Nehemiah Part 3

Nehemiah Part 3

Background:
    Nehemiah had come to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around the city.  When he arrived he found people living in fear and sin.  Nehemiah led the people well and reminded them who their God was.  The wall was completed in 52 days, and amazing feet, because God was on their side.  The people gathered to hear the Book of the Law.  Upon hearing God's word, the people wept and repented of their sins.

1. The people draft a document
1. After their repentance the people wanted to affirm their commitment to God with a written document
2. They vow to follow God in all his ways
1. They will not give their daughters in marriage to outsiders
2. They will not do business on the Sabbath
3. They commit their finances
   
4. They commit to never again neglect the house of God
2. The people go back to their ancestral lands
1. One in 10 were chose to stay in Jerusalem
2. Everyone else went to their lands
1. This fulfills, once again, God's promise
2. The children of Israel came home after a revival
3. The people dedicated the wall
1. They celebrated and gave thanks to God
2. They purified themselves
3. They made great sacrifices
4. Nehemiah returns
1. Nehemiah left after his task was accomplished and returned to the king
2. After some time Nehemiah returns to see how things are going.
1. Unfortunately things have returned to normal
2. Nehemiah forces out those who have done evil
3. Nehemiah reminds the people of their covenant
   

Esther Part 1

Esther Part 1 - Unintended Consequences



Background:

    While Zerubbable and the others were rebuilding the temple at Jerusalem many of the Jews continued their normal lives in Babylon.  Xerxes took the throne in 486 B.C. and reigned until 465 B.C. We saw in the book of Ezra that the enemies of Israel wrote a letter to Xerxes, but there does not appear to be any response, that is at least partially explained by this book.  Esther is unique in the Bible, as it is the only book that does not use the name of God.

1. 
   Xerxes reigns in Babylon
   




1. 
   Xerxes has unlimited wealth and resources
   


2. 
   When Queen Vashti disobeys Xerxes she is banished
   


3. 
   Many women are gathered from all over the kingdom to replace Vashti
   




2. 
   Hadassah is a young Jew living in Babylon
   




1. 
   She is also called Esther, hiding her heritage
   


2. 
   She is an orphan being raised by her cousin Mordecai
   




1. 
   Mordecai is loyal to the king, and saves him from a plot against him
   






3. 
   Haman is an agagite
   




1. 
   Agag was the king of the Amalekites killed by Samuel
   


2. 
   Because Saul did not follow God's command some of Agag's descendants survived
   




4. 
   Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman
   




1. 
   Haman wore an idol on his clothing
   


2. 
   Mordecai refused to bow to any image as was God's commandment
   


3. 
   Haman decides to wipe out all of the Jews
   


4. 
   Haman makes a deal with Xerxes to kill all the Jews for 10,000 sacks of silver


5. Mordecai learns of the plot
1. Mordecai goes into mourning
2. Mordecai asks Esther to intercede with the king
3. Esther fears for her life
4. Esther asks for all the Jews of Susa to fast for three days
5. Esther decides to approach the king uninvited even though it could mean her life
   

Questions:

1. 
   Why do you think the name of God is omitted from the book of Esther?
   


2. 
   Why did Esther hide her heritage?
3. Why was Mordecai loyal to the king, why save his captor from a plot against him?
4. Read 1 Samuel 15, notice several things in the passage
1. Saul only went from Havilah to Shur
   
2. Saul kept Agag alive for some time
3. The usage of the Hebrew here indicates "to obliterate all that you encounter so that there is nothing
   of any real value left"
4. The same language is used to indicate what Babylon would do to Israel
5. Describe a time when you have experienced unintended consequences.
6. Describe a time when God has placed you in a position to have an impact without you knowing it.
   

Ezra 1-4

Return from captivity Ezra 1 - 4

Background:

    The Jewish people have been in captivity for 70 years in Babylon.  Jerusalem is in ruins, a burned out husk of a city.  The lands of northern Israel are inhabited by Assyrians who worship God and idols.  Even in their exile God has shown them mercy and done great miracles.  There are very few Jews who were born in the promised land, most feel Babylon is their home.  Cyrus the Great has just conquered Babylon creating the Meado-Persian empire.  In the first year of his reign, the Lord impresses on Cyrus to rebuild the promised land.

1. 
   Cyrus decrees the rebuilding of the temple and the city of Jerusalem - Ezra 1:1-3
   
   




1. 
   Cyrus orders Babylonians to give gold, silver, supplies, livestock, etc... to the Jews who wish to return Ezra 1:4-6
   
   


2. 
   Cyrus gives the articles Nebuchadnezzar stole from the temple
   
   




2. 
   Only 42,360 people returned
   




1. 
   At this time it is estimated there were in the area of 1,000,000 Jews living in babylon
   


2. 
   These people were committed to rebuilding the temple
   




3. 
   Before they did anything else, they rebuilt the alter of the Lord and sacrificed to Him
   




1. 
   They were surrounded by enemies
   


2. 
   They celebrated the festival of Shelters
   




4. 
   Opposition comes
   




1. 
   The "Samaritans" come and ask to help build the temple
   




1. 
   These people were Assyrians who worshiped Jehova alongside idols like Baal.
   


2. 
   They were not the chosen people of God
   


3. 
   When rejected they intimidate
   




2. 
   Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel send letters to Xerces and Artaxerces
1. Artaxerces reacts and forces the Jews to stop building the temple
   

Questions:
    1.Why do you think so few of the Jews return to Jerusalem?
   
    
    2.What are the things in your own life that keep you from doing the things God has called you to do?
   
    
    3.Why did the returning Jews rebuild the alter first instead of fortifying their position?


    4.Describe a time when you have done the "smart" thing instead of the God thing.

    
    5.Describe a time when you have done what God asked in spite of how out of order it seemed.


    6.Why did the Jews refuse to let the people of the land worship with them and help them rebuild? Wouldn't it have been easier if they had?


    7.How could the Jews have been forced to stop rebuilding the temple, wasn't it God's will for the temple to be rebuilt?

Genesis 38 - 40 The lineage of Jesus and the continuing trials of Joseph

Background: After selling Joseph into slavery, the lives of Israel's sons went on as normal. Israel himself was never quite the same, and God took a special interest in Judah and Joseph.

1. Judah marries a Cannanite
1. Because of their wickedness God took the lives of Er and Onan
2. Judah promises Tamar his third son Shelah
1. He never intends to give Shelah to Tamar
3. Judah's wife dies
4. Judah goes up to shear his flock
1. Tamar waits for Judah dressed as a prostitute
2. Judah sleeps with Tamar and impregnates her
3. Tamar is pregnant
1. Judah calls for her to be burned
1. This was a greater punishment than the law required
2. Tamar proves to Judah that he is the father
3. Judah repents
4. Tamar gives birth to Perez and Zerah
1. Perez is in the line of Jesus
5. Joseph is purchased by Potiphar the captain of Pharaoh's Guard
1. God blesses Potiphar because of Joseph
2. Potiphar's wife propositions Joseph
1. Joseph refuses
2. Joseph is accused falsely
1. Potiphar probably didn't believe his wife
1. Joseph should have been killed
2. Joseph was known to be righteous
3. Joseph is put into prison
1. Joseph is put in charge of the prison
6. Joseph interprets dreams
1. Pharoh became angry with his cup-bearer and baker and put them in jail
2. They both had troubling dreams
3. God gave Joseph the wisdom to interpret the dreams
1. The cup-bearer promised to mention Joseph to Pharoh
1. He forgets about Joseph until much later
2. The cup-bearer is restored
3. The baker is executed

Application: God can and does use

Genesis 34 - Lust and Vengeance

Background: Jacob purchased land from the Hivites and has lived there for about 7 years.

1. Dinah goes out
1. Dinah is Jacob's only daughter
2. She is the daughter of Leah, Jacob's despised wife
2. Shechem defiles Dinah
1. Multiple Possibilities
1. Shechem raped Dinah
2. Shechem and Dinah had consensual sex out of wedlock
3. Shechem loves Dinah
1. Shechem and his father Hamor go to ask for Dinah in marriage
2. Jacob seems to have no problem with this
3. The brothers are angry
4. Shechem offers to pay any price for Dinah
5. The brothers deceive Shechem
1. They hide behind their faith
2. They require circumcision
6. Shechem agrees
1. Shechem and Hamor convince the men of the city
2. The men of the city think to take everything from Jacob
7. Simeon and Levi take the city
1. They kill all the men of Shechem while they were sore
2. They take all the women and children as slaves
8. Jacob curses Levi and Simeon for their actions

Application: Men must learn to control their urges. Whether lust or vengeance giving in to our base desires ends in destruction.

Genesis 35,37 - Sorrow and Deception

Background: Jacob has returned from Padan-Aram and has settled in Shechem. The sons of Israel have just destroyed an entire city.

1. God calls Jacob back to Bethel
1. When Jacob hears from God he cleans house(Gen 35:2-4)
2. God protects them on their journey(Gen 35:5)
3. Jacob worships God
2. God reaffirms His promise
1. He reminds Jacob of his new name Israel(Gen 35:10)
   
2. He reminds Jacob of the position He has given him(Gen 35:11-12)
   
3. Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin(Gen 35:16-19)
   
4. Reuben betrays his father(Gen 35:22)
   
1. Reuben sleeps with Jacob's concubine
1. To sleep with another man's concubine was to take his throne
2. Reuben was trying to take over his fathers household
3. Another example of this 2 Samuel 16:20-22
5. Issac dies at 180(Gen 35:28-29)
   
6. Joseph is Jacob's favorite(Gen 37:3)
   
1. Jacob gave Joseph better gifts
   
2. Jacob's brothers hated him(Gen 37:4)
   
7. God gives Joseph a vision(Gen 37:5,9)
   
1. Joseph unwisely shares his vision
2. His brothers become even more jealous
3. Jacob gives consideration to the dreams
8. The brothers conspire against Joseph(Gen 37:20)
   
1. Reuben plans to save Joseph and convinces them not to kill Joseph
2. Judah decides to sell Joseph into slavery
9. The brothers deceive their father
1. They dip Joseph's robe in goat blood
10. Jacob mourns and is never quite the same afterward

Application: When we walk the path that God calls us to, there will be protection, but there will also be tragedy and sorrow. Our circumstances do not indicate our spiritual condition. Rather it is the reaction to our circumstances that reveal our true level of faith.

Genesis 33 - The Brothers Meet

Background: Jacob is returning home after 21 years in Padan-Aram. Fearful of his brother Esau's reaction Jacob sends many gifts ahead to Esau, and then spends the night wrestling with God both physically and spiritually. In the morning Jacob has an new name, and a permanent limp. After the blessing from God, Israel is now ready to face his brother.

1. Jacob was ready because he had been with God.
1. After his time with God Jacob was a new man signified by his new name Israel
2. God never did promise Israel that Esau would receive him kindly
3. Israel put his trust in God. Whatever happened he knew God was in charge
2. Israel put himself between his family and possible danger
1. Israel lined his wives and children up and then went in front of them
2. Israel bowed low seven times before his brother
3. Esau embraces his brother
1. Esau was within his rights to be angry and retaliate
2. Esau gives up his rights because he loves his brother
3. Esau's forgiveness is a picture of God's forgiveness toward us
1. God has a right to be angry with us
2. God gave up his rights to forgive us
4. Israel's family bow to Esau
1. Israel and his family are a perfect picture of humility and meekness
1. Meekness is power under control, a horse with a bit
2. Humility is not low self-esteem
1. Humility is recognizing who you are through God's eyes
2. Humility is recognizing others through God's eyes
5. Gifts to Esau
1. Esau enquires about the droves of animals
2. Israel insists they are gifts for his brother
1. Gifts given in love often inspire good will
2. Gifts given in love are not expected to be reciprocated
6. The brothers go their own ways
1. Esau offers to guide Israel and his family
2. Israel refuses the offer and goes a different way
   
1. Good will only lasts for a while when people are too close
2. Israel did not want to move in on Esau's territory
3. Israel buys his own land
7. Glory to God
1. Israel builds an altar to God
1. He understands all that God has done for him
2. He wants to thank God
2. The alter is called El Elohe Israel (God the God of Israel)

Application: We must remember to humble ourselves, and to be meek. God has a plan for our lives, He is in control. We just have to remember who He is and who we are according to God. Humility can go a long way in healing broken relationships. We must be willing to give up our rights and forgive as God has forgiven us.