Today’s passage: Nehemiah 7
Helpful thoughts:
- Nehemiah’s commands for when the city gates would be opened and closed, and the security that was to be posted was more strict than the typical practices of cities in that area in that time. Jerusalem was open, but with precautions.
- Most of this chapter is a repeat of Ezra 2. (Click the link for other info and questions)
- By the end of the chapter and the recounting of all the Jews who had come back to the region, the wall is built, the work is done, and the people were able to settle in their hometowns…but there will be a greater work to do in the following chapters.
Questions to consider:
- Who does Nehemiah acknowledge as the driving force behind his actions in this book (Verse 5)? Why is it right to praise the Lord when great things are accomplished? Whom do we start to praise when we forget all that God has done?
- Why was Hananiah chosen to lead the people along with Hanani (Verse 2)? How does the right fear of God make a person grow in faithfulness? How does that right fear help a person become a good leader?
- What do you think needs to be “built up” in the hearts of the people now that the wall has been built? (Look ahead to the next chapter for clues? Churches have buildings, but what did Christ mean when he promised to “build” His church? How can we participate in that building project today?