WEBVTT 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.690 Oh, there he is, just hand out one to each everybody. 00:00:03.690 --> 00:00:06.043 Hopefully there's enough to go around. 00:00:06.043 --> 00:00:08.912 But I want to thank God for this church. 00:00:08.912 --> 00:00:33.613 Going through the books of the Bible is really exciting and I don't know too many churches that does a task like this and selecting so many different men from different walks of life to give the word, it's almost as if we are indeed one of the scribes of scripture, because the Bible has so many different authors. 00:00:33.613 --> 00:00:37.808 Shepherds and dendrologists, prophets and fishermen. 00:00:37.808 --> 00:00:44.932 All wrote our scriptures from different walks of life and different attitudes, different ages and rages. 00:00:45.073 --> 00:00:48.121 My older brother from Seattle is here tonight, guys. 00:00:48.121 --> 00:00:50.246 So you know I got to preach tonight. 00:00:50.246 --> 00:00:54.484 If my older brother can wave, that's Shwayne, back there from Seattle. 00:00:54.484 --> 00:00:55.487 He's here with us. 00:00:55.487 --> 00:00:56.168 He's joining. 00:00:56.168 --> 00:00:57.813 This is his second night in a row. 00:00:57.813 --> 00:01:01.085 I think he liked your preaching so much that he came back. 00:01:01.085 --> 00:01:19.525 But I'm glad that pastor already preached mostly on the movement of the Jews during this period of Ezra and Nehemiah, their contemporaries, and we give God thanks for his word. 00:01:19.564 --> 00:01:25.275 So if you're going to use the pew Bible, the CSB version, you can. 00:01:25.275 --> 00:01:35.971 I will be using King James, but I will make sure that we're all together on what we're reading and I think basically a lot of it is the same Amen. 00:01:35.971 --> 00:01:42.186 So, as Josiah gives out, we're just going to look at Nehemiah, chapter one. 00:01:42.186 --> 00:02:00.222 Nehemiah, chapter one I want to thank all of the elders who prayed for me up until this point, doing 12 hour days every day and then trying to study and glean and jot down information and you know, edit is very difficult. 00:02:00.222 --> 00:02:12.157 My older brother would tell you I was working on this most of the time between the period of 1 am and like 4 am, because that's the only time I actually had some opportunity to do it. 00:02:12.157 --> 00:02:32.108 But God is good, my wife has been patient and EJ're going to start with, I guess, chapter one. 00:02:32.108 --> 00:02:44.377 And also I want to thank Deacon Vic who helped me put this together with his one of his programs that he had he loaned to me, which was really good. 00:02:48.159 --> 00:03:03.502 So Nehemiah, chapter one, verse one the words of Nehemiah, the son of Helikayah, and it came to pass in the month of Kislev, 20th year. 00:03:03.502 --> 00:03:52.798 As I was in Sushan, the palace toanias, he and certain men of Judah, and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem, and they said unto pass verse 4, that I sat down and wept and mourned certain days or several days, and fasted and prayed before Elohim Hashemayim, the God of heaven. 00:03:52.798 --> 00:03:57.912 So now let's look at verse 11, nehemiah, chapter 1, verse 11. 00:03:57.912 --> 00:04:07.760 And in verse 5, real quick, if you see how the word Lord is written um, some of you know I'm a real big fan of this. 00:04:07.760 --> 00:04:13.707 But if you look at verse five, how the word lord is written in most of our english bibles it's all caps. 00:04:13.707 --> 00:04:26.060 But when you look at lord, here in verse is capital and the other three letters, ord is lowercase and of some of you scholars already know where I'm going with this. 00:04:26.060 --> 00:04:29.968 But if you see that in the scripture, in verse 5, it's capital. 00:04:30.168 --> 00:04:37.310 In verse 11, only the L is capitalized and there's a reason why throughout this prayer Nehemiah does this. 00:04:37.310 --> 00:04:43.951 So the first one in verse 5 is the Tetragrammaton, that's the divine personal name of God, that's Yahweh. 00:04:43.951 --> 00:04:45.802 That's in verse 5 with the capitals. 00:04:45.802 --> 00:04:55.526 In verse 11, though he uses a different name for our God, it's a title, it's an honorary title, it's Adonai, it means master. 00:04:55.526 --> 00:04:56.509 And there's a reason. 00:04:56.749 --> 00:05:13.730 You're going to see in verse 11 why Nehemiah's prayers shift this way because he begins to see himself in relation to who he's praying to and seeking so in Nehemiah, chapter 1, verse 11, o Adonai, which is actually master. 00:05:13.730 --> 00:05:30.944 Master, I beseech thee now, let thou thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy and your English version has servant, that Hebrew word slave, which is why he's now addressing our God as master. 00:05:30.944 --> 00:05:46.355 So what he's saying is let your ear be attentive to your slave and to the prayer of your slaves who desire to fear your name, which he already mentioned in verse 5, yahweh and prosper. 00:05:46.355 --> 00:05:58.783 I pray thee, thy slave this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man who, for I, was the king's cup bearer at Xerxes. 00:05:58.783 --> 00:06:03.512 All right, so look at the last chapter, chapter 13, verse 30. 00:06:03.512 --> 00:06:08.620 Chapter 13, chapter. 00:06:08.620 --> 00:06:09.262 Chapter 13, verse 30,. 00:06:09.262 --> 00:06:09.904 Chapter 13, verse 30. 00:06:09.925 --> 00:06:21.612 And I guess now when you do your Bible studies if you never noticed that, maybe you can start looking for that Whether the word Lord is capitalized or not, you'll know whether it's addressing the divine name, yahweh or Adonai, as master. 00:06:21.612 --> 00:06:36.701 But Nehemiah, chapter 13, verse 30, thus cleansed I then from all strangers and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites everyone in his business, verse 31,. 00:06:36.701 --> 00:06:51.360 And for the wood offering at times appointed, and for the first fruits and listen, and for the first fruits, and listen. 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:52.442 Remember me, o my Elohim, o my God for good. 00:06:52.442 --> 00:06:57.230 So the account of Nehemiah ends how it started, with prayer to our God, elohim. 00:06:57.230 --> 00:07:01.903 Yahweh, we ask that you will tabernacle with us. 00:07:01.903 --> 00:07:06.132 Let your word penetrate our hearts and be hid in our souls. 00:07:06.132 --> 00:07:15.920 Let us cherish and nourish your word and let my prayer be set before you as incense in Yeshua's name, amen. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:20.031 So it's important that people know always the truth, right? 00:07:20.031 --> 00:07:27.949 So go to Ezra, chapter eight and hold it with with your bookmarker, and while you go to chapter 8, you just hold it. 00:07:27.949 --> 00:07:31.509 But first we're going to look at Nehemiah, chapter 2. 00:07:31.509 --> 00:07:32.685 We're going to stay there also. 00:07:32.685 --> 00:07:37.771 So hold Ezra, chapter 8 and get ready to go to Nehemiah, chapter 2, right? 00:07:39.321 --> 00:08:00.771 The account of Nehemiah, of whom the scroll is written, is perhaps one of my favorite Old Testament accounts, and maybe because it interweaves worship, fasting and intense prayer, drama, the foiling of enemies, leadership, stellar public service. 00:08:00.771 --> 00:08:05.805 Yeah, you know, nehemiah was a governor, so he was a public servant. 00:08:05.805 --> 00:08:07.302 Maybe that's why I like him so much. 00:08:07.302 --> 00:08:09.831 I would have voted for this guy twice, right? 00:08:09.831 --> 00:08:18.932 So, Nehemiah, he demonstrates leadership, bravery in the sight of threats, and he's a community organizer. 00:08:18.932 --> 00:08:20.574 This guy I really do. 00:08:20.574 --> 00:08:34.474 I wish he was running today and maybe I enjoy Nehemiah because it's so relevant to our day and if you turn on the news it's a lot of discussions that go on here is kind of cogent to what we hear on the news today. 00:08:34.474 --> 00:08:40.711 Right, all mean, are we familiar with that, nehemiah being one of these candidates? 00:08:40.711 --> 00:08:46.740 It'd be awesome to hear him debate candidates. 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:47.501 It'd be awesome to hear him debate. 00:08:47.501 --> 00:08:48.243 And he does a lot of it too. 00:08:48.243 --> 00:08:50.628 So he involves a lot of tasks that he takes on for himself. 00:08:50.628 --> 00:08:53.312 You know he sees a problem and he goes and fix it. 00:08:53.312 --> 00:08:57.447 What a guy to have in your team and perhaps in the church. 00:08:57.447 --> 00:09:18.924 And maybe another reason why I truly like Nehemiah is because the book kind of starts and ends with gastronomy and some people can look at Nehemiah as what we may consider today loosely as a top chef or waiter or butler and some dude who knows how to put food together. 00:09:18.924 --> 00:09:20.688 So I kind of like Nehemiah for that. 00:09:20.688 --> 00:09:28.201 He was always around food, for that he was always around food. 00:09:28.221 --> 00:09:37.323 Nehemiah, the protagonist whose name appears a solid seven times, it actually means consolation of Yah, consolation of Yah, so Yah is Y-A-H and that's the shortened form of Yahweh. 00:09:37.323 --> 00:09:42.313 So he has his name attached to consolation to make Nehemiah right. 00:09:42.313 --> 00:09:48.283 So you know hallelujah, nehemiah right, consolation of Yah is what his name means. 00:09:48.283 --> 00:09:53.052 If you can't say that, then you can say Yahweh comforts, yahweh comforts. 00:09:53.052 --> 00:09:57.711 So there's another guy in this story that shows up a lot, ten times his name appears. 00:09:57.711 --> 00:10:01.586 He's the corrupt politician and antagonist. 00:10:01.586 --> 00:10:03.590 His name is Sanballat, right? 00:10:04.171 --> 00:10:12.974 So let's go through quickly the timeline of this book, so that we you haven't been coming, or or you just like to hear timelines for some reason. 00:10:12.974 --> 00:10:26.773 Okay, so in the book of Nehemiah it takes place in Israel, mostly around 445 BC to about 430 BC, right, and it begins pretty much around the time. 00:10:26.773 --> 00:10:32.541 If you're doing the 70-year exile period. 00:10:32.541 --> 00:10:40.149 Time would start around Pharaoh Necro, who departs King Jehoahaz to Egypt. 00:10:40.149 --> 00:10:42.311 He, he exiles him in 9 BC. 00:10:42.311 --> 00:11:01.453 That would lead then to 586 BC with the fall of Jerusalem, another exile under Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon, ending around 530 BC, leading to the restoration period of Israel, which starts first with a plan by the name of Zerubbabel. 00:11:01.453 --> 00:11:05.788 Then the second group returns under Ezra. 00:11:05.788 --> 00:11:14.671 The last group comes under Nehemiah's governorship around 445 BC. 00:11:15.171 --> 00:11:21.643 In the opening of chapter two we read that Nehemiah now is bringing wine to the king. 00:11:21.643 --> 00:11:22.344 Right, he's doing his job. 00:11:22.344 --> 00:11:23.644 He's bringing wine to the king. 00:11:23.644 --> 00:11:26.208 Right, he's doing his job, he's bringing wine to the king. 00:11:26.208 --> 00:11:33.984 And do you remember in Nehemiah, chapter one, verse one, nehemiah tells us when this takes place. 00:11:33.984 --> 00:11:42.192 So in Nehemiah, chapter one, verse one, it says in the month Kislev, in the 20th year. 00:11:42.192 --> 00:11:44.388 That's Nehemiah, chapter one, verse one. 00:11:44.388 --> 00:11:54.673 And if you look at chapter 2, verse 1, he says and now it came to pass in the Nisan same year, that's the 20th year of the king. 00:11:54.673 --> 00:11:58.126 So I gave you, like, the handout, the first page with the green circle on it. 00:11:58.126 --> 00:12:10.350 If you look to the far left, you will see I circled the month, the biblical month called Kislev, right and I kind of put a blue arrow point all the way to Nisan, because we're in the same month. 00:12:10.350 --> 00:12:12.961 So this is what scholars say. 00:12:13.042 --> 00:12:23.748 I mean it's an interesting concept if it's true, which would mean that Nehemiah then was fasting for about five months, fasting and praying. 00:12:23.748 --> 00:12:33.991 This is why he doesn't give us an exact day, he just says certain days, several days, and if you know, each month has a 30 days total. 00:12:33.991 --> 00:12:38.191 So he went from Kislev all the way to Nisan. 00:12:38.191 --> 00:12:44.114 That would have been about 150 days that he was praying and fasting. 00:12:44.114 --> 00:12:58.173 So he didn't get it praying and fasting, so he could have fasted anywhere within 120 to 120 days. 00:12:58.214 --> 00:13:07.267 I mean that Esther. 00:13:07.267 --> 00:13:15.556 Later on, during the time of Esther, the people do fast for three days and three nights. 00:13:15.556 --> 00:13:26.423 The people in the land of Samuel 31,. 00:13:26.423 --> 00:13:27.024 They fast for 10 days. 00:13:27.024 --> 00:13:28.408 Moses fasts for 80 days and Yeshua fasts for 40 days. 00:13:28.408 --> 00:13:29.350 Daniel fasts for three weeks. 00:13:29.350 --> 00:13:35.864 So we don't know exactly when he started, but some guess that somewhere around that period he was fasting indeed. 00:13:37.667 --> 00:13:48.640 So if you really want to know how Nehemiah was cut bearer and still able to fast, and you want to know that answer, see me afterwards and I'll give you the answer to that. 00:13:48.640 --> 00:13:52.346 But here's another question what does it mean to fast? 00:13:52.346 --> 00:13:52.746 Right? 00:13:52.746 --> 00:13:58.375 What is one biblical definition of what it means to be fasting and why is it important? 00:13:58.375 --> 00:14:06.607 Remember, I told you to go to Ezra, chapter 8. 00:14:06.607 --> 00:14:09.220 I want you to look at Ezra, chapter 8, verse 21. 00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:16.003 What is one definition of what it might mean to fast and why is it important? 00:14:16.003 --> 00:14:17.346 Your answer is found in Ezra, chapter 8, verse 21. 00:14:17.346 --> 00:14:18.668 And Ezra is going to tell us what he did. 00:14:18.729 --> 00:14:39.456 He said then I proclaimed a fast there by the river of Avahav right that we might, what we might afflict ourselves, some versions say, but we might humble ourselves before our Elohim to seek him the right way for us. 00:14:39.456 --> 00:14:45.639 One for us and two for our little ones, and three for all our possessions. 00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:59.099 I love scripture because here I see clearly that there's nothing wrong to fast for yourself if you're going through something, and fast for your family if you need a breakthrough for them, and you can fast for your things. 00:14:59.099 --> 00:15:00.361 Amen, I love that. 00:15:00.361 --> 00:15:07.648 I mean, hey, he was probably fasting for his donkeys that they had enough water, that they had enough food to make the journey. 00:15:07.648 --> 00:15:09.655 He was fasting for his things. 00:15:09.655 --> 00:15:12.222 You could probably fast for that bill that's coming up. 00:15:12.222 --> 00:15:14.969 You can fast for your child who's wayward. 00:15:14.969 --> 00:15:16.972 You can fast for yourself if you're sick. 00:15:16.972 --> 00:15:25.263 So those are the three things that he fasted and gathered the people to do so. 00:15:25.283 --> 00:15:28.147 Look at verse 23, ezra, chapter 8, verse 23. 00:15:28.147 --> 00:15:34.056 So we fasted and entreated our Elohim for this and he answered our prayer. 00:15:34.056 --> 00:15:42.394 So now go to Psalms, chapter 5, hold it, and then we're going to look at Psalms, chapter 10, verse 17. 00:15:42.394 --> 00:15:50.434 So go to Psalms, chapter 35 and hold that, and then we're going to look at Psalms, chapter 10, verse 17. 00:15:50.434 --> 00:15:59.681 Chapter 10, verse 17. 00:15:59.701 --> 00:16:02.885 So when someone seeks Yahweh, the right way and with fasting it's a form of spiritually humbling oneself before God. 00:16:02.885 --> 00:16:06.510 That is a biblical definition. 00:16:06.510 --> 00:16:14.393 Fasting should bring about a sense of meekness, with humility and a humble spirit and disposition. 00:16:14.393 --> 00:16:19.392 So this is what Nehemiah is demonstrating before Yahweh. 00:16:19.392 --> 00:16:29.794 He is humbling himself in earnest prayer because I believe Nehemiah knows a secret to answered prayer. 00:16:29.794 --> 00:16:38.589 And if you don't get anything else tonight from this discussion, just tap your neighbor next to you and tell them to pay attention to this right. 00:16:39.530 --> 00:16:57.173 Nehemiah knows, I believe he knows a secret, if you will, to answered prayer and he knows that the biblical principle is that there is a promise attached to the person who humbles himself before Yahweh. 00:16:57.173 --> 00:17:03.993 So Psalms, chapter 10, verse 17, says Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the pompous. 00:17:03.993 --> 00:17:16.641 No, you have heard the desire of those who are boastful, of those who are boastful. 00:17:16.641 --> 00:17:17.501 No, psalms, chapter 10, verse 17,. 00:17:17.501 --> 00:17:18.784 Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. 00:17:18.784 --> 00:17:20.507 You will prepare their heart. 00:17:20.507 --> 00:17:23.511 You will cause your ear to hear. 00:17:23.511 --> 00:17:32.829 Nehemiah knows by fasting he will be heard by God, just like Ezra is when he fasts. 00:17:32.829 --> 00:17:42.614 In Psalms, chapter 25, verse 9, it says the meek will Yahweh guide in judgment and the meek will he teach his way. 00:17:42.614 --> 00:18:05.026 This is why Nehemiah is able to gather a group of disheveled, disorganized, distraught and even at times discouraging exiles together and rebuild Jerusalem in 52 days, because he humbles himself and Yahweh gives him the right trajectory for success. 00:18:05.026 --> 00:18:07.250 That was Psalm chapter 25, verse 9. 00:18:07.250 --> 00:18:16.142 James says James says God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 00:18:16.142 --> 00:18:25.855 I believe Nehemiah knows a secret to answer prayer, that genuine fasting allures Yahweh as a signal of spiritual humility. 00:18:25.855 --> 00:18:31.411 Need more proof. 00:18:31.571 --> 00:18:33.738 Psalm chapter 35, verse 13. 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:39.364 Psalm chapter 35, 35, verse 13. 00:18:39.364 --> 00:18:42.089 Psalm chapter 35, verse 13. 00:18:42.089 --> 00:18:42.832 What does king david say? 00:18:42.832 --> 00:18:43.794 Uh, when he he does when his enemies are sick. 00:18:43.794 --> 00:18:45.057 Psalm chapter 35, verse 13. 00:18:45.057 --> 00:18:59.301 He says I humbled my soul with fasting and my prayer returned unto mine own bosom, so, so I like the way Spurgeon describes and elucidates on this verse. 00:18:59.301 --> 00:19:03.449 Spurgeon says it's like he compares clouds. 00:19:03.449 --> 00:19:10.365 He says clouds don't always rain in the same area, they gather moisture. 00:19:11.026 --> 00:19:16.634 So it would seem like when David was praying that the blessing did not go to his enemy. 00:19:16.634 --> 00:19:19.147 But the blessing came back to David. 00:19:19.147 --> 00:19:19.548 Why? 00:19:19.548 --> 00:19:22.269 Because he humbled himself with prayer. 00:19:22.269 --> 00:19:26.439 God gave him what he was asking for someone else Amen. 00:19:26.439 --> 00:19:32.712 When you humble yourself before God he will draw near unto you. 00:19:32.712 --> 00:19:35.066 Did I make that up? 00:19:35.066 --> 00:19:37.705 No, you can go home and read it. 00:19:37.705 --> 00:19:44.609 It was there yesterday, it's there today in scripture and I guarantee if you wake up tomorrow and you read it it will still be there. 00:19:44.609 --> 00:19:45.090 Amen. 00:19:45.090 --> 00:19:46.224 Thank God for his word. 00:19:46.224 --> 00:19:54.733 So, because David is fasting, it seems that God sends the blessing he was praying for his enemy over him. 00:19:54.733 --> 00:20:06.455 So, with that one not delivered to you, which is the answer to the question, what is one biblical definition of fasting and why is it important? 00:20:06.455 --> 00:20:11.491 The answer would be our God honors genuine fasting. 00:20:11.491 --> 00:20:16.430 It's an act or sign of spiritually humbling oneself before him. 00:20:16.430 --> 00:20:18.354 There you go, that's what it delivered. 00:20:18.354 --> 00:20:24.359 Deposit it in your spiritual database and bring it out when you need it next time for future reference. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:30.712 So now let's go through the book of Nehemiah in four principal ways of viewing it. 00:20:30.712 --> 00:20:35.951 The first is the literal view. 00:20:35.951 --> 00:20:37.224 It's the plain meaning. 00:20:37.224 --> 00:20:50.770 In chapter one we see Nehemiah's plight for his homeland and his prayer to get the opportunity to help the plight for his homeland and he to get the opportunity. 00:20:50.770 --> 00:20:55.000 In chapter two we see uh answered prayer. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:21:12.070 Nehemiah is allowed with regal permission to um to lead him to inspect the condition of jerusalem motivate he came with to get well even in the face of early opposition. 00:21:12.872 --> 00:21:19.890 In chapter three, the list of workers and co-workers based on which specific area they are located. 00:21:19.890 --> 00:21:31.848 Chapter four covers opposition to the wall, to the building of the wall, the threats which are made and the continuation of the rebuilding of that wall in the face of opposition. 00:21:31.848 --> 00:21:46.652 Chapter five speaks of social and economical problems, such as the complaints of the poor, the cancellation of debts and Nehemiah being an example of integrity and what good leadership looks like. 00:21:46.652 --> 00:21:52.392 So you know, nehemiah would encourage the people to give the poor when he had already done that. 00:21:52.392 --> 00:21:56.530 Nehemiah would encourage the people to pray when he was praying. 00:21:56.530 --> 00:22:00.730 So Nehemiah would encourage the people to build and he was a part of the crew building. 00:22:00.730 --> 00:22:04.411 He never asked anybody to do something that he didn't do himself. 00:22:04.411 --> 00:22:08.010 He's an example of what godly leadership looks like. 00:22:09.141 --> 00:22:15.942 In chapter six, the wall is complete, even though an attempt on Nehemiah's life was rumored. 00:22:15.942 --> 00:22:26.906 In chapter 7 to 10 has the list of the returnees and the revival worship service with the guest speaker, preacher Ezra from Persia. 00:22:26.906 --> 00:22:32.134 In chapter 11, it has the list of the tribes and where they reside. 00:22:32.134 --> 00:22:41.903 In chapter 12 is the dedication of the wall and ordination service of certain positions. 00:22:41.903 --> 00:23:04.433 And in chapter 13, it closes with Nehemiah correcting the misguided practices of the people in his absence, confronting staff members, even firing those unqualified and unfit for certain positions, and he reorganizes the religious and social and economic issues. 00:23:04.433 --> 00:23:11.433 So that is Nehemiah, through the literal view, the plain meaning of the text. 00:23:11.994 --> 00:23:21.883 Another interpretation would be the moral view, which would probably try to ask the question what are the ethical lessons, if any, we can learn from the book of Nehemiah? 00:23:21.883 --> 00:23:23.346 This is called the moral view. 00:23:23.346 --> 00:23:27.193 So the first thing is obvious, right? 00:23:27.193 --> 00:23:34.273 The first thing Nehemiah teaches us is the first step to any situation is prayer and humility. 00:23:34.273 --> 00:23:37.925 So that's one thing we learn from Nehemiah. 00:23:37.925 --> 00:23:42.883 The first step to any situation is prayer, along with humility. 00:23:42.883 --> 00:23:51.987 We learn about uncorrupt leadership, also by example, integrity and, rightly praised, righteous indignation. 00:23:52.748 --> 00:24:00.954 Nehemiah teaches in chapter one how believers can behave and be trusted, even in a pagan land, right? 00:24:00.954 --> 00:24:02.198 So now get this. 00:24:02.198 --> 00:24:09.231 Nehemiah is a Jew living in Persia, not really because he wants to be there. 00:24:09.231 --> 00:24:14.067 He was brought there, probably, grew up in Babylon and ended up in Persia, right? 00:24:14.067 --> 00:24:16.632 Not necessarily because he wanted to be there. 00:24:16.632 --> 00:24:25.070 Yet the Persian king doesn't hire a Persian to do the job that he gives to Nehemiah. 00:24:25.070 --> 00:24:32.633 So why would the Persian king give this important task to a Jew who's living in exile? 00:24:32.633 --> 00:24:56.624 And I think it's because Nehemiah teaches what bona fide godliness and integrity looks like in the face of an unbelieving world Right that even his Persian overlords could choose him instead of one of their own, choose him instead of one of their own, sila. 00:24:56.644 --> 00:24:58.669 So in chapter two to three, we learn the value of planning ahead can lead to success. 00:24:58.669 --> 00:25:02.057 The value of planning ahead can lead to success. 00:25:02.057 --> 00:25:05.983 Those who fail to prepare can prepare to fail right. 00:25:05.983 --> 00:25:17.656 For which of you intending to build a tower sit, if not, down first and count the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 00:25:17.656 --> 00:25:22.976 You know, the chapter 2 to 3 teaches us the value of preparation. 00:25:23.096 --> 00:25:34.474 The value of preparation Chapter 4, we learn how we can respond to our enemies, especially when we seek to be successful in doing God's work. 00:25:34.474 --> 00:25:56.116 We learn how we could respond to our enemies, especially when we're trying to do God's work and even take steps as believers to come together to defeat demonic and satanic onslaught. 00:25:56.116 --> 00:25:58.403 In chapter four we see that. 00:25:58.403 --> 00:26:10.790 In chapter five, we learn to try to quickly resolve internal conflicts so the unity of the body can thrive. 00:26:10.790 --> 00:26:17.949 We learn we can try to resolve internal conflicts, so the unity of the body can thrive. 00:26:18.540 --> 00:26:26.769 In chapter six to seven we learn wise management to place the right people where they're most useful. 00:26:26.769 --> 00:26:30.609 Place the right people where they're most useful. 00:26:30.609 --> 00:26:38.634 In chapter eight to 10, we learn the beauty of what corporate worship looks like when done right. 00:26:38.634 --> 00:26:43.951 The people hear the word of God and apply the word of God in chapter 8. 00:26:43.951 --> 00:26:51.413 They repent in chapter 9 and pledge to live out the word of God by chapter 10. 00:26:51.413 --> 00:26:58.462 And pledged to live out the word of God by chapter 10. 00:26:58.482 --> 00:27:07.723 In chapter 11 to 12, we learn the value of unity and workers in the ministry and why everyone should want to participate, doing something in the body with their time, talent and treasure. 00:27:07.723 --> 00:27:17.801 And in chapter 13, we learn that the leaders must be fair, practical, stern and accountable. 00:27:17.801 --> 00:27:25.613 Leaders must be fair, practical, stern and accountable. 00:27:25.613 --> 00:27:33.472 So we also learn in chapter 13 about dangerous relationships, and Pastor Micah touched on this last week. 00:27:33.472 --> 00:27:50.625 Being unequally yoked is a danger not just to the individual but to the community at large, and so good relationships doesn't just do good to the community, but not to the individuals but to the community at large, and that's the moral view. 00:27:50.625 --> 00:27:54.092 That kind of answers the question, but to the community at large. 00:27:54.092 --> 00:27:58.339 And that's the moral view, that kind of answers the question what are the ethical lessons we can learn from Nehemiah? 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:01.292 Another way to explain Nehemiah would be called the allegorical view. 00:28:01.292 --> 00:28:09.951 The allegorical view and this tries to answer the question is there a second level of parabolic understanding? 00:28:09.951 --> 00:28:16.115 Is there a second level of parabolic understanding we can see from the book of Nehemiah. 00:28:16.115 --> 00:28:32.153 Viewing Nehemiah allegorically, we learn like Ezra teaches the law and Nehemiah is the last leader to bring the exiles from a foreign land to their rightful home. 00:28:32.153 --> 00:28:57.152 We see also Jesus as the first and last leader, the author and finisher, who is the completion of the law of Moses and brings sinners from a spiritual state of alienation to be co-heirs with Jesus, bringing us home to the new Jerusalem in the household. 00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:14.259 In Nehemiah, allegorically, we see how the church and how the spirit can distribute gifts, how Messiah can give apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. 00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:28.267 And we learn allegorically how the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee, and how thus the body of Christ, the church, must work together to build together. 00:29:28.267 --> 00:29:35.721 In chapter 4, we read how the people equip themselves with armor. 00:29:35.721 --> 00:29:59.963 In verses 16 to 18, in the face of a coming threat which teaches us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual right and we should also put on the whole armor of God right so that we will withstand the wiles of the devil. 00:30:01.385 --> 00:30:13.308 In Nehemiah, chapter 7, thanks, brother we see allegorically how even genealogy is crucial for these descendants of Abraham. 00:30:13.308 --> 00:30:24.532 Nehemiah is from the tribe of Judah and God plants in Nehemiah's heart the task of tracing the promised seed. 00:30:24.532 --> 00:30:49.641 This is supremely the case when you look at Matthew, chapter 1, luke, chapter 3, with the coming of the Christ child, a descendant of Abraham, and the prophesied lion of the tribe of Judah, lion of the tribe of Judah. 00:30:49.641 --> 00:30:52.125 In chapters 8 to 10, allegorically, we see the people heard and celebrated the feast of booths. 00:30:52.125 --> 00:30:54.550 They're aware of the Passover and they confess their sins. 00:30:54.550 --> 00:31:00.262 Yeshua, who is the Logos incarnate, is our Passover lamb. 00:31:00.262 --> 00:31:04.247 He tabernacles with us and is the one who covers. 00:31:04.267 --> 00:31:50.030 As we look at Nehemiah, chapter 13, verse 25, we even see that when things in the temple and socially are amiss and the people are involved in so much corruption that Nehemiah says I contended with those people and cursed them and smote certain of them and plucked off their hair and made them swear by God, saying and plucked off their hair and made them swear by God, saying ye shall not give our daughters unto their sons, nor take the daughters of their sons for yourself. 00:31:50.030 --> 00:31:55.866 Now, when it says he cursed them, those aren't four words, as we may perceive it to be. 00:31:55.866 --> 00:32:05.260 I think perhaps it means, because he was a person always praying, that he imprecated by them when he saw the corruption going on. 00:32:05.260 --> 00:32:17.204 Basically, what he did was he prayed an imprecatory prayer or he pronounced against these people for going outside of God's law. 00:32:17.204 --> 00:32:37.468 And in this we see the righteous zeal for things which should remain pure before God and the discipline, also, that Yeshua meets out on the money changers when he runs them out the temple with cords and whips. 00:32:37.769 --> 00:32:49.698 Allegorically, Nehemiah is a cup bearer, that is, a trusted personal chef or waiter, even a taster, which is a dangerous job. 00:32:49.698 --> 00:33:04.229 Right, because the cup bearer would have to drink the wine and then he dies. 00:33:04.229 --> 00:33:14.811 Then the king knows not to imbibe, not to consume, but then Nehemiah would then be dying in place of his king. 00:33:14.811 --> 00:33:29.603 Right, would have to give his life up if he drank something that was poisonous and die instead of the one who has authority over him. 00:33:29.603 --> 00:33:52.342 Yes, when Yeshua came the first time of kings, who says, oh my father, if this cup, if this cup may not come from me, except I drink it, I will. 00:33:52.342 --> 00:34:03.631 Nehemiah drinks the cup first, and when he does so he can potentially die to save only one life of that king of Persia. 00:34:03.631 --> 00:34:17.152 But when Yeshua, the king of kings, drinks the cup in Matthew 26 and does die, he doesn't just save one soul, but he saves many and all who believe on him. 00:34:19.221 --> 00:34:28.186 If you go to Daniel, chapter 9, and hold it with a bookmarker, go to Daniel, chapter 9 and hold it with a bookmarker and turn to Nehemiah, chapter 4. 00:34:28.186 --> 00:34:45.079 So that's the allegorical view, like what is the second parabolic meaning, if any, that we find the last way we can view the book of Nehemiah would be anthropologically or eschatologically Big words, I know. 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.882 So. 00:34:45.882 --> 00:35:00.987 In Psalms, chapter 83, and Ezekiel, chapter 38, luke, chapter 21, revelation, chapter 20, and so on, we read of the coming moment in the last days. 00:35:00.987 --> 00:35:02.992 And that's what eschatological means. 00:35:02.992 --> 00:35:06.362 It's the study of the last days. 00:35:06.362 --> 00:35:17.083 So we see, in the last days when God's people will actually be surrounded by its enemies, especially during a time of great duress. 00:35:17.083 --> 00:35:23.128 So in Nehemiah, chapter 4, it says so. 00:35:23.128 --> 00:35:34.431 It was when the Jews who dwelt near them came that they told us ten times from wherever place you turn, they will be upon us. 00:35:34.431 --> 00:35:40.253 Wherever you look, the enemy will be there to threaten us, to harm us wherever you turn. 00:35:40.253 --> 00:35:51.501 So in this account we learn that there are four distinct enemies threatening the Jews, who actually hail from the four corners of the world which surround Jerusalem. 00:35:52.402 --> 00:36:19.056 In Nehemiah, chapter 4, verse 7, it says now it happened that Sambath 1, Tobiah 2, the Arabs, which was led by a man named Gershom, 3, the Ammonites, who's led by Tobiah, so that's still 2, and the Asherites, 4, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry. 00:36:19.056 --> 00:36:22.907 Okay, and you can compare that with chapter six, verse one. 00:36:22.907 --> 00:36:27.148 If you look at the map I gave you, that would be on the second page that I gave you. 00:36:27.148 --> 00:36:34.831 If you look at the map, it kind of shows you where these four people or four groups are from. 00:36:34.831 --> 00:36:41.786 So Sambalit, the Horonite, is from the north and represents most likely Samaria. 00:36:41.786 --> 00:36:45.813 Tobiah and the Ammonites is from the east. 00:36:45.813 --> 00:36:52.550 Geshem and the Arabs are from the south and the Astrodites are from the west. 00:36:52.550 --> 00:36:57.179 From wherever place you turn, they will be upon us. 00:36:57.179 --> 00:37:12.893 So, anagogically, we see in Nehemiah warnings of Messiah such as but when you see Jerusalem surrounded by enemies, then you know that the desolation is near. 00:37:12.893 --> 00:37:25.255 So this happened historically, but it's also a sign pointing to what is going to happen in Israel at a cataclysmic, more intense way. 00:37:26.335 --> 00:37:47.626 Finally, as we learn anagogically how the book of Nehemiah is actually a conduit for biblical prophecy, not only for, like Micah, chapter seven, but also especially from Daniel, chapter nine and I thought Pastor Micah was going to preach the message this morning at ABF. 00:37:47.626 --> 00:37:51.592 But yes, there is a connection with Daniel's prophecy. 00:37:51.592 --> 00:37:55.219 In Daniel, chapter 9, verse 24 to 26. 00:37:55.219 --> 00:38:25.054 In Daniel's 70 weeks prophecy, daniel in 605 BC, right In 605 BC, he writes down the words of the angel Gabriel and in verse 25, he says know, therefore, and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah, the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and 62 weeks. 00:38:25.054 --> 00:38:40.777 The street shall be built again and the wall, even in troublesome times, and after the 62 weeks, messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself. 00:38:40.777 --> 00:38:46.458 So let's look at just one way of how to interpret this anagogically. 00:38:46.458 --> 00:39:08.137 If you were to calculate this mathematical prophecy, you the biblical rendering of prophetically telling time in what is called weeks, daniel's prophecy here, not a week of days, it's a week of years, a total span of seven years. 00:39:08.137 --> 00:39:19.753 But when you do so, you will discover that the statement about when the wall is to be rebuilt is actually the time. 00:39:19.753 --> 00:39:31.422 So Daniel in exile is writing 160 years before Nehemiah even gets this order. 00:39:31.422 --> 00:39:53.007 But he wrote about it that there will be a time that the order will go out where the wall will be, the decree will go out to rebuild the wall, and that was 445 BC in Nisan, the wall, and that was 445 BC in Nisan. 00:39:53.027 --> 00:39:57.978 So some, and interestingly enough, orthodox Jewish rabbis have put an anathema on anyone who reads this chapter along with Isaiah 53. 00:39:57.978 --> 00:40:10.344 If you have a biblical calendar in your house, like I do and some of you I've given for like gifts, you will see that each weekend they have scripture readings right of where they go through the entire Bible. 00:40:10.344 --> 00:40:18.179 This one chapter nine and Isaiah 52 and 53 is never on those calendars that the Orthodox Jews have. 00:40:18.179 --> 00:40:21.346 They don't want anybody reading that and I think that's sad. 00:40:21.346 --> 00:40:36.554 But some scholars have done this mathematical equation and they found that when you add up the years, you can come up with a number such as 476 years, right? 00:40:36.554 --> 00:40:40.436 And I gave you the last piece of paperwork of those authors who do so. 00:40:40.436 --> 00:41:02.510 And they say when you do the math on the biblical calendar, you will end up at Nisan, palm Sunday, 30 AD, when Yeshua rides the donkey into Jerusalem and then one week later he is cut off. 00:41:02.530 --> 00:41:08.800 So even in 160 years before Nehemiah, it was prophesied that Messiah would die. 00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:19.539 And Nehemiah is that conduit to when the Jews would have known that when this wall was being rebuilt, that they can count down the years. 00:41:19.539 --> 00:41:29.788 Maybe that's why Jesus says if you knew the day of your visitation, right, because this was the day when he proclaimed himself to be Messiah. 00:41:29.788 --> 00:41:32.634 So you can take that on your own. 00:41:32.634 --> 00:41:35.806 And that's just one way of looking at that prophecy. 00:41:35.806 --> 00:41:39.690 So Nehemiah serves as a conduit to prophecy. 00:41:39.690 --> 00:41:47.400 Just as Messiah comes the first time to restore and save, he will return again to rule and be sovereign. 00:41:47.400 --> 00:41:53.197 And one last thing Yeshua says all scripture speaks of himself. 00:41:54.746 --> 00:42:00.271 There are about 13 prayers within the 13 chapters of Nehemiah. 00:42:00.271 --> 00:42:08.907 Nehemiah is constantly seeking Yahweh in his supplications for himself, for God's people, for the work. 00:42:08.907 --> 00:42:18.590 He is constantly praying and I think maybe the 13 prayers within the 13 chapters just mean he prayed, even the maybe. 00:42:18.590 --> 00:42:28.498 You know, I know it's speculative I wonder, on Nehemiah's deathbed did he say Father, receive my spirit and he breathed his last? 00:42:28.498 --> 00:42:33.376 I know that's speculative, but he seems like the person who would pray to the very end. 00:42:35.425 --> 00:42:42.005 So Nehemiah doesn't have any more new prayer meetings anymore. 00:42:42.005 --> 00:42:49.579 His words exist in Scripture forever, but he isn't giving any more new prayers. 00:42:49.579 --> 00:42:54.711 He isn't here to pray for the people of Israel anymore. 00:42:54.711 --> 00:43:10.661 But, thanks be to God, we have a great high priest who continues and his priesthood is unchangeable and he always lives to make intercession for us. 00:43:10.661 --> 00:43:19.400 So Yeshua right now is praying for all of us and he brings our pleads to the father. 00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:37.467 If there's anything that we can take stock in although Nehemiah was a prayer warrior that we can take stock in, although Nehemiah was a prayer warrior, we have one greater, and he's Yeshua, sitting at the right hand of the Father, interceding on behalf of us. 00:43:37.467 --> 00:43:38.867 Amen, yahweh, we give you praise and glory. 00:43:38.867 --> 00:43:41.711 We thank you for this evening. 00:43:41.711 --> 00:43:49.940 We pray that your word will find its nest inside our souls and it will germinate and produce good fruit. 00:43:49.940 --> 00:43:57.599 Be blessed again, for you belongs all the glory in Yeshua's name. 00:43:57.599 --> 00:43:57.699 Amen.