SHARING

WEEK # 5        

 

"What can we learn from the life of Nehemiah?"

Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries, and they both wrote about the rebuilding of Jerusalem, which occurred many years after its destruction by the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar. Ezra wrote about the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel, while Nehemiah wrote concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. From ancient times, the cities located in the Middle East were surrounded by stone walls with gates that were guarded for the protection of the citizens. The important men of each city would gather at the gate where they would conduct the business of the city, share important information, or just pass the time of day. 

Nehemiah's account begins in 445 B.C., and this date is important because the prophet Daniel, a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah, wrote the "70 weeks of years" prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27) based on a very specific date—March 15, 445 B.C. This date is crucial to the beginning of the prophecy; it kicks off the start of the timeframe, which ends with the second coming of Jesus Christ. This prophecy was written long before Jesus came the first time, but it continues through those years leading up to His being "cut off." It gives details about the antichrist, how he will come onto the world scene, and how he will move against Israel in his final assault on God and His people. 

Daniel's prophecy is found in Daniel 9:25: "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble." Little did Nehemiah know that he was fulfilling the prophecy written by Daniel, but this faithful servant, who was also captive in Babylon at the time, begins his writings with intercessory prayer for his people, Israel, just as Daniel constantly prayed on their behalf, beseeching God to have mercy on them and return them to their homeland. Nehemiah listed specific dates, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in order that there might be a written record as to the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. 

Before he asked the king's permission to rebuild Jerusalem's walls, Nehemiah prayed, and God granted his request. As he was leaving Babylon, he met some Arab men who mocked him for what he was about to do. Nehemiah 2:20 records his statement, which stands even today as a testament to who has the right to the city known as Jerusalem: "I answered them by saying, 'The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.'" 

Nehemiah continued in his quest to rebuild Jerusalem. God provided all the necessary workers, and the building began. However, they were not without enemies, those who desired to stop the rebuilding. But God intervened as He had done with Moses (Exodus 14:14). Nehemiah 4:20 records, "Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!" This was God's pre-ordained plan to bring His people out of bondage and back into their land to worship in the temple once again. 

We can learn from the life of Nehemiah valuable lessons in restoring and maintaining a relationship with God. As the people returned to the rebuilt city, the first order of business was to make certain that they understood the Law of Moses. So Ezra, a priest, spent many hours reading the Law before the assembly, making sure they understood what God desired. Nehemiah 8:18 records what should be part of every believer's life, the daily reading of God's Word: "Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly." 

Nehemiah stands as a testament to faithfulness and perseverance. He lived far away from his home, yet he never gave up hope that someday he would return to it. He spent most of his life in exile in a pagan land, yet he never wavered in his faith and trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was a prayer warrior, putting everything before the Lord in prayer, interceding on behalf of his people, and he was rewarded for his diligence and perseverance. Nehemiah cared so much for his people that he never gave up the hope of their restoration, not only to their homeland, but to the God that first called their forefather, Abraham, out of the same area and made a covenant with him, one which Nehemiah believed would stand forever.

OUR WEEKLY WORD

Altar of Incense

 

The altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The top of the altar was square—one cubit per side—and the whole altar was two cubits high. A cubit was about twenty inches, or just under two feet. The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It had four "horns," one at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard (Exodus 27:2). Rings of gold were built into the altar so that it could be carried with acacia wood poles that were slipped through the rings. The altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. On the other side of the veil was the Ark of the Testimony, where the presence of God was (Exodus 25:22).

Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight, every day, as a regular offering to the Lord (Exodus 30:7–8). God gave the recipe for making the incense and stipulated that no other incense ever be burned on the altar (verses 34–38). The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary (Leviticus 16:12). Never was the altar of incense to be used for a burnt offering, a grain offering, or a drink offering (Exodus 30:9). Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest was to put blood on the horns of the altar of incense to cleanse it. The altar of incense was called "most holy to the Lord" (verse 10).

Of course, God's primary desire for His people is that they be holy. Simply going through the rituals required by the Law—including the burning of incense on the altar of incense—was not enough to make the Israelites right with God. The Lord wanted their hearts and lives to be right, not just their formalities. During Isaiah's time, the people were disobedient to God, yet they still maintained the temple rites, and that's why God said through the prophet, "Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me" (Isaiah 1:13). More important than burning the proper incense at the proper time with the proper fire with the proper implements was having a proper heart before God.

In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer. David prayed, "May my prayer be set before you like incense" (Psalm 141:2). In his vision of heaven, John saw that the elders around the throne "were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people" (Revelation 5:8; cf. 8:3). As Zechariah the priest was offering incense in the temple in Luke 1:10, "all the assembled worshipers were praying outside."

The altar of incense, then, can be seen as a symbol of the prayers of God's people. Our prayers ascend to God as the smoke of the incense ascended in the sanctuary. As the incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offering, our prayers must be kindled with heaven's grace. The fact that the incense was always burning means that we should always pray (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). The altar of incense was holy to the Lord and was atoned for with the blood of the sacrifice; it is the blood of Christ applied to our hearts that makes our prayers acceptable. Our prayers are holy because of Jesus' sacrifice, and therefore they are pleasing to God. 

The altar of incense can also be seen as a picture of the intercession of Christ. Just as the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard was a type of Christ's death on our behalf, the altar of incense in the Holy Place was a type of Christ's mediation on our behalf—Christ's work on earth and in heaven. The altar of incense was situated before the mercy-seat of the Ark—a picture of our Advocate's standing in the presence of the Father (Hebrews 7:25; 9:24). The incense was to be burning continually on the altar of incense, which shows the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation. Christ's intercession on our behalf is a sweet-smelling savor to God.

It is beautiful to know that God considers the prayers of believers to be like a sweet smell of incense. Because of Christ, we can now enter God's holy presence by faith, with full assurance (Mark 15:38; Hebrews 4:16). We offer our prayers upon the altar, trusting in Jesus, our eternal, perfect, and faithful High Priest (Hebrews 10:19–23).

OUR WEEKLY PRAYER:

Our Father which art in Heaven, Honor and glory is Yours alone. You are to be praised, and no one can take that from You. Thank You, Lord, for Who You are in this earth, even though sometimes it does not seem that way, but we know You are in control of everything on this earth. Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against You—You alone—I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge.  Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Turn Your face away  from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart. In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar. Hear our prayer, O Lord God of our hearts, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

MISSING QUESTIONS

18.  What wisdom can we gain concerning the Temple building first, then the walls?

19.  Who is Isaiah 28:16 talking about?

20.  How long did the rebuilding of the Temple stopped?

21.  Explain what the word Restoration means to you?

Bible Study: EZRA AND NEHEMIAH Week # 5

"Re-Building God's Temple"

 

Subject:        Re-Building the Temple First:

 

Scripture Reading:        Ezra and Nehemiah

         

Seventy years had passed and the city lay in ruins. Its walls were broken down and the gates burned with fire. Nehemiah would refer to the once majestic Jerusalem as a city lying in "waste" (Nehemiah 2:17). Cyrus king of Persia, stirred up in spirit by the Lord, decreed that the people could return from the land of captivity to their home in Judah (Ezra 1). Along with 5,400 articles of gold and silver taken from the temple seven decades earlier, the captives made the long journey to Zion. The year was 536 B. C. Worship was restored at Jerusalem and the restoration of the Temple began (Ezra 3). The foundation was laid with great ceremony and old men weeping for the glory of the first Temple. Resistance to the building arose and work stopped nearly sixteen years. Finally in 520 B. C. the rebuilding of the Temple began in earnest and completed in 516 B. C. (Ezra 5). Nehemiah would come later and the walls of Jerusalem would be rebuilt in fifty-two days (Nehemiah 6:15). 

It should not be lost on the student of scripture that unlike the wisdom of men, the walls of the city were not first built but rather the Temple. The walls of the city were built ninety-two years after the first group of captives returned. What we find in the wisdom of God is that strength and power comes first from the Lord. The Temple represented the protection of Jehovah upon the people; the walls represented the protection of the people by the people and for the people. First they needed to restore the worship to God before seeking to build walls of stone. Restoration begins first in building the Temple, then the walls. 

In our life, restoration begins in building the temple of the heart before the work of building the walls of our lives. Often we seek to build walls of protection without the help of God and we struggle and fail. We have missed the point of Haggai 1:4 - "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" We cannot long serve God without establishing on our heart the temple of God. The walls of our life offer no protection. What gave the city of Jerusalem security were not the walls of stone but the stone of Zion. "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;' whoever believes will not act hastily" (Isaiah 28:16). 

The heart must first be restored to proper worship and the temple of God's grace must be established upon the foundation of our lives. Wisdom begins with the heart being established with trust in God and not trust in men. Building the temple is affirming the presence of the Lord. The temple is a place of holiness and purity. It is a place of security and safety. The captives first put their trust in the Lord. Their faith and courage in the face of discouragement led them to build the Temple of God. Our faith and courage will lead us in the challenges of life to build the temple of God upon our hearts. 

There will be opposition to the building the temple of God upon our hearts as there was in the captive's days. With the power of God we can overcome and succeed in setting up our own "Ebenezer" (1 Samuel 7:12) as the stone of help. Building the Temple first sought the help of God first. Let us build our temple of faith to the Lord. The walls will come later. First, build the temple.

         

WEEK # 5      QUESTIONS:

Questions for Review

 

1.  In what ways did Ezra reinstitute spiritual rededication (Nehemiah chapter 8)? 2. What festival was again celebrated as a result?

3. Which covenant was again renewed?

4. In what manner were the great acts of God reviewed?

5. What was contrasted repeatedly in this review?

6. What importance do the detailed lists of priests and leaders have for us today? 7. What occasion is described in great detail in the book of Nehemiah?

8. What application lies in this occasion for us today?

9. What disturbing problem again arose?

10. How did this problem come to light?

11. Who played a leading role in the reforms that follow?

12. For what does Nehemiah especially want to be remembered?

13. How can we apply this to the present-day work of the church?

14. Can you think of a time in church history when lay leaders took a prominent part in reforming the church?

15. In what ways did the study of Ezra and Nehemiah increase you knowledge of church history?

16. What applications can be made from these books to the work of the church today?

17.  What does the word Ebenezer means in (I Samuel 7:12)?

 

Weekly Word # 5: Altar of Incense

 

Our weekly reading for this week:    Nehemiah 3-6

 

Extra Reading:

 

Pollution of God's House:

2 Chronicles 33:7

2 Chronicles 36:14

Jeremiah 7:30

Ezekiel 8:16

Ezekiel 44:7

Zephaniah 3:4

John 2:14

Our weekly reading for this week:

Ezra 10- Nehemiah 1-2

 

I have finished reading up to Nehemiah 2 chapter; also, I am reading II Chronicles 28 chapter where King Hezekiah becomes king of Judah. Very interesting story!! 

WEEK # 4 Questions/ANSWERS:

1. How does Nehemiah identify himself?
   
   Nehemiah introduces himself as the writer.
    
2. What was Nehemiah's job in Susa?
   
   He refers to himself as a "cupbearer of the king of Persia."(v.11)
    
3. How long was Nehemiah governor of Judah?
   
   Nehemiah 5:14 says 12 years.
    
4. Was God in Nehemiah's desire?
   
   Yes. God put it in his heart to rebuild Jerusalem; Nehemiah 2:12.
    
5. What did Nehemiah desire to do?
   
   He desire to please God by rebuilding Jerusalem. Nehemiah 2:5
    
6. Did the king let him go?
   
   Yes. King Artaxerxes II honored every request concerning Nehemiah's return and provisions. Nehemiah 2:8
   
   
7. How did Nehemiah distinguish himself from the other Israelites?
   
   Nehemiah didn't take a food paycheck because former governors did that with gusto. He also paid to feed 150 Jewish officials who ate at his table out of his own pocket. Nehemiah 5:14
   
   
8. Why did he do this?
   
   Because the people were struggling to survive already. The food paycheck came from their heavy taxes. Note: Do you have an opportunity to stand out for God? Be a testimony through personal sacrifice. Just do it! Nehemiah 5:18
    
9. What is the correct way to respond when enemies come against us and/or wish us harm?
   
   Continue in God's work no matter what. If you are doing something great for God, opposition will come! Nehemiah 6:9
   
   
10. What benefits does sticking with your mission through times of trouble have?
    
    It brings fear and humiliation to your enemies because they will realize that God has helped your mission be successful. Nehemiah 6:15-16
     
11. Does God exonerate His people when one's respected friends trash them before their mutual friends?
    
    Yes. But sometimes it takes a while. Stick to the mission! Nehemiah 6:17-19
    
    
12. Did folks in Old Testament times lift their hands toward heaven, shout "Amen!" and chant "Amen!" while praising God?
    
    Yes! They even bowed down with their faces to the ground to worship God. Nehemiah 8:6
    
     
13. When the bible was read, did they just read it or did they stop to explain each part?
    
    They went through it slowly so they could explain each part. Nehemiah 8:8
    
     
14. What is the strength of the believer?
    
    The joy of the Lord!  I love this scripture! Nehemiah 8:10
    
     
15. The Israelites celebrated the Festival of Shelters during Nehemiah's time. When was the last time it was celebrated properly?
    
    When Joshua was prophet! Nehemiah 8:17
    
     
16. This celebration of the Temple along with Jerusalem being rebuilt and completed was a special time. On what day did the people confess their sins to one another?
    
    October 31. Note: Halloween, a totally non-God national day, totally distracts from the real use of the day. Think about it: God's people confess their sins to one another. A day of repentance. Later, Halloween became a gruesome day of hell let loose. Today, we forget the dark side of Halloween, still a day of havoc in some places. Children receive sweet gifts from kind adults and we get acquainted with neighbors and elderly shut-ins. I like the original celebration, don't you? The completion of a mission and the confessing of sins to one another. How righteous is that? Nehemiah 9:1
    
     
17. That's interesting. What else set October 31 apart?
    
    1). God's people separated themselves from all foreigners
    2). They heard the Word read to them for 3 hours
    3). They worshipped God for 3 hours
    4.) Some Levites stood on stairs, crying out to God, and later, ordered the people to stand up and praise God too. Nehemiah 9:2
    
    Note: No wonder Satan has corrupted this day! Halleluiah! What a day!
    
     
18. What causes people to praise God so greatly?
    
    The reading and understanding of God's word. You can't help but praise God for His awesome love. Nehemiah 9:5-31
    
     
19. What else does knowing God's word bring?
    
    Life, if people obey God's word. Nehemiah 9:29
    
     
20. What was the irony of this era of the Jews?
    
    They were in the land of plenty, having an abundance, yet still slaves to Persia. Nehemiah 9:36
21. What time period does Nehemiah cover?
    
    During Ezra's time. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem after Ezra. Nehemiah 1:1
    
     
22. What lessons can we benefit from in Nehemiah?
    
    Lesson 1: While we are focused, as the Israelites were at the ceremony that went on for days, we love God and praise God. But when life resumes its routine, we don't think of God in everything. We need to focus. The Holy Spirit helps us to stay focused.
    Lesson 2:  Don't compromise; learn from history; God loves you in any case. You do well for yourself to be in God's will.
    Lesson 3:  You may live out your whole life with an enemy close by. You may not have to today! Ask God to remove your enemy or else bring about peace between the two of you. God may decide to leave your enemy there for reasons you won't learn till the end of days. Nehemiah had such a challenge and was unable to alter his circumstances. Keep doing the ministry anyway! 
    Lesson 4:  Our modern Sunday worship service resembles this celebration.