THE IMPROVED ADULT TEACHER QUARTERLY

Lesson 12                                                                                                                                        May 18, 2008

                                                            RESTORATION AND COVENANT RENEWAL

                                                            LESSON SCRIPTURE: NEHEMIAH 4-6

                                                          PRINT: NEHEMIAH 4:1-3, 7-9, 13-15; 6:15

Key Verse: So we rebuilt the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height; for the people had a mind to work.  Nehemiah 4:6.

Nehemiah4:1-3(NRSV)

1    Now when San-bal'lat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he mocked the Jews.

2    He said in the presence of his associates and of the army of Sa-mar'i-a, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish it in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish—and burned ones at that?"

3    To-bi'ah the Am'mon-ite was beside him, and he said, "That stone wall they are building—any fox going up on it would break it down!"

7-9

7    But when San-bal'lat and To-bi'ah and the  Arabs  and  the  Am'mon-ites  and  the Ash'dod-ites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and the gaps were beginning to be closed, they were very angry,

8    and all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.

9    So we prayed to our God, and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.

13-15

13   So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14   After I looked these things over, I stood up and said to the nobles and the officials and the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the LORD, who is great and awesome, and fight for your kin, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes."

15   When our enemies heard that their plot was known to us, and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.

6:15

15   So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month E'lul, in fifty-two days.

Nehemiah 4:1 -3 (KJV)

1    But it came to pass, that when San-bal'lat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

2    And he spake before his brethren and the army of Sa-ma'ri-a, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

3    Now To-bi'ah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

7-9

7    But it came to pass, that when San-bal'lat, and To-bi'ah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ash'dod-ites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth.

8    And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

9    Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

13-15

13   Therefore set  I   in  the  lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14   And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

15   And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

6:15

15   So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month E'lul, in fifty and two days.

HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS
            May 12 - May 18

Monday - Psalm 70 (A Cry for Help)

Tuesday - Nehemiah 4:1-6 (Mocking Enemies)

Wednesday - Nehemiah 4:7-11 (A Plot to Confuse the Builders)

Thursday - Nehemiah 4:12-15 (The Plot Is Foiled)

Friday - Nehemiah 4:16-23 (Always at the Ready)

Saturday - Nehemiah 6:1-14 (Attempts to Stop the Building)

Sunday - Nehemiah 6:15-19 (The Wall Is Finished)
 
  
The Bible Story

Nehemiah received the vision from the Lord about restoring the walls around Jerusalem and when he shared that vision with others, the work began. As the people caught the vision and the Lord began to work in the lives of the people, it became clear that the work would be done because the people had a mind to work.

As the work went forward and the walls began to be repaired, there were those who attempted to stonewall the progress being made. There are always persons who will try to frustrate the work of God's people who are moving in a positive direction, trying to build hope, faith, and reassurance. Such were Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs and the Ammonites who were angry about the success of the rebuilding project. They plotted against Nehemiah and God's people in an effort stop the walls from being completed. Under the threat of an attack, Nehemiah devised a plan in which the men armed themselves with a sword in one hand as they worked at rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. Their job was to not only protect the workforce but their families living in Jerusalem, as well.

In spite of the oppression from those against the people, the hand and the power of the Lord remained with the people and on the project. Those who lived in Jerusalem could see the progress being made as the walls were being restored. The more the people saw the Lord working the more their faith increased and the harder they worked and the more committed they became to completing the rebuilding.

The walls were completed and the city was protected in spite of the problems caused by Sanballat, Tobiah and the others who fought against Nehemiah. The vision that was given by God was completed as the people work under the power of God.

Life Application

Many times the greatest opposition to a vision of God being completed will come from some of the very people it would benefit. Many times people do not want life to get better because it would require that they change their way of life. Change always brings apprehension as a transition is made from the known to the unknown. This can be like meeting the bogeyman on a dark night to those who are entrenched in their old ways. For others, those who are motivated by God to try a new way will strike out as if unaware of the possible pitfalls that the human mind can conjure up. They strive to make the vision a reality as they experience the blessings accrued from being faithful to their covenant relationship with God.

How a person responds to a vision by a leader says more about the person than it does about the leader. Some individuals respond by catching the vision, following the leader and committing their hands to work until the project is done. They see some of the benefits they can enjoy and understand that others can enjoy these benefits as well. These individuals work to get others involved because they can see the big picture and want the world to see what the Lord can do through the hands of His people.

The groups who fight against a vision being completed, many times do not take the time to think about what is being done and how they can benefit from it. There are some who fight because they don't want their life and the lives of others around them to get better. They may not understand why they should live the best life possible. Then there are those who if the vision is completed will lose their power and their position and this is something they will not accept. Vision fighters have a vision problem that will not allow them to see anything beyond the spot where they happen to be standing.

Proverbs 29:18 reminds us that without a vision the people will perish. Visions are dreams that people bring to reality. Everything that is made begins with a dream, a vision in someone's mind.

Every car, every house, every building, every piece of clothing, everything began as someone's dream that grew into what is seen today. When people have no dreams to pursue, they find life is not really worth living and some choose to die rather than live without a dream.

People of God turn their dreams into visions through prayer as they have a little talk with Jesus. Every time the Lord plants a dream, a vision in the mind of one of His children and that child spends time talking with the Father about it, He gives them the knowledge, strength and power to get it done. The Lord uses authentic believers to complete the work that will make a vision a reality. The vision for the Christian church is about kingdom building and not about the person to whom the vision is given. Nehemiah's vision benefitted the nation of Israel, not just Nehemiah.

If the Lord has planted a dream, a vision in your heart and mind to do great things for Him, trust Him enough to provide what is needed for your success.

Remember what the older saints believed: "where God guides, God provides."

Questions

1.  Why you think that Sanballat and the others did not want Jerusalem's walls to be rebuilt? Do you know any Sanballat's and Tobiah's who are frustrating the work of your local church?

2.  What vision does God have for your life? Who are the persons God has placed in your life to help make the vision a reality?

3.  Do today's churches need a vision in order to not only survive, but to thrive in a hostile, violent world?   If so, does the vision only come to the pastor and officers?  How can the vision be confirmed as being initiated by God?

Prayer

Lord, we pray for a vision so the vision of Your Kingdom on earth is not lost at a time when worldly values have supplanted godly ones. Give us the strength to humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, and focus on You and building Your Kingdom. Amen.