Gba ohun èlò náàNehemiah: God's Invitation to RebuildÀpẹrẹ
Rebuilding from Brokenness
Has it ever seemed like your whole world was broken; everything familiar, all your relationships, everything you’d always counted on? Maybe you relate to how Joseph felt in the pit or how Daniel felt when he was taken away to exile.
The Israelites in today’s passage found themselves back in their homeland after 70 years of exile. And, from Ezra’s teaching them the law in Chapter 8, they came to understand how wrong they had been in God’s eyes. Nothing they had said or done lined up. Broken world alert!!
How does one rebuild from such brokenness?
Confession, worship, covenant (action) = how to rebuild a broken “world.”
The remnant of Israel began with confession, which then morphed into worship for “a fourth of the day”. When Israel recognized their sinfulness it was a sharp contrast to God’s holiness.
As they cried out to the Lord, they reviewed Israel’s history and the attributes of God that manifested themselves so clearly over all those years: his glory as Creator, his faithfulness, his mighty hand, his provision, his forgiveness, his patience, more of his provision—down to the fact their clothes didn’t wear out for 40 years after the Exodus!
- Identify which verses point out qualities of God.
- Contrast the instances of God’s blessing to the Israelites' disregard and unfaithfulness.
Prayer: God, thank you for the cross and the new covenant you made with us at Calvary. May I walk in fellowship with and obedience to you.
Ìwé mímọ́
Nípa Ìpèsè yìí
Often touted as a “leadership” book, Nehemiah is rich in application. The way Nehemiah led the exiled Israelites in Persia to rebuild and reoccupy Jerusalem was as much an exercise in surrender and supplication as it was leadership and strategy. In this 21-day reading plan, we’ll look to Nehemiah as a role model in prayer, obedience, perseverance, and, yes, leadership.
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