refers to have retained their love for God and longing for their people’s restoration. This is in the face of decades of estrangement from their land. To their great credit, they have maintained their identity and self-understanding as the people of God.
Application:
How do you stay grounded in your identity in Christ even through hardships and challenges that could pull you away?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, keep my connected to you no matter what and keep my vision for your kingdom strong. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
If you liked this post from Seeds of Faith, why not share it and/or subscribe?
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™