Nehemiah Session Two

7/31/2019 Nehemiah Session Two

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DAYONE:Re-readchaptertwoofNehemiah (textbelow)Usethenotecolumntotherighttojotdownwords

orphrasesthatstickouttoyou.

Nehemiah21InthemonthofNisaninthetwentiethyearofKing

Artaxerxes,whenwinewasbroughtforhim,Itookthe

wineandgaveittotheking.Ihadnotbeensadinhis

presencebefore,2sothekingaskedme,Whydoesyour

facelooksosadwhenyouarenotill?Thiscanbe

nothingbutsadnessofheart.

Iwasverymuchafraid,3butIsaidtotheking,Maythe

kingliveforever!Whyshouldmyfacenotlooksadwhen

thecitywheremyancestorsareburiedliesinruins,anditsgateshavebeendestroyedbyfire?

4Thekingsaidtome,Whatisityouwant?

ThenIprayedtotheGodofheaven, 5andIanswered

theking,Ifitpleasesthekingandifyourservanthas

foundfavorinhissight,lethimsendmetothecityin

JudahwheremyancestorsareburiedsothatIcan

rebuildit.

6Thentheking,withthequeensittingbesidehim,asked

me,Howlongwillyourjourneytake,andwhenwillyou

getback?Itpleasedthekingtosendme;soIsetatime.

7Ialsosaidtohim,Ifitpleasestheking,mayIhave

letterstothegovernorsofTrans-Euphrates,sothattheywillprovidemesafe-conductuntilIarriveinJudah?

8AndmayIhavealettertoAsaph,keeperoftheroyal

park,sohewillgivemetimbertomakebeamsforthe

gatesofthecitadelbythetempleandforthecitywall

andfortheresidenceIwilloccupy?Andbecausethe

gracioushandofmyGodwasonme,thekinggrantedmy

requests.9SoIwenttothegovernorsofTrans-

Euphratesandgavethemthekingsletters.Thekinghad

alsosentarmyofficersandcavalrywithme.

SESSION TWO

Notes:


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10WhenSanballattheHoroniteandTobiahthe

Ammoniteofficialheardaboutthis,theywerevery

muchdisturbedthatsomeonehadcometopromotethe

welfareoftheIsraelites.

11IwenttoJerusalem,andafterstayingtherethree

days12Isetoutduringthenightwithafewothers.I

hadnottoldanyonewhatmyGodhadputinmyhearttodoforJerusalem.Therewerenomountswithmeexcept

theoneIwasridingon.

13BynightIwentoutthroughtheValleyGatetoward

theJackal[a]WellandtheDungGate,examiningthe

wallsofJerusalem,whichhadbeenbrokendown,andits

gates,whichhadbeendestroyedbyfire.14ThenI

movedontowardtheFountainGateandtheKingsPool,

buttherewasnotenoughroomformymounttoget

through;15soIwentupthevalleybynight,examining

thewall.Finally,Iturnedbackandreenteredthrough

theValleyGate.16TheofficialsdidnotknowwhereI

hadgoneorwhatIwasdoing,becauseasyetIhadsaidnothingtotheJewsorthepriestsornoblesorofficials

oranyotherswhowouldbedoingthework.

17ThenIsaidtothem,Youseethetroublewearein:

Jerusalemliesinruins,anditsgateshavebeenburned

withfire.Come,letusrebuildthewallofJerusalem,and

wewillnolongerbeindisgrace. 18Ialsotoldthem

aboutthegracioushandofmyGodonmeandwhatthe

kinghadsaidtome.

Theyreplied,Letusstartrebuilding.Sotheybegan

thisgoodwork.

19ButwhenSanballattheHoronite,Tobiahthe

AmmoniteofficialandGeshemtheArabheardaboutit,theymockedandridiculedus.Whatisthisyouare

doing?theyasked.Areyourebellingagainsttheking?

20Iansweredthembysaying,TheGodofheavenwill

giveussuccess.Wehisservantswillstartrebuilding,but

asforyou,youhavenoshareinJerusalemoranyclaim

orhistoricrighttoit.

ThemonthofKislev(Neh.1:1)isanautumnmonth,whichoccursinNovemberDecemberonour

calendarandissometimesknownasthemonthofdreams.Afterhearingofthedestructionof

Jerusalemswalls,Nehemiahgrieveddeeply!(Neh.1:4)ThemonthofNisan(Neh.2:1)fallsinMarchAprilonourcalendar.ItappearsthatNehemiahwassodistraught,thatheprayedandfastedforalmostfourmonthsoverhisburdenforarebuiltJerusalem.

Notes:

HeartsthatcaptureGodsvisionalmostalwaysbeginwith

griefoversomesortofbrokenness.

Godcanonlyusethosepeoplewhenheartsbreakforthethingsthatbreak

theheartofGod.


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Takealookatverses1-3ofchapter2.WhatisthesourceofNehemiahsgrief?

WhatelsemayhavecauseduneasinessinNehemiahspirit?

Inverse2,thekingtooknoteofNehemiahssadness.Hisappearancereflectedhisemotions.It

wouldbeunusualforacupbearertoappearbeforethekinginsuchastateanditsapparentthatthis

wasthefirsttimehehadfacedthekingthisway.

Knowingthis,thekingrelatesNehemiahssadnessnottosickness(fortheywerebothdrinkingthe

samewine)butthatitmustbesadnessofheart.To

putitinmodernterns,Nehemiahwaswearinghisheartonhissleeve.Hisuneasiness,hisdiscontent

wasphysicallyapparent.

Therearetimesinourliveswhentheburdenofbrokennessissogreatthatwecannotcontainit.

Howcanthatbegoodand/orbad?

Afterthekingnoticedhissadness,Nehemiahbecameveryafraid.(vs.2b)Namesomereasonsastowhyhewouldhavebeenafraid.

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HowdidthekingrespondtoNehemiahssadness?

ItwasariskforNehemiahtoapproachthekinginsuchastatebutGoddoesntcallhisfollowersto

playitsafe.Nehemiahsgriefcompelledhimtotakearisk.Perhapsitwasasaresultofhisfourmonthsofmourning,fastingandpraying.SpendingthatmuchtimeinthepresenceofGodhada

profoundeffectonhim.

verb

1 [ with obj. ] embody or represent

(something) in a faithful or appropriate way:

2 [ no obj. ] (reflect on/upon) think deeply or

carefully about:


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DAYTWO:LetstakeamomenttolookatNehemiahsprogressionthusfar:

NehemiahsheartisbrokenasaresultofthegreattroubleanddisgraceinJerusalem.(1:3-4) Hisvisionofrebuildingthecitywallscomesinthemidstofgrievingandpraying.(1:11) Asaresultheiscompelledtoactionandapproachesthekingwithhopesforsuccess.(1:11b)

ItshouldbethesameforanyfollowerofJesusbutcomfortandnumbnessoftencreepinanddisrupt

theprocess.Asdisciples,howcanwepreventconfortablecomplacencyfromovertakingus?

Takealookatthisdiagramandseehowitcouldpositivelyaffectthediscipleshipprocess.

Prayerisattheintersectionofvisionandaction.Withoutprayer,visionsdie.Withprayer,visions

canthrive.Prayerisatthecenter.YouhopefullycanseehowthispatternplayedoutforNehemiah.Thiscanalsoplayoutforyou.AnsweringthecallfromGodleadstounderstandingaclearmental

imageofthevision.Butinthetensionbetweenvisionandactionyoufindthevariousaspectsof

prayer,connectedtothegrievingthebrokennessweseeintheworld.Ifadiscipleembracesthattension,clarityandcouragewillderivefromthefoundationofprayer.Thisleadstoaction,which

leadstoadisciplebearingfruit.Butmanyletgoofthegriefandasaresult,thevisionfadesaway.

Brokennessleadstouneasiness.Uneasinessleadstoprayer.Prayer

leadstocourageandcourageleadstoaction.

VISION ACTION FRUIT

GRIEVINGBROKENNESSthrough:

SILENCE(inthepresenceofGod)

WEEPING(intouchwiththepainofGod)

MOURNING(carryingthatpain)

FASTING(hungerforgreatergood)

PRAYER(thefoundation)

clarity courage

NEXT STEPS: How do you see the diagram above fitting into your discipleship journey? Tryto be specific. Jot down your thoughts in the margins or on the back of this page.

SESSION TWO

TENSION


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Inchapter2,NehemiahisstandingbeforethekingofPersiathemostpowerfulmaninMiddleEast

ifnottheworldandthekingnoticesthathisexpressionissad(Neh.2:2).HeasksNehemiahwhy,andthatbecomesforNehemiahatippingpointexperiencethatleadstoaction.Ittookalotofnerve

forhimtoaskthekingforpermissiontogotoJerusalem.Godbringstwoimportanttruthstolightthroughthispassage:

Wemusthavethecouragetotakethenextstepswhenallyoumighthaveisapassion.

Wemusthavethenervetotakethenextstepswhenallyouseearetheobstaclesandterrifyingunknowns.

Howcanweapplythesetruthstoourlives?

1. Thinkofatimeyousteppedoutincourageousfaitheitherathome,work,school,oratanotherplace.Whateffect

didithaveonyouandyourfuture?

2. Howdoyouseethismessagebeing

appliedtooursituationasachurch?

3. Thinkofthosetippingpointorwatershedexperiencesthatmayhave,atsomepoint,presentedthemself.Whatsigns

werepresentinyouandaroundyou?

4. WhatisGodimpressingonyoupresentlyassomethingimportantforyoutobedoingwithandforHim?Writedownsomethoughtsandsharethemwithyoursmallgroup.Each

smallgroupareencouragedtoprayaboutthethingsmentioned.

SIDE NOTE:FeelingGood.Comfortable.Safe.Isthatwhatbeinga

Christianisallabout?Ifwetrulyanswerthecallto

followJesuswemayfindthatfeelings,comfortand

safetyarenotnecessarilymarksofadisciple.

Asarecapfromlastweek:Themarksofadisciplecanbe

foundin:

Mark8:34-38(Jesuscomesfirstaboveallthings)

John8:31-32(followersmustbeobedient),

John15:5-8(abidinginChristyieldsfruitthat

willlast)

John13:34-35(ourloveforothersprovesour

dedication)

Matthew28:18-20(disciplesmakedisciplesand

teachthemtoobey)

itsimportanttonotethatthesemarksofadiscipleare

notaboutfeelings.Itsnotaboutsafety.Itsnotabout

comfortAtthecenterofitallisobedience.PutJesus

first.Obey.BearFruit.LoveOthers.Teachotherstodolikewise.Canyouseetheobediencetheme

throughout?

Whatsthehardestpartaboutobeyingtheteachings

ofJesus?Howwillyoulivelikeadiscipletoday?


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DAYTHREE:

Re-readNehemiah1:11-2:6. Inthispassage

whatdoesNehemiahaskGodfor?

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Whatdoesheaskthekingfor?

_________________________

Notethatin1:11,NehemiahreferstoGodasLORD(orYAHWEH)thecovenantnameforGodthattheIsraelitesusedinareverentway,somuchsothattheydidnotevenspeakit,theyonlyspelledit!

Alsonotethathereferstothekingasthisman.Whatdoesthattellus?

Inchapter2:4-5,whatdoesNehemiahdobeforeheaskstheking?

ThereisnodoubtwhereNehemiahsallegianceslie.Heisloyaltothekingandappearstohumbly

servehim,butGodisnumberoneinhislife,withoutquestion.Nehemiahisfinallygivenan

opportunitytosharehisburdenwiththekingandtoaskthekingforpermissiontopursuehisvisiontogotoJerusalemandtorebuildthewalls..Thinkofhowdifficultthatwouldhavebeenfor

Nehemiah.TheinitiationofNehemiahsvisionwillsoonbeinthehandsofthekingofPersia.Allhehastodoisask!

Haveyoueverstressedaboutaskingsomeoneforsomething?Whyisaskingfor

somethingoftensodifficult?IaskedmyFacebookfriendsthisveryquestion.Herearesomeoftheirresponses:

Itmeansadmittingyoucan'tdoityourself. Fearofrejection.Fearofappearingvulnerableorinsufficient. IthinkI'mafraiditshowsweaknessthatIamunabletodoitmyself. Youthinkyouareintrudingontheirlivesbyaskingforsomethinginyourownlife. IfIasksomeoneforsomething,theyaregoingtowantsomethingfrommetoo. Pride.Weallwanttobe(oratleastappeartobe)havingitalltogether.Funny,'cuzthemajorityofusdon't!Sadly,in

theChristian"world,Ithinkitcanbeworse....Havingto'appear'super-spiritualornothavingweakness....andthe

churchiswhere,ofallplaces,weshouldbeabletoaskforhelpandnotbejudgedasweak.

Pride,embarrassment,shame,socialstigmaandafeelingofalossofindependence. Wewanttobeourowngod...WecancontrolourselveseasierthantotrustaGodwehaven'tscene. Wedon'twanttobeindebttoanother.

Whatdoyouagreewith/disagreewith?Wouldyouaddanythingtothelistabove?

noun

an act of asking politely or formally for

something: a thing that is asked for:

verb [ with obj. ]

politely or formally ask for:

SESSION TWO


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ReadEzra4:17-23.NehemiahknewthatKingArtaxerxes(orthekingsfather)hadpreviouslystoppedtheJewsfromrebuildingthewall.Howwouldthathavemadeitevenmoredifficultfor

Nehemiahtoaskthekingforpermissiontopursuehisvision?

ThisshowsustheimportanceofNehemiahstimeofprayerandfastingbeforeGod.Itwasthrough

hissteadfasttimeofprayerandpresencethathewasabletoapproachthekingwithhonesty,vulnerabilityandhumility.Hisprayeralsopreparedthekingtorespondinkind.

Whatkindofprayerconfirmsandsolidifiesavisioninonesheart?

PrayerthatisconvincedGodisabletoseeandhear

PrayerthatisconvincedGodiswillingtoact

PrayerthatisconvincedGodisreadytoact

Smallgroupdiscussionquestions:

(jotdownsomeanswerstosharewithinyour

group)

1. Shareanansweredprayeryouhaveexperiencedthathasrockedyour

world.

2. WhatwouldittakeforyoutoprayNehemiahskindofpowerfulprayer?

3. HowhardisitforyoutoaskGodfor

something?Why/whynot?

4.HowhardisitforyoutopatientlyawaitGodsanswer?Why/whynot?

5. WhatisitthatGodisetchingonyourheart,apassionheisgivingyou?

SIDE NOTE:AfewotherBiblicalexamplesofasking:

MosesasksGodtosparetheIsraelites

(Exodus32:12-14;Duet.9:13-14)

Fatherofboypossessedbyevilspirits If

youcan,healmysonIbelieve,helpmy

unbelief(Mark9:22-24)

Peter(toJesuswhilewalkingonwater)

Lord,saveme!(Matthew14:30)

Jesus(totheFather)Letthiscuppass

fromme(Matthew26:39)

Jesus(toPeter)Ifyouloveme,feedmy

sheep.(John21)

WhathaveyouaskedofGod?Whathasheasked

ofyou?


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DAYFOUR:

Re-readchapter2verses7-9 .Basedontheseverses,howisNehemiahpreparingforthework

ofhisvision?

NehemiahrequestslettersfromthekingtogranthimsafepassagethroughforeignlandssothathemightreachJerusalemsuccessfully.Whydidthekinggranthisrequest?(vs.8)

Howelsedidthekinghelp(vs.9b)

Whatdoverses6-9tellus?Theytellusthatthelittlethingsmatter.Itremindsusthatsmall,

importantstepsmustbetakenbeforeavisioncanbeactedupon.Forgettingwhatmayseemlikesmall,inconsequentialdetailscandestroyavisionbeforeitevengetsofftheground.

FulfillingavisionofGodmeanspayingattention

tothedetails.NehemiahwaspresenttoGodand

presenttothekingandbecauseofthathewas,in

time,abletobepresentwithhispeople,theIsraelites,inJerusalem.Thesmallfirststep

detailswereessentialtohisarrivalinJerusalemsothathisvisioncouldbelivedoutandfulfilled.

Preparationisahugepartofthediscipleship

journey.LookbackatyourDiscipleshipGrowthPlanfromyourAssessment.Whataresome

stepsyouneedtotakeinordertobepreparedsothatyoumightaccomplishyour

goal(s).Makealist:

SESSION TWO

PREPARATIONMATTERS!

Ioncehadayouthpastorfriendwhotookateamofyouthonamissiontriptoinnercity

Chicago.Atdinnertimeofthefirstday

there,herealizedthathehadneglectedto

planaheadformeals,letalonebudgetforit.

Sothere,inChicago,withlimitedresources

histeamhadnofoodandverylittleextra

money.Heandhisteamhadanunexpected

challengewhichstartedthetripoffonthe

wrongfootandfrustratedhisteam.It

disruptedtherhythmofthemissiontrip.

Hadhetakenthesimplestepsofprayingfor

clarityplanningahead,histripwouldhave

gonealotsmootherandhisteamwould

havebeenalothappier(afterall,nooneis

happywhentheyarestarving,especially

teenagers!)


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WhenGodgivesusopportunitiestoactuponthevisionsanddreamshehasgivenus,weoughttodo

allthatwecantoprepareourselvesforwhatliesahead.Partofthatplanningmaymeanspendingtimeanticipatingwhatliesahead.

ReadNehemiah2:10.WeseethefirstsignsofoppositionforNehemiah.Whenstrivingtofulfill

themissionofGodshouldweanticipateopposition?Why/whynot?

SanballatandTobiahweremostlikelyleadersofsurroundingareasofJerusalem.Uponhearing

Nehemiahsplanandvision,theybecomeupset.WhydoyousupposeSanballatandTobiahweredisturbedthatsomeonehadcometopromotethewelfareoftheIsraelites?

TheIsraelitesinJerusalemwerelivingintoughtimes.Recentlyreturnedfromexileinacrumbledcity,theyhadperhapsbecomecomplacentinthemidstoftheirlowlystate.SanballatandTobiahfor

politicalreasonsprobablywantedtokeeptheirneighborsinsuchastate.Butforreasonsotherthanpolitical,weall,attimesrevelinsomeoneelsesstruggle.Whydoesourcultureenjoyseeing

othersatthebottom?

Thinkofthelatestcelebritynews(ontheTVoronthemagazinerackatthegrocerystore).When

thelatestcelebritycrashesandburns,getsarrestedoriscaughtinthemidstofascandal,itsonthefrontpage.Everwonderwhy?Sadly,ourculturelikesseeingothersinthatlowspot.Why?

Becauseitmakesusfeellikewerebetterthanthem.Forselfishreasons,itgivesusanopeningto

elevateourstatus,topuffoutourchestsandtokickotherswhoaredown.

Asdisciples,howcanwegoagainsttheculture?Whatcouldwedo?Howshouldweact?How

couldweserve?

Howisserviceapartofyourdailyliving?HowcanNehemiahswillingnesstoserveinspireyouasyoucontinuealonginyourfaithjourney?

NEXT STEPS: Take a few moments and leaf through chapters 13-17 of the Gospel of John. Jotdown a few notes as to how Jesus was preparing his disciples for the challenges that would soon come.

As a modern day disciple, what can you learn from how Jesus aimed at preparing his disciples?


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DAYFIVE:

Re-readverses11-16

WhydoesNehemiahremainsilentandhiddenthusfar?

Nehemiahisreadytorespondtoapressingneed.WhentellingtheIsraelitesofhisvisionandplan

(vs.17),NehemiahbringsattentiontothedesolatestateofJerusalemfollowedbyasimplechallengetorebuildsothattheywouldnolongerbeindisgrace.Hethenremindsthemofthegracioushandof

GoduponhimandthatKingArtaxerxeshadgivenhisblessing.Asaresult,thepeopleareinspiredtoact.

Sometimesittakesafreshperspectivetoseetheneedforchange.Whyisthat?

MatthewHenrywrites:WhenNehemiahhadconsideredthematter,hetoldtheJewsthatGodhadputitintohisheartto

buildthewallofJerusalem.Hedoesnotundertaketodoitwithoutthem.Bystirringup

ourselvesandoneanothertothatwhichisgood,westrengthenourselvesandoneanotherforit.

Weareweakinourduty,whenwearecoldandcareless.

Wearenotmeanttodoitalone.ThereisnosuchthingasalonerangerChristian.Wewalkthisjourneyoffaithtogether.

verb [ reporting verb ]

[ no obj. ] (of a person) act or behave inreaction to someone or something:

SESSION TWO


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Thusfar,howhasNehemiahexemplifiedwhatitmeanstobeawitness(asdefinedabove)?

Invs.18,whatmovedthepeopletoreply:letsrebuild?

NehemiahisinthebeginningstagesoftheworkofGodsvisiontorebuildthewallsofJerusalemand

torebuildthelivesoftheIsraelites.

Ifavisionisborninthesoulofamanorwomanwhoisconsumedwiththetensionbetween

whatisandwhatcouldbe,thenwhatisitthatconsumesyouandhowGodcanuseyou?

Whatisthepainyoucannolongerstandintheworldaroundyoubutdrivesyouto

respond?

Whatactionstepsdoyouneedtotaketorespondtoit?

HowdoyoufeelthispieceofNehemiahsstorycanbeappliedtousasachurchseekingtounderstandGodsvision?

Inverse19,Nehemiahfacesoppositionforthesecondtime.Howdidherespond?Howcanhisreplyinspirebelievers?

Read1John5:3-5.Howcanthatpassageinspireyouthenexttimeyoufaceopposition?

WITNESSisoneofthefiveareasofthediscipleshipprocess.(AcommitmenttoserveasJesusserved.)

ServeGodandneighboroutofloveforGod;

Practicemutualaccountabilitywithinacovenantgroup;

PracticeSabbathasameansofrenewalsothatwecanlovinglyserveGodandneighbor.


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Appendix:AncientForeignPolicies

ItmightseemalittlestrangefortheKingofPersiatoallowNehemiahrebuildthewallandcityof

Jerusalemwhenhispredecessorshavedestroyedit,buthavinganideaofthedifferentforeignpoliciesof

thedifferentempiresthathaveleadtothisstatemighthelp.Themainobjectiveoftheforeignpolicy

wastokeeppeoplesubjectedtothestateandpayingtaxesthathadconquereditwiththeminimum

amountforceorarmyyouhavetopay.

AssyriaEmpire(DivideandMix)SignificanttothePalestinearea722-605BC

TheAssyriansdestroyedtheNorthernhalfoftheKingdomofIsraelin722BC.Theforeignpolicyherewas

tomixeveryoneup.Soyoumovesomepeoplefromonecountrytotheoneyouhavejustconquered.

Theyinter-marryandlosetheirculturalidentitythuslosingtheirneedtoriseupagainstyou.The

NorthernKingdomthereforebecometheSamaritans,thattheJewsdespisedfortheirintermarriage.

BabylonEmpire(CulturalImperialism)SignificanttothePalestinearea604-539BC

TheBabylonianstookovertheAssyrianempireandexpandedit.ThisincludeddestroyingJerusalem

from597-586BCandconqueringoftheSouthernKingdomorJudah,whichiswherethenameJewcame

from:apersonofJudah.Thisforeignpolicywastotakethekeyleadersofthecountryyouhave

conqueredandgivethemalessoninBabylonianculture(seeDaniel1)sotheycouldnotleadanuprising

anddestroyanythingleftthatmightremindorinspirethepeopletoanuprising.

PersiaEmpire(Beyourselves,butpayourtaxes)SignificanttothePalestinearea539-332BC

Babylonliterallyfellovernight(Daniel6)andPersiabecamethesuper-power.Theirforeignpolicywas

thatifyouletpeopledowhattheywereusedtoandfollowtheirowngods,theywouldlikeyouandnot

riseupagainstyou.HencetheaccusationinEzra4:11-16thattheIsraeliteswererebelliouswasaveryseriousoneforthePersiankings.Butitalsoexplains,humanlyspeakingwhyArtaxerxesrespondedto

Nehemiahsrequest.

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Nehemiah Session Two