Nehemiah 5

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Text: Nehemiah 5: 1-13

Message 5: The Book of Nehemiah – Chapter 5

Revision:

Chapter 1: Nehemiah’s concern and prayer. Learn to pray rightly.

Chapter 2: Petition to the king; journey to Jerusalem; rally the people to build.

Chapter 3: Division of labour to do God’s work – orderly and properly organised.

Chapter 4: Opposition by mockery, conspiracy and discouragement.

1. The Complaint of the Poor (5:1-5)

(a) Is the strife internal or external? (v.1) Read James 3:16 – what will stop the work of God to build the walls?

(b)  Note the 3 problems faced by the poor people:

- In need of food (v.2)

- Mortgaged lands, vineyards, houses to buy food (v.3)

- Borrowed money to pay taxes (v.4)

Verse 5b – the poor had to sell their children to be slaves and no means to redeem them.

(c)  The poor gave a right argument for their complaint (v.5a) – we are brethren!

2. Nehemiah’s Anger (5:6)
 

(a) How did Nehemiah react? Righteous anger or Selfish anger?

(b) Nehemiah was upset that the people were guilty of sin and broke God’s laws.           

3. How did Nehemiah deal with the problem? (5:7-13)

(a)  Reflected upon the matter (v.7a)

(b)  Confronted the people involved (v.7b)

(c)  The assembly was told of the sin (v.7c-9)

(d)  Personal testimony of a clear conscience (v.10)

(e)  Called for repentance and restitution (v.11-13)

4. The Conduct of Nehemiah, the Governor for 12 years (5:14-19)

(a) He gave up his salary (v.14-15); He didn’t buy lands to profit himself (v.16b); He used own money to pay for the 150 Jews (v.17-18).

(b) He worked with the people to build the walls (v.16a)

(c) He just asked God, not men, to remember what he did (v.19)

(d)  You can only make such sacrifices because you fear God (v.15b) and love the brethren (v.18b).

Nehemiah: Man of Concern; Man of Prayer; Man who waited upon God; Man of Action; Man of Planning; Man of Teamwork; Man of Courage; Man who fear God.

Memory Verse: Nehemiah 5:19 ’’Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.”