Nehemiah

A Pastoral and Exegetical Commentary

T. J. Betts

• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781683593942
• Topic: Teologia e religione
• Subtopic: Commento della Bibbia

Pursuing the glory of GodThe book of Nehemiah highlights the priorities God's people should pursue and the principles needed to fulfill their mission. Bridging the gap between devotional and technical commentaries, Nehemiah: A Pastoral and Exegetical Commentary is an easy to understand exposition of this often overlooked Old Testament narrative. With a mixture of historical data and practical applications, T. J. Betts emphasizes the relevance of Nehemiah's message for believers today.

THE HEART OF A SERVANT

Nehemiah 1:1–11

INTRODUCTION

Second Chronicles 16:9 states, “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” Nehemiah had such a heart. The beginning of Nehemiah’s book reveals something of his heart for God’s glory and the reputation of God’s people. It shows how Nehemiah was both a man of prayer and a man of action, ready to serve the Lord in any capacity. It also reveals some important truths about Nehemiah’s God. He is a God who is at the same time both just and merciful. He is a faithful God who is ready to hear the prayers of those who love him and act on their behalf.

STRUCTURE

The structure of the passage is rather straightforward. It has two sections. The first section (1:1–3) introduces Nehemiah, the setting in which the events of the book take place, and the problem Nehemiah will address. The second section (1:4–11) is Nehemiah’s prayer concerning the revival and restoration of the people of God in Jerusalem.

SUMMARY OF THE PASSAGE

A burden for the condition of the people of God leads to fervent intercessory prayer for them and a commitment to act on their behalf.

OUTLINE OF THE PASSAGE

I.The Predicament of the People of God (1:1–3)

A.The context of the report concerning the people of God in Judah (1:1–2)

B.The content of the report concerning the people of God in Judah (1:3)

II.The Prayer for the People of God (1:4–11)

A.The characteristics of Nehemiah’s prayer

1.Nehemiah’s response is emotional (1:4)

2.Nehemiah’s response is serious (1:4)

3.Nehemiah’s response is persistent (1:4)

B.The contents of Nehemiah’s prayer

1.Nehemiah’s prayer is confessional (1:5–7).

a.Confessional concerning God (1:5)

b.Confessional concerning Israel (1:6–7)

2.Nehemiah’s prayer is founded on God’s promises (1:8–9)

3.Nehemiah’s prayer is based on the identity of Israel as the people of God (1:10)

4.Nehemiah’s prayer recalls God’s work of redemption on behalf of Israel (1:10)

5.Nehemiah’s prayer is shared by others (1:11)

6.Nehemiah’s prayer reveals his faith in God, his submission to God, and his dependence on God to give him success as God’s servant (1:11)

DEVELOPMENT OF THE EXPOSITION

I. THE PREDICAMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD (1:1–3)

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.”

A. The Context of the Report concerning the People of God in Judah (1:1–2)

The book of Nehemiah begins by answering questions just about any reader would ask and want answered in the introduction of a historical narrative. First, it identifies who wrote this historical record. Nehemiah’s name means “Yahweh comforts.” Verse 1 identifies Nehemiah’s father as Hacaliah, and here is the only occurrence of this name in the Old Testament. It probably means “hope in Yahweh” or “wait on Yahweh.”1 Second, it indicates that the first encounter in the book happened in the month of Chislev in the twentieth year. On the Jewish calendar, the month of Chislev occurs during the months of November and December. However, there is some uncertainty as to what “in the twentieth year” refers. It possibly is a reference to the twentieth year of Nehemiah’s service as the cupbearer, or it may be referring to the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign.2 It was probably the former, taking place in about 446/445 BC. Either way, it is at this time that Hanani, Nehemiah’s brother, and some men from Judah came to Susa and gave Nehemiah a report of the situation back in Judah.

B. The Content of the Report concerning the People of God in Judah (1:3)

The report concerning Jerusalem is twofold: it gives a description of the people, and it provides a description of the physical condition of the structures of the city itself. Two words describe the people. The first, rāʿâ, usually translated “distress,” is perhaps the strongest word in the Hebrew language that depicts danger, disaster, calamity, or misery. It basically describes a condition detrimental to life. The second word, describing the people, ḥerpâ, depicts reproach, shame, disgrace, scorn, insult, contempt, and threat.3 The situation is exactly what Ezekiel prophesied would happen as a result of Judah’s sin and the Lord’s judgment. In Ezekiel 5:13–15 the Lord says,

Thus My anger will be spent and I will satisfy My wrath on them, and I will be appeased; then they will know that I, the LORD, have spoken in My zeal when I have spent My wrath upon them. Moreover, I will make you a desolation and a reproach among the nations which surround you, in the sight of all who pass by. So it will be a reproach, a reviling, a warning and an object of horror to the nations who surround you when I execute judgments against you in anger, wrath and raging rebukes. I, the LORD, have spoken.

The news only gets worse as Nehemiah hears about the physical condition of the city itself as the men tell Nehemiah, “The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.” Second Kings 25:8–10 gives a pointed description how this tragedy happened in 587/586 BC:

Now on the seventh day of the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the LORD, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every great house he burned with fire. So all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.

Nearly 140 years later, Nehemiah receives word that the conditions in Jerusalem are as bad as they ever were since its destruction by the Chaldeans.4 Such news surely is difficult for Nehemiah to absorb, given that the same prophet who prophesied of the eminent destruction of Jerusalem and the reproach of its inhabitants also proclaimed,

Thus says the Lord GOD, “When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and will manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob. They will live in it securely; and they will build houses, plant vineyards and live securely when I execute judgments upon all who scorn them round about them. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.” (Ezek 28:25–26)

People from the house of Israel who had been scattered had indeed returned and reclaimed some of their land, including Jerusalem. Shortly after they arrived, they set out to repair the walls and rebuild the temple, but their efforts were thwarted by the false reports of their enemies, who claimed the returned exiles were planning to rebel against the king as soon as they were able. So the king put a stop to their efforts (Ezra 4:8–24). Now, about ninety years have transpired since the first exiles returned, and up to this point the prosperity and security of which Ezekiel spoke has yet to materialize. Nehemiah’s reaction indicates how disturbed he is by the report he has received.

II. THE PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD (1:4–11)

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said, “I beseech You, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; 9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’ 10 They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.” Now I was the cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah is a man of prayer. This prayer is the first and longest prayer of nine prayers recorded by Nehemiah in this book. He is an example of a believer who truly prays without ceasing. At times it seems he is carrying on an ongoing conversation with God. It is very natural for Nehemiah to go to God in prayer when he hears the report from Jerusalem. Sometimes in dire situations people will say, “I guess all we can do is pray.” It is as if prayer were a last resort, but it is no last resort for Nehemiah. For him, it is his first option. When prayer becomes the first option for a person, it is an indication that he or she is truly walking with and depending on God in all things. It is a true sign of humility. It is no wonder God used Nehemiah as he did, knowing that “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Jas 4:6).

The structure of the prayer is straightforward: (1) Nehemiah begins by addressing God and acknowledging who God is, (2) he confesses the sins of Israel, (3) he asks God to restore his people, and (4) he asks God to give him success in serving the Lord toward this end. Nehemiah’s words convey both a confidence in God’s word and a commitment to God’s work. The prayer’s characteristics reveal its significant meaning.

A. The Characteristics of Nehemiah’s Prayer

1. Nehemiah’s Response Is Emotional (1:4)

After hearing of the report from his brother and the men from Judah, Nehemiah “sat down and wept and mourned.” Nehemiah’s response indicates he is a godly man who cares deeply for the reputation and well-being of the people of God, as both are a reflection of God’s own reputation. Such concerns become apparent throughout the remainder of the book as Nehemiah demonstrates his commitment to God’s glory and the flourishing of God’s covenant people in Jerusalem. His reaction is more than just a reflecti...