Scripture: 2 Kings 25:1-12
Sermon Series: Nehemiah: Making a Difference for God – Sermon 01

Have you ever made the same mistake twice? I sure have. A 27-year-old Chinese student studying in Japan who was also a mountain climber had to be rescued twice in April of 2025 from Japan’s Mount Fuji. First, he had to be airlifted due to climbing difficulties. After his rescue, he realized he’d left his phone and other possessions on the mountain and went back to get them. So, he climbed Mount Fuji again just four days later, but he got altitude sickness and had to be rescued again. Same climber, same mistake, same rescue all in a matter of days. As Yogi Berra quipped, It’s like deja-vu, all over again.

But this climber only made the same blunder twice. The nation of Israel blew it over and over and had to be rescued again and again. God calls them to repentance hundreds of times throughout the Old Testament.

After God rescued them from slavery in Egypt, they continually abandoned God and worshipped idols. In just the book of Judges God rescues them six times. There’s a recurring cycle of sin, oppression, crying to God, and deliverance. Repentance was the main message of the prophets. “Turning” back to God occurs over 1,000 times in the Old Testament.

We’re beginning a new study of Nehemiah: Making a Difference for God Today we’re looking at a bit of history. If you want a title, you could call it Back to the Future. The book of Nehemiah is the outcome of God’s past prophesies and promises. Prophets warned Israel if they kept rebelling against God, He’d punish them and send them into captivity. But God also promised to forgive and restore them and bring them home.

Nehemiah is the fulfillment of both God’s prophesies and promises. Mark it down. God always fulfills His prophesies, and God always keeps His promises. Nehemiah is a wonderful proof of that. If you’re taking notes…

1. What does Old Testament history teach us? 

Toward the end of his autobiographical piece, Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis recounts his move from atheism to theism. He says that he was convicted of what he labels as “chronological snobbery.” Chronological snobbery is the assumption that whatever has gone out of date is discredited and obsolete.

That’s a common view today. Why should we pay attention to history? According to our postmodern culture, the best we can do with history is deconstruct it, rewrite it, and reframe it. One of the distinguishing features of what it means to be a follower of Jesus and a believer in the Word of God is to have an accurate view of history.

We’re living in a world that’s lost its story. As a result, it’s unprepared to pay attention to the greatest story. As those who know and believe that story, we must share it widely, boldly and unashamedly. God’s story, the gospel story is the hope and instruction for all humanity.

It’s been a while since we’ve been in the Old Testament for a series. Let’s talk about three things to look for when studying Old Testament History. In every study of Scripture, we must ask…

What does this teach me about God? 

What is God like? How does God like to work in this world?God reveals himself through stories. God likes to show up in the lives of people with drama and complexity that often don’t seem to go the way they’re supposed to go. People have busy lives, distractions…and God interjects Himself into that history. Our lives are like that too. Our individual lives, family lives, church lives…all have stories with ups and downs, battles and victories, setbacks and forward movements.

Have you ever looked at your life or the world around you and thought – “How is this right? Is God anywhere in this picture? How will this turn out?”

We live in the same narrative history as Old Testament believers. It’s the story of God…same planet…same plotline. When we study Old Testament history, it helps us to understand our own stories.

What is the outcome of faith vs. self-effort? 

The book of Hebrews is filled with accounts of heroic faith. The writer tells us that we can learn from those believers by considering the outcomes of their choices and imitating their faith. Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7). When we trust God in impossible situations, God shows up. Almost never is it the way we thought He would – but He always shows up.

As Martin Luther said, Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake his life on it a thousand times. The Old Testament people of faith didn’t have the gospel, but they had a form of righteousness through faith like we find unpacked in Romans 4 with Abraham. We all share a common faith.

Nehemiah has a faith that’s a model for us to imitate. He trusts God. He shows us how to be a source of stability in chaotic times. He’s an example for those who want to see the people of God grow and thrive, and for anyone who desires to see God glorified and His enemies defeated. Nehemiah’s faith is a model for us. But, How does this concern the Lord Jesus? 

After His Resurrection, Jesus walked with two men and helped them relearn and see Him in the Scriptures. And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:27). Scripture is always all about Jesus.

Here are some questions to help uncover that? How does this reveal our common human need? How does this point to God’s provision for our need in Christ? How does this reveal the person and character of Christ? 

We look backwards to find faith so that we can then look forward with faith. We look backwards to see what God does when His people are willing yet can’t seem to follow through…and we find hope.

Nehemiah’s faith expresses itself in compassion for the world larger than the six square feet around him. He’s selfless whereas most of our problems, much of our sin and conflict are from being selfish. None of us have to be taught to be selfish.

Paul highlights this same quality in the book of Philippians.  First by urging for compassionate concern for others. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4). Then he underlines it in Timothys life. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare (Philippians 2:20).

Nehemiah was comfortable. He’s in a position of wealth and influence. He could have easily tuned out the needs of those around him, yet he resisted that temptation and sacrificed to enter the suffering and shame of his people.

It’s why Nehemiah is considered to be what theologians call a “Type of Christ.” His place in redemptive history and the details of his life point to something so much bigger than himself. Nehemiah is a man who sits at the right hand of the king in wealth, power and privilege.

When he learns Jerusalem is in trouble he weeps over the city and its people. As he weeps he intercedes for the people and asks God to forgive their sins. His love and obedience to God motivate him to leave behind his wealth and take on enormous hardship to go and identify with the people of Israel, live among them and lead them into a place of strength and obedience to God. Nehemiah lives a life of righteousness and leads the people to reestablish a covenant with God and return to Him wholeheartedly.

Doesn’t that sound familiar? Nehemiah’s life points forward to Someone much greater. When the Lord Jesus left His Father’s side, came to earth, came to Jerusalem. He wept over its people before offering His life as the sacrifice for sin. Jesus became that Someone for us. Jesus is the ultimate example of perfect compassion and concern for others. He sees our need and is more than willing to enter into our world with us and lead us into victory.

God wants us to imitate Nehemiah’s faith. Too often we’re more like the people in Jerusalem – timid, defeated and weak. We need someone greater than us to see our need, rise up in compassion and come to our aid. We all desperately need Jesus!

2. What’s the history of the nation of Israel as it relates to Nehemiah? 

What was your favorite subject in school? Was it math? Maybe art? If you’re honest, it was recess. Some of you enjoyed history. History appeals to us because it’s the story of people, their decisions, reactions, and events beyond their control. History gives us a perspective of where we came from and can teach us how to handle the future.  

Peter Stearns, of Carnegie Mellon University, lists several reasons why history is important: History helps us understand people and societies. History helps us understand change and how the society we live in came to be. History contributes to moral understanding. History provides identity.

The Bible is filled with history. There are books of the Bible that are known as “historical books.” They tell the story of God’s people, their leaders, their decisions. Nehemiah is one of them. In fact, Nehemiah is the last of the Old Testament books of Israel’s history. It’s followed by what’s known as the 400 silent years. Israel’s history doesn’t pick up again until the birth of Jesus.

So, how did we get here? You wouldn’t understand America unless you first knew about the American Revolution, slavery and the Civil War. Those are all pivotal points to understanding the USA.

But the Bible isn’t just a history book. It’s the story of redemption. Jewish history begins with Abraham around 2000 BC. It wasn’t until 1000 years later that Israel took on world significance as a nation under kings Saul, David and Solomon. In the successive reigns of these three kings, Israel’s flag flew proudly over the nation. They were recognized as a major military power under King David’s 40-year reign. Upon his death, he turned his kingdom over to his son, Solomon. But in the last part of His life, Solomon compromised his faith. He married multiple pagan wives and began to worship their idols, so God judged him.

When Solomon died, the nation split in half. Israel became a divided kingdom. 10 tribes migrated to the north, settling in Samaria; the other two tribes went south and settled in Jerusalem and surrounding areas. The northern tribes after the division are called Israel, the southern, Judah.

Just as the lowest ebb in American history was when we took up arms against each other in the Civil War, that’s how it was with this north/south split. Israel had its darkest hour nationally, not when they were attacked from without, but when they were attacked within, and the walls of their spiritual heritage began to crumble. During this time of a division, literally all hell broke loose. Chaotic conditions prevailed. Satan is the author of division.

God judged the Northern Kingdom, Israel. When the Assyrians invaded in 722 B.C, the 10 tribes were finished. The Northern Kingdom ceased to exist.

Judah remained a Jewish nation for another 300 years. But they too rebelled against God and God judged them just as He had warned them.

Turn in your Bibles to 2 Kings 25:1-12 (p. 309). So, in 586 B.C., Babylon’s king, Nebuchadnezzar, invaded and took the people captive. It began what’s called the Babylonian captivity. They burned the house of God, the temple, and broke down the protective wall around the city. Take special note of the words, house of God and the wall. We’ll talk about them later. All the fortified buildings and the temple were destroyed with fire.

After the Babylonian takeover, Jerusalem looks like Ukraine after Russian bombings. The city was leveled. The magnificent place where God’s glory had been displayed destroyed. Its walls are rubble. The armies of Babylon marched back home with all the treasures of the temple and Judah.

Psalm 137 that we read earlier was written during this dismal time. Once Babylon had come and taken away the Israeli captives, their song was done.

2 Chronicles 36:20 adds a final word, And those who had escaped the sword he carried away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia.  That’s important. The Jews who lived through the siege of Jerusalem were chained together like slaves and sent to Babylon, a trek of more than 800 miles. Under Nebuchadnezzar, they lived as they had centuries before in Egypt, slaves to a foreign power.

Remember God always keeps His promises. God didn’t forget His people. He had a purpose and a plan. Notice again the end of verse 20: until the rule of the kingdom of Persia. Babylon was conquered by the Persians. The Persian army invaded Babylon, forcing the Babylonian empire to surrender.

What happened then? 2 Chronicles 36:22 tells us: Now in the first year of Cyrus King of Persia—in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah – the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia… God always keeps His promises!

King Cyrus was a pagan, but God used this pagan ruler to fulfill prophecy. Sounds a lot like the birth of Jesus when God used Caesar to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem so the prophecy of Micah 5:2 would be fulfilled. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days (Micah 5:2).

Do you know why we don’t need to worry about who the President or the Governor is? Or, who’s in Congress? I’m not saying we shouldn’t vote. But just as God used Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus like chess pieces to fulfill His will, He does the same today. God’s prophecies will always be fulfilled. God always keeps His promises! This was all according to God’s plan. But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt, declares the Lord, and will make it desolate forever (Jeremiah 25:12).

God works in the lives and minds of unbelievers whenever He chooses. He moves the hearts of kings from one plan to another. It’s what he did with Cyrus. God’s ultimate plan was to bring His people Home. This period of history has been called by Bible historians “The Second Exodus.” And so, the Jews went back to Jerusalem under the leadership of three men.

“Company A” left first with Zerubbabel as their commanding officer. About 80 years later, another group “Company B” left Babylon with Ezra as their leader who also wrote the book of Ezra. By now, Cyrus had died and Persia was led by King Artaxerxes. 13 years later Nehemiah led “Company C” back to the destroyed city.

Remember, I asked you to take special note the terms of “the house of God” and “the wall.” The house of God is the main subject of the book of Ezra. The wall of Jerusalem is the heart of the book of Nehemiah.

The book of Ezra, which comes just before Nehemiah in the Old Testament, records how the house of God was rebuilt in Jerusalem. But the temple was without protection for nearly 100 years until God led Nehemiah to provide the leadership necessary “to build a wall.” It’s his account of that project, the book of Nehemiah, that we’re studying for the next several weeks.

Do you think that as the Jews were defeated and marched in chains to Babylon that they believed that God would keep His promise and return them to the land? That would be hard wouldn’t it? Let’s be honest. It’s easy to talk about trusting God…as long as it’s not your problem.

God wants us to trust Him. I often quote Hebrews 11:6 to my own doubting heart. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). He rewards. God always keeps His promises!

A group of scientists and botanists explored remote regions of the Alps in search of new species of flowers. One day they noticed through binoculars a flower of such rarity and beauty that its value to science was incalculable. But unfortunately, it lay deep in a ravine with cliffs on both sides. To get to the flower someone would have to be lowered over the cliff on a rope.

A curious young boy was watching nearby so these scientists told him they would give him a chunk of change if he’d agree to be lowered over the cliff to retrieve the flower below. The boy took one long look down the steep, dizzy depths and said, “I’ll be back in a minute.” A short time later he returned, followed by a gray-haired man. Approaching the botanists, the boy said, “I’ll go over that cliff and get that flower for you if this man holds the rope. He’s my Dad.” If you’re a child of God, if you’ve committed your life to Christ, you can trust your heavenly Dad to hold your rope.

3. What are some major themes of Nehemiah? 

Jane and I just returned from the RHMA Conference in Morton, Illinois. I love GPS. Heaven help us if the Internet goes out and we have to go back to paper maps. But I don’t just want turn by turn directions. I want to see the overall trip, so I’ll hit the button that gives me an overview of the whole trip.

A major theme of Nehemiah is leadership but there’s so much more here. Let’s just touch on a few.

Nehemiah reminds us that God is in control. 

God is universally sovereign. When Nehemiah learns of the trouble in Jerusalem, God puts things together so that Nehemiah can go to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls. God is never surprised or worried. He has everything under His control.

Nehemiah reminds us that God is totally reliable. 

God kept his promises and His covenant of love. While Israel had not kept their promises to God, while they’d rebelled and blown off God. While just like us they failed, God kept His promise to them. God always keeps His promises!

Nehemiah reminds us that God is compassionate and merciful. 

God loved His people even when they mistreated Him. He loved them when they blew off His commandments and their covenant. God had warned them of the serious consequences of their sin. They’d be exiled, taken into captivity. But when they repented, God would pardon their offenses and restore them.

Nehemiah reminds us that God is uniquely powerful. 

What’s the most powerful thing that you can think of? For me it’s an atomic bomb. Who created the atom. Who can control atomic bombs? God has never faced any difficulty He can’t handle. Please read the Bible. God enabled a childless centenarian, Abraham, to become the father of a countless multitude. He got a cruel Pharoah to release his workforce of slaves. Now He returns His people to the land after the Babylonian captivity against incredible odds.

Nehemiah teaches us about God’s Word. 

In Nehemiah, the Word of God has the dust blown off of it. Most of the people didn’t have a Bible. So, they stood in the city square of Jerusalem – young and old, men, women, and children and listened for hours as the Word of God was read (picture). Nehemiah believed Scripture and his life was fashioned by God’s Word. Do you want a road map for life? Please read God’s Word!

Nehemiah teaches us about the power of prayer. 

Over and over again, we find Nehemiah praying. His book brims with prayer, adoration, thanksgiving, confession, petition, prayers of anguish and prayers of joy.

Nehemiah teaches us about God’s Infinite Grace. 

Nehemiah’s wall project was given royal approval by a pagan king, not because he was in the right place at the right time, but because of the gracious hand of God.

God is not distant. He’s not detached or uncaring. He loves and draws close to His dependent people and keeps putting the right and best things into their hearts. He forgives them and restores them because He loves them, even when they’re so unlovable. And God does the same with us!

Conclusion

Did you catch what happened in the nation Israel this past week? Israel celebrated its 78^th Independence Day, remembering the anniversary of its establishment as a nation on May 14, 1948. 

Though a large percentage of Jews are secularists or atheists, God is not done with Israel. He restored their land. The book of Revelation reminds us that one day God will restore their hearts. One day they will worship the true Messiah, Jesus Christ. As God had a future for Israel after the Babylonian captivity, He still has a future for Israel. Their hope is not political or military. It’s God and His grace.

It’s the same hope that we have and need, and Nehemiah reminds us of that. I love this story by Ken Canfield. It’s so Israel. It’s so us. He writes in his book, The Heart of a Father:

During a family vacation, Sarah got a little ornery and pushed Hannah. “Did you push your sister?” I asked. “No,” she denied. Since this was becoming a growing pattern for Sarah, I decided to take a walk with her to get to the bottom of things.

“Sarah,” I told her, “I’m really disappointed with your behavior. What do you need to do about it?”

I expected Sarah to tell me she needed to stop lying or apologize to her sister, but instead, with tears in her eyes, she said, I need to ask Jesus to come into my heart.

(And then he writes). There I was, zeroing on behavior modification, and my 6-year-old daughter was dealing with the bigger issues of needing forgiveness, cleansing, and internal spiritual change. I was focused on morality, she on the spirituality that makes morality possible and sincere.

Do you want true change, radical transformation? There’s only one place to find it. There’s only one hope. You need to ask Jesus come into your heart and life. You need to ask Him to be Lord of your life.

Have you done that? If not, why not do it today?