The Bible Course Sample

Return, Rebuild and Wait – the best is yet to come 

Reflect 

When was the last time you were moved deeply for the condition of others? We live in the world of 24-hour news and social media feeds that have led to compassion fatigue. We are exposed regularly to the suffering that leads our hearts to harden and our compassion to wane. Nehemiah’s story is about how desperately we need to recover compassion – because compassion always leads to doing something. 

What deeply moves Nehemiah within? 

Nehemiah was working in a highly respected role as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Babylon (around 445–444 BC). He didn’t need to get involved in the troubles of his homeland (1.3). But Nehemiah's heart was so attuned to the promises of God that he could not but weep when he heard of Jerusalem and its walls in ruins. Nehemiah knew God had promised more and that the sorry state of Judah was due to their sin. So Nehemiah wept for the city. Do we weep for our city? Our towns and villages? Our world?  

What can we learn from Nehemiah’s prayer?  

On his knees, Nehemiah confesses Israel’s sin and asks God to remember (1.5). God is still in the business of doing this today. Our sin has taken us far from him, but God doesn’t change.  

Nehemiah requests that the king let him go to Jerusalem. So Nehemiah arrives and finds a city without walls. Living in it at the time would have felt like sleeping in your house with the front door wide open. Many of the returning exiles lived out in the countryside in fear.  

Despite opposition (2.19), Nehemiah, through his own story, inspired the people to take their places and build. With the walls rebuilt, Nehemiah and Ezra the priest worked to reform the people according to the Law of Moses. Ezra read it, explained it, and then led the people in repentance. They also celebrated the Passover for the first time in a long while.  

Because of God – things can change! 

Respond 

Do you see ruins that need rebuilding in the world? Let the story of Nehemiah cause you to go from dreaming a dream to living the dream. Let compassion move you to action today!