Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
Nehemiah 6-10
6:19 Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
This man was a ‘pest’ yet people were telling Nehemiah his ‘good deeds’, plus telling Tobiah what Nehemiah was saying. Thus supplying Tobiah with ammunition he could use against Nehemiah. Why do people do this? Are they so undiscerning that they don’t get it?
6:19 Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
This man was a ‘pest’ yet people were telling Nehemiah his ‘good deeds’, plus telling Tobiah what Nehemiah was saying. Thus supplying Tobiah with ammunition he could use against Nehemiah. Why do people do this? Are they so undiscerning that they don’t get it?
7:2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.
Hanani feared God more than most people do. There is always some people who fear God more than others. Always some who are prepared to trust God a little more, go a little further with God then others. They make it safe for others. They are trail blazers.
7:2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.
Hanani feared God more than most people do. There is always some people who fear God more than others. Always some who are prepared to trust God a little more, go a little further with God then others. They make it safe for others. They are trail blazers.
8:7-8 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
They didn’t just read the Word that gave the meaning so they could understand. Wasn’t enough to hear the Word.
8:7-8 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
They didn’t just read the Word that gave the meaning so they could understand. Wasn’t enough to hear the Word.
9:28 “But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.
As soon as God’s people were at rest, they did evil. Comfort does not make mature Christians! But time after time God showed compassion. We seriously under estimate God’s compassion.
9:28 “But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.
As soon as God’s people were at rest, they did evil. Comfort does not make mature Christians! But time after time God showed compassion. We seriously under estimate God’s compassion.
10:28 “The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand …”
Everyone who was old enough to understand recommitted themselves to God. It was usual for people to do this since the Mosaic Law stated once every 7 years that the people assembly to listen to the reading of the Law.
10:28 “The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand …”
Everyone who was old enough to understand recommitted themselves to God. It was usual for people to do this since the Mosaic Law stated once every 7 years that the people assembly to listen to the reading of the Law.