Title: Nehemiah's Interest
Contents
Title: Nehemiah's Concern
Nehemiah 1:1-3
About Nehemiah.
Nehemiah means “______ of God”.
As the son of Hagariah, he was in an influential position as an officer in charge of pouring in the palace of Shushan of King Artaxerxes I. To _______ the collapsed wall, we live together with the people.
date of writing
It is estimated to be around 420 BC.
historical background
__________ and Nehemiah are contemporaries. the Jews
They were those who had a considerable position in the Persian kingdom.
Purim - Esther's Influence
Nehemiah's attention was on Jerusalem
Verse 2: “I asked about the condition of Jerusalem.”
You will find that the temple is ___________.
What are you most interested in?
---Find it below---------------------------------
reconstruction, destruction, Ezra, consolation
Nehemiah and his interest
Neh 1:1-3
Today I want to talk to you about Nehemiah. Last week we talked about the bachelor Ezra. Today, I would like to share with you Nehemiah 1:1-3 under the title of Nehemiah and His Interests.
There is no great objection to the claim that the author of the book of Nehemiah was the prophet Nehemiah. The fact that most of the subjects appearing in the text are first-class, that is, “I, I” indicate that Nehemiah himself is the author.
Nehemiah was the son of Hacaliah and was in an influential position as an officer in charge of pouring in the palace of Shushan of King Artaxerxes I of Persia.
Nehemiah's name means "consolation of God".
In 444 BC, Nehemiah was grieved by hearing from his younger brother Hanani the plight of the Jews in Jerusalem, and went to Jerusalem as a governor with the permission of the king. So, to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, they live together with the people.
It is known that Nehemiah wrote this book after resigning from his position as governor after completing his great ministry by God's grace. Therefore, the date of writing is estimated to be around 420 BC.
It is important to know the historical background of Nehemiah's time.
Artaxerxes I, king of Persia, whom Nehemiah served, was the son of King Ahasuerus, who had Esther as his wife.
Purim in the book of Esther. It was established eight years before Artaxerxes I ascended to the throne.
If you read the book of Esther, all the Jews will be saved on this Feast of Purim, and all will gain high status and become a noble nation. Meanwhile, Ezra and Nehemiah also came to have influence as rulers of Persia.
In the spring of 458 B.C., Ezra the bachelor led the Jews back to Jerusalem with the help of King Artaxerxes.
And, up to the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, we set out to solve various problems.
However, due to the hindrances, they suffer a tragedy. Upon hearing this tragedy, Nehemiah left the powerful and comfortable seat of the Persian royal family without any regrets and returned to Jerusalem.
Thus, until B.C. 445-420, he devoted himself to restoring the legitimacy of the Jewish people and maintaining their purity. Ezra and Nehemiah acted as contemporaries.
Verse 1 says, “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah, I was in the palace of Shushan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes in the month of Kishre.”
‘Shushan’ is one of the capitals that the king of Persia moved and raised his hand in each season, and it was the palace where the king stayed in winter.
Nehemiah was a man of great power as a drunkard in the royal palace, and at the same time a man favored by the king. Considering Nehemiah's position, he was a successful man.
Success isn't that great either.
There is nothing to envy, he is a man of power, skill, and greatness.
He became a person who will be preserved for a long time with honor in the genealogy.
But Nehemiah boldly abandoned the position.
He left everything without any regrets and volunteered to go to Jerusalem.
You can see him sacrificing and devoting himself not for himself, but for the people of God, for the temple of God, and for the kingdom of God.
Dear all! Nehemiah is a servant with a heart to sacrifice himself for the glory of God.
'God. It is a faith that says, 'I will sacrifice my good things for the Lord' rather than 'Give me this, give me that, and give a lot'.
I earnestly pray that you too can become servants who can give time, devotion, and devotion to the Lord.
Nehemiah's devotion to his faith and appearance is in the purpose of his life and what he was interested in.
What is your biggest concern right now?
We have interests in our children, interests in material things, interests in careers, interests in health, and many other interests.
all good
All of these things are important in life, so it's not good to not have this interest.
Of course there should be.
However, there are concerns that are not necessarily indispensable.
If we go back to the text, we can see what kind of interest Nehemiah had.
His interest has always been toward Jerusalem.
Now Nehemiah is in the position of the king's cupbearer in the royal palace.
He was in a position to receive the king's strong trust and to enjoy power, fame, and wealth without lack.
But we know that Nehemiah's heart and interest were all toward Jerusalem.
Verse 2 says, “One of my brothers came from Judah with a couple of men, and I inquired about the Jews and Jerusalem who remained after the captivity.”
One day, Hanani came to see Nehemiah.
Hanani is Nehemiah's younger brother. He appears to have returned to Palestine during the second return from captivity led by Ezra. Perhaps Nehemiah wanted to return to his home country, but the king did not allow him because he was a vassal who was favored and trusted by the king.
Anyway, when my brother Hanani found Nehemiah, the text records the first question Nehemiah asked. “I inquired about the Jews and Jerusalem who were left after they escaped the captivity.”
Nehemiah had a peaceful life in the royal palace, but his attention was focused on the people of Judah and the city of Jerusalem.
‘What would the temple of God be like now?
Are the burnt out walls being rebuilt?
Also, are God's people doing well without starving?
Did he not suffer from the invasion of foreign enemies? This was Nehemiah's greatest concern.
But the news I heard was very sad.
“They said to me, “Those who are remnant from the captivity have found great tribulation and reproach on the road, and the wall of Jerusalem has been destroyed, and the gates have been burned.”
I was looking forward to the good news, but the news that came to Nehemiah was very sad.
This becomes Nehemiah's determination and devotion.
Dear all! When a person is at peace, it is easy to degenerate, and it is easy to forget important values.
In times of hardship, there are many cases in which a person who prayed hard and concentrated on his life of faith with all his strength forgets all of his faith as his problems are resolved, he becomes more peaceful, and he becomes rich.
But Nehemiah did not.
No matter how generous, peaceful, and beautiful they were, they did not forget the temple of God and their people.
I always thought and prayed.
So, as soon as my brother who was in Judah arrived, he first inquired about the welfare of the people of Judah and the condition of Jerusalem. Upon hearing the sorrowful news that the walls of Jerusalem were destroyed, Mo Mo gave up his peace and quiet and volunteered for the road of suffering for his people and the glory of God.
Everyone! We know that we have many important concerns.
But as much as you are interested in the work for me, I hope that you will be able to be interested in the work of the church as well. Please do not settle for my well-being and peace, and be willing to dedicate yourself to the vision and purpose the Lord has given you.
Our Maeil Church is a church established with the blood of the Lord.
Isn't it the heart to love the Lord to be interested in the church?
Also, I hope that you will be interested in and sharing love with your alumni.
Isn't this where the love of Christ will sprout and love will be put into practice?
I hope you know that the kingdom of God will prosper beautifully when each one of you shows interest in the church and puts your hearts together.
Please believe that when one person's interest and prayer are combined, the kingdom of God becomes stronger.
Like Nehemiah, who had a tender heart for the people of Judah and the temple in Jerusalem, I pray in the name of the Lord that your interest in the church and its members will grow in your hearts.