Transcript

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-2 NASB, Ch. 3-4 CEB

Podcast Introduction

It’s History Tuesday, and we’ll read Nehemiah 1-4. I’m calling this episode “God’s Heart, Our Mission.“

Summary

Thoughts on Nehemiah 1

What’s important to God should be important to us.

About a thousand years after Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, the book of Nehemiah was written. A lot happened during this time. There were judges, then the people wanted a king, and Saul became the first one. But he failed God. Then came David, who pleased God despite his mistakes. Solomon built a Temple for worship, but later kings varied in their devotion. Jerusalem was even captured by Babylon due to people turning away from God, leading to a 70-year exile.

Afterward, some were allowed to return, but few did. They rebuilt the Temple, yet Jerusalem’s walls remained broken. Nehemiah, far from Jerusalem, cared deeply about this. He prayed, confessed wrongdoings, and reminded God of His promises. Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the king, asked for help.

Nehemiah’s response is key. He didn’t settle for feeling bad; he took action. This teaches us to care about what God cares about and to make a difference. Like Nehemiah, let’s be ready to act when God shows us where we can help.

Listen to the episode for more!

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The Team

Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise: Transcript Correction
Michael Haner: Podcasting 2.0 Chapters
Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Scott Snider: Show Art
Jason Paschall: Show Art
Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney: Newsletter Publisher

Transcript

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Steve Webb 0:00
He knew that Jerusalem was important to God.

Steve Webb 0:04
This is the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. I’m Steve Webb, your OG Godcaster. It’s history Tuesday. and our reading today is Nehemiah one through four. The website is Lifespringmedia.com. and contact information will be at the end of the show. Before we read, let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you so much for your word, and we thank you for our time together to read through it. I pray God that as we read today, you would teach us that you would touch our hearts I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Okay, you ready? Let’s begin.

Steve Webb 0:43
Nehemiah chapter one. The words of Nehemiah, son of Hakka Leia, in the month of Kislev. In the 20th year while I was in the citadel of Susa, honey, neither one of my brothers came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They said to me, those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble in disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates had been burned with fire. When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. and then I said, Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments. Let your ear be attentive, and your eyes open to hear the prayer. Your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel, I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, if you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my name. They are Your servants and your people whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who delight in revealing your name. Give your servants success today by granting and favour in the presence of this man. I was cup bearer to the king.

Steve Webb 2:34
Nehemiah chapter two. and it came about in the month of nice on in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in His presence. So the king said to me, Why is your face sad? Though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart, then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city the place of my father’s tombs lies desolate, and its gates have been consumed by fire? Then the king said to me, what would you request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. I said to the king, if it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor before you send me to Judah, to the city of my father’s tombs that I may rebuild it. Then the king said to me, the Queen sitting beside him, how long will your journey be, and when will you return, so it please the king to send me and I gave him a definite time. and I said to the king, if it pleases the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the river, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to asef the keeper of the kings forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress, which is by the temple for the wall of the city and for the House to which I will go, and the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me. Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the river and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. When Sanballat the Hora night and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it. It was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel. So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days, and I arose in the night I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my god was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem. and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was writing. So I went out by night by the valley gate in the direction of the Dragons well, and on the refuse gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down at its gates, which were consumed by fire. Then I passed on to the fountain gate in the Kings pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass. So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the valley Eat again and returned. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done, nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who did the work. Then I said to them, you see the bad situation we are in that Jerusalem is desolate, and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach. I told him how the Hand of My God had been favorable to me, and also about the King’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, Let us arise and build, so they put their hands to the good work. But when Sanballat the Hora night and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem, the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king? So I answered them and said to them, the God of heaven will give us success. Therefore we His servants will rise and build but you have no portion right or memorial in Jerusalem.

Steve Webb 6:00
Nehemiah chapter three, then Eliashib the high priests set to work with his fellow priests and built the sheep gate. They dedicated IT and set up its doors then dedicated it as far as the tower of the 100 and as far as the tower of Hana Annelle. The people of Jericho built next to them and Zacher Imray son built next to them. The children of hacer Neha built the fish gate, they laid its beams and set up its doors, bolts and bars. Next to them Mara moth Uriah son and hack OSes grandson made repairs. My Shulam Barracuda his son and Misha Isabel’s grandson made repairs next to them and ze doc Bay in his son made repairs next to them. Next to them the people from Tacoma made repairs but their officials wouldn’t help with a work of their supervisors Jehoiada pissy his son and Miss Shulam best ideas son repaired the mission a gate they laid its beams and set up his doors bolts in bars. Next to them repairs were made by mela Taya the gibbon tonight J don the Marana fight and the people of Gibson et of Mizpah who were ruled by the governor of the province beyond the river oziel Jorge is Son One of the goldsmith’s made repairs next to them. and Hanna Nya, one of the perfumers made repairs next to him. They restored Jerusalem as far as the broad wall. Next to them refer her son ruler of half the district of Jerusalem made repairs next to them Judea Aroo MAFFS son made repairs opposite his house and had to wash hash of knee his son made repairs next to him. Now Kaija harems son and Hashem pay half Moabs son repaired another section and the tower of the ovens next to them Shallum Hello, his son, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs along with his daughter’s painting and the people of Zeno repaired the valley gate. They built it and set up its doors, bolts and bars. They also repaired 1500 feet of the wall as far as the Dung Gate Malkia recap son, ruler of the district of Beth Hecarim repaired the Dung Gate. he rebuilt it and set up its doors, bolts and bars. and Shalem call hoses son, ruler of the Miss pond district repaired the spring gate. He rebuilt and covered it and set up its doors, bolts and bars. He also built the wall of the pool of Sheila of the king’s garden as far as the stairs that go down from David city. After him Nehemiah as bucks son, ruler of half the Beth zur district repaired from the point opposite David’s tombs as far as the artificial pool and the Warriors house. After him the Levites made repairs Reham Bay nice son, and next to him, Pasha baya ruler of half the district of key Isla made repairs for his district. After him their relatives made repairs Ben UI and a dead son ruler of half the district of key Isla next to him easer Joshua’s son, ruler of Mizpah repaired another section opposite the asset to the armory of the angle. After him barrack Zanmai son thoroughly repaired another section from the angle to the door of the house of the high priest ally ship. After him Miramar, Uriah son and hackers his grandson repaired another section from the door to the back of Eliashib house. After him the priests from the surrounding area made repairs after them Benjamin and Hashem made repairs opposite their house, after them as Araya may have seen his son and Anna his grandson repaired beside his house after him bui and a dead son repaired another section from the house of Azariah to the angle into the corner. Pay allow us a sun repaired from the point opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king. At the core of the guard after him padega pay rushes, Son, and the temple servants living on old fell made repairs up to the point opposite the Watergate to the east and the projecting tower after them. The people of Tacoma repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower. As far as the wall fell from the horse gate, the priests made repairs each one opposite his own house after them as they dock him or his son made repairs opposite his own house after him Shemaiah check and his son the keeper of the east gate made repairs after him and Anya shell Amaya son, and Hainan zyliss Six son repaired another section after them miss Shulam Barraca his son made repairs opposite his own room. After him Malkia one of the goldsmith’s made repairs as far as the House of the Temple servants and the merchants opposite the parade gate, and as far as the Upper Room at the corner, and between the upper room of the corner and the sheep gate the goldsmith’s and the merchants made repairs.

Steve Webb 11:09
Nehemiah chapter four, when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he became angry and raged. He mocked the Jews saying in the presence of his associates in the army of Samaria, what are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the piles of rubble even though they’re burned Tobiah the Ammonite who was beside him added if even a fox climbs on whatever they build, their wall of stones will crumble. Listen, God, we are despised, turn their insults to us back on their heads and make them like plunder in a captive land. Don’t forgive their iniquity or blot out their sins from your site. They have thrown insults at the builders, we continue to build the wall, all of it was joined together, and it reached half of its intended height because the people were eager to work that when Sanballat Tobiah. The Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod heard that the work on the walls was progressing and the gaps were being closed. They were very angry. They plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to create a disturbance in it. So we pray to our God and set a guard is protection against them day and night. But in Judah it was said, the carrier strength is failing for there is too much trouble, we are unable to rebuild the wall. Meanwhile, our enemies were saying before they know or see anything we can be in their midst and start to kill them will stop the work. Now the Jews who were living near them came and said to us again and again, you must return to us. So I took up a position in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall in an open area. Then I stationed the people by families and they had their swords, spears and bows. After reviewing this, I stood up and said to the officials, the officers and the rest of the people. Don’t be afraid of them. Remember that the Lord is great and awesome fight for your families, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses. Then our enemies heard that we had found out and that God had spoiled their plans. So we all returned to doing our own work on the wall. But from that day on, only half of my workers continued in the construction, while the other half held the spears, shields bows and body armor. Meanwhile, the leaders position themselves behind the whole house of Judah who were building the wall, the carriers did their work with a load in one hand and a weapon in the other. The builders built with swords fastened in their belts and the trumpeter stayed by my side. Then I said to the officials, the officers and the rest of the people, the work is very spread out and we are far apart from each other along the wall. When you hear the trumpet sound, come and gather where we are, our God will fight for us. So we continue to work with half of them holding spears from dawn until dusk. I also said to the people at that time, let every man and his servant spend the night in Jerusalem so that we can guard during the night and work during the day. Neither I nor my relatives nor my servants nor my bodyguards took off our clothes, even when they set for water.

Steve Webb 14:22
See if you agree with this statement. What matters to God should matter to us. When the book of Nehemiah was written about 1000 years had passed since God had used Moses to lead the people out of their Egyptian captivity. and of course, a lot happened in the ensuing years. There had been the time of the judges, but then the people begged to have a king like the surrounding lands had. So God appointed Saul as their first king, to say the least he turned out to be a disappointment just as God had warned the people that he would be. Then there was David who certainly had his share of failures, but God called him a man after his own heart. After David was his son Solomon who built a temple for the people to have a place to worship God, and then a long succession of David’s descendants following Solomon, some of whom were godly men, some of whom were evil men who did not follow God. and eventually, because the people had turned their back on God to worship false gods, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob allowed Jerusalem to be conquered by Babylon and the temple was completely destroyed, as was most of the city and its walls. The people of Jerusalem and the surrounding area were taken captive to Babylon, where they remained for 70 years. Well, after the 70 years that people were given the chance to go home, but most had never been to Jerusalem. Babylon was their home, and only a small number of them chose to go to their homeland about 50,000 out of two or 3 million. We read in the book of Ezra how they rebuilt the temple. In here Nehemiah wrote his book about 15 years after the period spoken of by Ezra. So if we do the math, it had been nearly 100 years since the return to the promised land by those who had been captive in Babylon. and the actual destruction of Jerusalem had taken place about 150 years earlier. But here in Nehemiah is time the walls of Jerusalem still had not been rebuilt. Well, Nehemiah had never been to Jerusalem. He lived in the capital city of the Persians, Shu Shan in what is now Iran, but he loved God. and he knew that Jerusalem was important to God, when he learned that Jerusalem’s walls had not been rebuilt, and that the people were struggling. Nehemiah was heartbroken. and he didn’t just feel bad about the situation. He did what he could do. He fasted and he prayed. and when he prayed, he came with an attitude of humility. He confessed the sins of himself, his family and the people. and he reminded god of his promise that if his people would return to him, he would restore them. and one more thing, he asked God to bless him, that he might have favor with the king because he was the king’s cup bearer, so he had access to the king. Well, the bottom line is that Nehemiah was not satisfied just to feel bad about the situation in Jerusalem. No, he humbly wanted to be used by God, to do something about it. What a marvelous example for us, beloved, shouldn’t we have hearts that are tender to what God cares about? We need to be willing for God to move us to action is Nehemiah was God found in him, someone who was deeply moved and all together willing to do what was necessary? Well, beloved, that we would be that kind of people look around you. Chances are very good that if you ask God will show you where he can use you to make a difference. thoughts or questions? Let me hear from you. Send to Boostagram or call the Lifespring family hotline or go to the comments page or write an email. I’ll tell you how, at the end of the show, tomorrow will be Psalms Wednesday, and we’ll read chapters 137 through 139. Plus, we’ll have a time of prayer. If you have a praise report or a prayer request, be sure to send it in to me right away.

Steve Webb 18:19
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Jingle 18:32
Lifespringmedia.com/support

Steve Webb 18:33
I’ll thank you, and I believe that God will bless you.

Steve Webb 18:40
Hey, let me hear from you. If you have a comment or a question, or if you have a praise report or a prayer request, here’s how to do that. Call the Lifespring family Hotline at plus 1-951-732-8511 Or if you do have a prayer request or praise report, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com you’ll find an easy to fill out form right there. If you’ve got a comment or a question, go to comment.lifespringmedia.com and my email address is st***@*************ia.com.

Steve Webb 19:16
Thanks to Sister Denise Michael Haner Scott Snider, adjacent Paschall and sister Brittaney for their generous donations of time and talent, Jason Paschall did today’s show art, beloved, I’m so glad we got to spend some time together today. Lord willing, I’ll be back with you tomorrow. Until then, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb, by

Steve Webb 19:40
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Announcer 19:53
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Transcribed by https://otter.ai