Nehemiah Session Eight

7/31/2019 Nehemiah Session Eight

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DAYONE:[Re]readNehemiah9(textbelow).Use

thenotecolumntotherighttojotdownwordsorphrasesthatstickouttoyou.

Nehemiah9TheIsraelitesConfessTheirSinsOnthetwenty-fourthdayofthesamemonth,the

Israelitesgatheredtogether,fastingandwearing

sackclothandputtingdustontheirheads.2Thoseof

Israelitedescenthadseparatedthemselvesfromall

foreigners.Theystoodintheirplacesandconfessed

theirsinsandthesinsoftheirancestors.3Theystood

wheretheywereandreadfromtheBookoftheLawoftheLordtheirGodforaquarteroftheday,andspent

anotherquarterinconfessionandinworshipingthe

LordtheirGod.4StandingonthestairsoftheLevites

wereJeshua,Bani,Kadmiel,Shebaniah,Bunni,

Sherebiah,BaniandKenani.Theycriedoutwithloud

voicestotheLordtheirGod.5AndtheLevitesJeshua,

Kadmiel,Bani,Hashabneiah,Sherebiah,Hodiah,

ShebaniahandPethahiahsaid:Standupandpraise

theLordyourGod,whoisfromeverlastingto

everlasting.

Blessedbeyourgloriousname,andmayitbeexaltedaboveallblessingandpraise.6YoualonearetheLord.

Youmadetheheavens,eventhehighestheavens,andall

theirstarryhost,theearthandallthatisonit,theseas

andallthatisinthem.Yougivelifetoeverything,and

themultitudesofheavenworshipyou.

7YouaretheLordGod,whochoseAbramandbrought

himoutofUroftheChaldeansandnamedhimAbraham.

8Youfoundhisheartfaithfultoyou,andyoumadea

SESSION EIGHT

Notes:

Asyouread,makenoteofallthetimesthat

Godprovidedforthepeopleandallofthetimeshegavethemasecondchance.


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covenantwithhimtogivetohisdescendantsthelandof

theCanaanites,Hittites,Amorites,Perizzites,Jebusites

andGirgashites.Youhavekeptyourpromisebecauseyou

arerighteous.

9YousawthesufferingofourancestorsinEgypt;you

heardtheircryattheRedSea.10Yousentsignsand

wondersagainstPharaoh,againstallhisofficialsandallthepeopleofhisland,foryouknewhowarrogantlythe

Egyptianstreatedthem.Youmadeanameforyourself,

whichremainstothisday.11Youdividedtheseabefore

them,sothattheypassedthroughitondryground,but

youhurledtheirpursuersintothedepths,likeastone

intomightywaters.12Bydayyouledthemwithapillar

ofcloud,andbynightwithapillaroffiretogivethem

lightonthewaytheyweretotake.

13YoucamedownonMountSinai;youspoketothem

fromheaven.Yougavethemregulationsandlawsthatare

justandright,anddecreesandcommandsthataregood.14YoumadeknowntothemyourholySabbathandgave

themcommands,decreesandlawsthroughyourservant

Moses.15Intheirhungeryougavethembreadfrom

heavenandintheirthirstyoubroughtthemwaterfrom

therock;youtoldthemtogoinandtakepossessionofthe

landyouhadswornwithupliftedhandtogivethem.

16Butthey,ourancestors,becamearrogantandstiff-

necked,andtheydidnotobeyyourcommands.17They

refusedtolistenandfailedtorememberthemiraclesyou

performedamongthem.Theybecamestiff-neckedandin

theirrebellionappointedaleaderinordertoreturntotheirslavery.ButyouareaforgivingGod,graciousand

compassionate,slowtoangerandaboundinginlove.

Thereforeyoudidnotdesertthem,18evenwhenthey

castforthemselvesanimageofacalfandsaid,Thisis

yourgod,whobroughtyouupoutofEgypt,orwhenthey

committedawfulblasphemies.

19Becauseofyourgreatcompassionyoudidnot

abandontheminthewilderness.Bydaythepillarofcloud

didnotfailtoguidethemontheirpath,northepillarof

firebynighttoshineonthewaytheyweretotake.20You

gaveyourgoodSpirittoinstructthem.Youdidnotwithholdyourmannafromtheirmouths,andyougave

themwaterfortheirthirst.21Forfortyyearsyou

sustainedtheminthewilderness;theylackednothing,

theirclothesdidnotwearoutnordidtheirfeetbecome

swollen.

22Yougavethemkingdomsandnations,allottingto

themeventheremotestfrontiers.Theytookoverthe

countryofSihonkingofHeshbonandthecountryofOg

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kingofBashan.23Youmadetheirchildrenasnumerous

asthestarsinthesky,andyoubroughtthemintotheland

thatyoutoldtheirparentstoenterandpossess.24Their

childrenwentinandtookpossessionoftheland.You

subduedbeforethemtheCanaanites,wholivedinthe

land;yougavetheCanaanitesintotheirhands,alongwith

theirkingsandthepeoplesoftheland,todealwiththem

astheypleased.25Theycapturedfortifiedcitiesandfertileland;theytookpossessionofhousesfilledwithall

kindsofgoodthings,wellsalreadydug,vineyards,olive

grovesandfruittreesinabundance.Theyatetothefull

andwerewell-nourished;theyreveledinyourgreat

goodness.

26Buttheyweredisobedientandrebelledagainstyou;

theyturnedtheirbacksonyourlaw.Theykilledyour

prophets,whohadwarnedtheminordertoturnthem

backtoyou;theycommittedawfulblasphemies.27So

youdeliveredthemintothehandsoftheirenemies,who

oppressedthem.Butwhentheywereoppressedtheycriedouttoyou.Fromheavenyouheardthem,andin

yourgreatcompassionyougavethemdeliverers,who

rescuedthemfromthehandoftheirenemies.

28Butassoonastheywereatrest,theyagaindidwhat

wasevilinyoursight.Thenyouabandonedthemtothe

handoftheirenemiessothattheyruledoverthem.And

whentheycriedouttoyouagain,youheardfromheaven,

andinyourcompassionyoudeliveredthemtimeafter

time.

29Youwarnedtheminordertoturnthembacktoyourlaw,buttheybecamearrogantanddisobeyedyour

commands.Theysinnedagainstyourordinances,of

whichyousaid,Thepersonwhoobeysthemwillliveby

them.Stubbornlytheyturnedtheirbacksonyou,became

stiff-neckedandrefusedtolisten.30Formanyyearsyou

werepatientwiththem.ByyourSpirityouwarnedthem

throughyourprophets.Yettheypaidnoattention,soyou

gavethemintothehandsoftheneighboringpeoples.31

Butinyourgreatmercyyoudidnotputanendtothemor

abandonthem,foryouareagraciousandmercifulGod.

32Nowtherefore,ourGod,thegreatGod,mightyandawesome,whokeepshiscovenantoflove,donotletall

thishardshipseemtriflinginyoureyesthehardship

thathascomeonus,onourkingsandleaders,onour

priestsandprophets,onourancestorsandallyour

people,fromthedaysofthekingsofAssyriauntiltoday.

33Inallthathashappenedtous,youhaveremained

righteous;youhaveactedfaithfully,whileweacted

wickedly.34Ourkings,ourleaders,ourpriestsandour

ancestorsdidnotfollowyourlaw;theydidnotpay

Notes:


Godprovidedforthepeopleandallofthe

timeshegavethemasecondchance.


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attentiontoyourcommandsorthestatutesyouwarned

themtokeep.35Evenwhiletheywereintheirkingdom,

enjoyingyourgreatgoodnesstotheminthespaciousand

fertilelandyougavethem,theydidnotserveyouorturn

fromtheirevilways.

36Butsee,weareslavestoday,slavesinthelandyou

gaveourancestorssotheycouldeatitsfruitandtheothergoodthingsitproduces.37Becauseofoursins,its

abundantharvestgoestothekingsyouhaveplacedover

us.Theyruleoverourbodiesandourcattleasthey

please.Weareingreatdistress.

TheAgreementofthePeople

38Inviewofallthis,wearemakingabinding

agreement,puttingitinwriting,andourleaders,our

Levitesandourpriestsareaffixingtheirsealstoit.

DAYTWO:

InSessionSeven(Nehemiah8),westudiedandreadaboutthecelebrationofthecompletionofthewall.ThepeopleofJerusalemgatheredasoneandstoodandlistenedtothereadingoftheLaw.As

theyobservedtheFeastoftheTabernaclestheywerechallengedandconvicteddeeplybythewordofGod,readbyEzra,thescribe.Chapter9picksrightupwherechapter8leftoff.Neartheendofthe

feast,thepeoplegatheredoncemoretoworship

Godasareunitednation.Withhumbleheartsthey

confessedtheirsinsandacknowledgedadependenceonHim.

[Re]readNehemiah9:1-5a .Whatpreparations

didthepeoplemakebeforespendingtimeinworship?

Whywouldtheyputonsackclothandsprinkle

dustontheirheads?

Notes:



SESSION EIGHT

SIDE NOTE:

Sackcloth:madeofcoarse,blackgoat'shair,

customarilywornbymournersorasasignofdeep

repentanceandhumility.Asheswereoften

includedasafurthersymbolofpersonal

abhorrenceandchagrin.

Examples:Genesis37:34,2Samuel3:31,Jonah

3:3-8,Esther4:1

DustontheirHeads: tosprinklewithorsitin

asheswasamarkortokenofgrief,humiliation,or

penitence.Ashesontheheadwasoneoftheordinarysignsofmourningforthedead,aswhen

"Tamarputashesonherhead....andwenton

crying"(2Sam13:19),andofnationalhumiliation,

aswhenthechildrenofIsraelwereassembled

underNehemiah"withfasting,andwithsackcloth,

andearth(ashes)uponthem"(Neh9:1)

Otherexamples: 1Samuel4:12;Joshua7:6


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Chapter9containsnumerousexamplesofthebrokennessIsraelwasexperiencing.Thinkingbackto

whatwestudiedlastweekinchapter8andwhatyouvereadthisweekinchapter9, whatwasitthatleadtheIsraelitestoconfession?Whatwasitthatexposedtheirbrokenness?

HowhaveyouexperiencedthepowerofGodsWord?

DavidwritesinPsalm119thatGodswordisalampformyfeet,alightonmypath.LookupPsalm119:105-112.HowhadtheIsraeliteslostsightofwhatDavidoncewrote?

ThecloserwegettoGod,themoreexposedwebecome.WhenthelightofGodshinesonus,allofourimperfectionsand

brokennessareplainlyseen.FortheIsraelites,thereadingof

GodswordconvictedtheirheartsandbecameanentrypointintothepresenceofGod.ManypeoplewalkoutsideofGods

light,forfearofexposure,butalifelivedindarknesscanonlyleadtowanderingintodangerousplaces.AstheIsraelites

worshippedandconfessed,theybeganto[re]memberallthatGodhaddoneforthemand[re]discoveredhowhisprovidential

handhadbeenuponthem.Darknessmakesuslosesightofthe

beautyofGodsplanforallhumanity.Darknessleavesuslostandhopeless.ButGodispersistentineverlastinglove.

Thewordwilldirectandquickenprayer,forbyittheSpirithelpsourinfirmitiesinprayer.The

carefulstudyofGod'swordwillmoreandmorediscovertousourownsinfulness,andtheplenteousnessofhissalvation;thusitcallsustomournforsin,andtorejoiceinhim.Every

discoveryofthetruthofGod,shouldrenderusmoreunweariedinattendanceonhissacredword,andonhisworship.

~MatthewHenrysConciseCommentaryontheBible


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JustasthepeopleofIsraelidentifiedthelowpointsoftheirspiritualhistory,takeafewmomentsfortwobriefhistoricalsurveysofyourown.

Makealistofthelowpointsandplacesofbrokennessduetosin:

Inyourpersonallife.

Inthelifeandhistoryofthechurch(evenyourowncongregation)

Whenyoursmallgroupgathers,considersharingoneplaceofbrokennessfromeachlist.Welltakea

deeperlookatbrokennessonDAYFIVE.

DAYTHREE:

[Re]readNehemiah9:5b-21.InNehemiah8,thepeoplegatheredandEzrareadtheLaw.Twoweeks

laterthepeoplegatheredagain.TheirhungerforGodsWordintensified.ThelightofGodsWordexposedtheirbrokennessandshoneinareasoftheirlivesthathadlongbeenindarkness.Sothey

cametoconfesstheirsin.Asaresult,adeepcleansingtookplace.

SESSION EIGHT

NEXT STEPS: Go to the Wadsworth UMC DISCPLE STEPS blog PRAYER page:http://disciplesteps.tumblr.com/prayers

For each of the next three days, pick one of the eight different prayers listed. Spend some

alone time with God in meditation, using that prayer. Invite the Holy Spirit to encompass

you as you pray.


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TheHebrewverbforconfession,yadah,hasadualmeaning.Itcanrefertoconfessionofsins(9:2,3),butitcanalsobetranslated,topraise,thatis,toacknowledgeGodsgreatnessandpower,asisseen

in9:5b-21.BothaspectsoftheverbarebeingusedhereinNehemiah9.Thepeopleconfesstheirsins,andtheyconfesstheawesomeandmightyworksoftheLordGod.

AdoxologyisabriefstatementexpressingpraiseorglorytoGod.Adoxologygenerallycontainstwoelements,anacknowledgmentofpraisetoGodandanexpressionofHisinfinitenature.Describethe

doxologyinverse5b-6.

TheLevitesleadthepeopleinpraiseandworship,andchronologicallythroughtheirhistory.Whydidtheybegintheirprayeratapointbeforetheworldexistedorbeforethebeginningofhistoryor

time?Whywasitnecessaryforthepeopletoberemindedofthis?

GodchoseAbram/Abraham(v.7),whywasthatimportantforthepeopletoremember?What

doesitrevealabouttheheartofGod?

AbrahamsheartwasfaithfultoGod,andGodmadeabindingagreement(covenant)withAbraham,butAbrahamsdescendantswerenotfaithful.Whywasitimportantforthepeopletoberemindedofthis?

WhatdoyoulearnabouttheheartofGodintheseverses,particularlyasthepeoplereviewtheirhistoryandwhatGodhasdoneforthem?


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WhatdoyoulearnabouttheheartsofthepeopleofIsrael?

WhatmiraculousprovisionsdidGodmakeforHispeoplethroughouttheirhistory?

WhydidGodcontinuallyforgiveandrestorethe

people?WhatdoesitsayaboutGodsloveforus?

SIDE NOTE:TheHebrewword,hesed

InNehemiah9:17weseeaglimpseofthe

incrediblefaithfulnessofGodinthefaceof

Hisrebellious,disobedientpeople.The

HebrewwordusedtodescribeGods

faithfulnessisthewordhesed.

Itisawordthatisdifficulttotranslateinto

English.Hesedisacovenantterm,

wrappingupinitselfallthepositive

attributesofGod:love,covenant

faithfulness,mercy,grace,kindness,

loyalty--inshort,actsofdevotionand

loving-kindnessthatgobeyondthe

requirementsofduty.Thereisnogood

Englishwordthatencapsulatesthe

meaningofhesed.Itisusedtodescribe

theLORDscovenantloveforhispeople.It

isalsousedtodescribeloyaltyin

relationships.HesedistheOTequivalent

oftheNTwordgrace.


Reminder for today: pick one of the eight different prayers listed. Spend some alone time

with God in meditation, using that prayer. Invite the Holy Spirit to encompass you as you

pray.


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DAYFOUR:

[Re]read9:22-38.Theprayerofconfessioncontinues.Lookatverses22-25.WhatdidGoddowhen

theyreachedCanaan?Listsomespecificthingstheyreceived.

LookupDeuteronomy6:10-12. WhatwarningweretheIsraelitesgiven?

ReadDeuteronomy32:15. WhatdidtheirrevelinginGodsgoodness(Neh.9:25b)leadto?

[Re]read9:26-31.HowmanysecondchancesdoesGodgivethem?

Thecyclecontinued.Godwouldprovide.Israelwouldrebel.Godwouldshowgrace(hesed).

Howhaveyoupersonallyseenthatsamepattern?

SESSION EIGHT

GOD PROVIDES

ISRAELS

HESED


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HowdidthepeoplecomparetheconductofIsraeltoGodsconduct(vs.33-35)?

HowdidtheJewssummarizetheircurrentcircumstances(vs.36-37)?

Whatdidtheyintendtodoaboutthis(vs.38)?

JohnWesleydescribeswhythepeopledecidedtosealthiscovenant.Itwassealedandleftupon

record,thatitmightbeawitnessagainstthem,iftheydealtdeceitfully.Thiscovenantwastoserveastheirreminderofwheretheyvebeen,afurtherstepin[re]discovering

Godsvisionfornotjusta[re]storedwall,buta[re]storedpeople.GodistheGodof[re]storation.




pray.


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DAYFIVE:Thebackdropandcontextforconfessionisthefaithful,graciousandcompassionateheart

ofGod.Godhasbeenkeepinghisendofthecovenantthroughoutthewholehistoryoftheworldandourlives.Ontheotherhand,wehaverebelledagainstHimcountlesstimes.Hereisthecontrast:Heis

thecovenantkeeperandwearethecovenantbreaker.Thecontextofconfessionisrelationship!AChristiandoesntlookatcommittingasinlikebreakingarule.FollowersofChristdisciplesseesinasaviolationofaprecioustrustorarelationship.Whenwerealizethegreatnessofthebreachof

relationship,wearebroken,falltoourkneesandcryoutforforgiveness.Wedonthavetomusterupenergytoconfess.Itflowsfreely.

Brokennessisbasictothelifeofadisciple.Itisnotanawfulconcept,butratherabeautifulgift.Itisnotadegradingideaorasignofweaknessofcharacterorpersonality.Itisjusttheopposite.Itis

actuallytheappropriatebehavioronthepartofthecreatureasheorsherelatestotheCreator.

Brokennesskeepsushumble,teachable,usable,andmostimportantlyneartheCrossofJesustheplacewhereHewasbrokenforus!

Read1John1:1-10.Whataresomeofthewayswetrytodenyourbrokennessandavoidthe

humblingprocessofconfessionandrepentance?

Whataresomeofthedangerswefaceifwerefusetoconfessanddealwithoursinandbrokenness?

ThecommunityprayerinNehemiah9createsapowerfulbackdropforconfession.OverandoverthepeopledeclareGodsgreatnessandallHehasdone.Overandoverthepeopleadmitthattheyrebelled

anddisobeyedGodswordandcommands.WhatdowelearnaboutGodfromthis?

HowmightspendingtimemeditatingandreflectingonthenatureofGodbringyoutoaplaceof

honestandconsistentconfessionofsin?

SESSION EIGHT


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1John1:9says,Ifweconfessoursins,heisfaithfulandjustandwillforgiveusoursinsandpurifyusfromallunrighteousness.ThecloserwegrowinourrelationshipwithJesus,ourdesiretosinshould

decreaseovertime.HowcanmeditatingandreflectingonthenatureofGod,asyouknowHiminJesusChrist,helpyoutoavoidenteringintosin?

ReadJeremiah31:34,Psalm103:12-13,Isaiah1:18andEphesians1:7-8aloudasagroup.Take

timeasgroupandcelebrateGodsamazinggraceandHis hesed.ThankHimforthedeepforgivenessthatHeoffers,andtherestoredbrokennessthatHegivestoallwhocometoHimthroughfaithinJesus

Notes:




pray.

Nehemiah Session Eight

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