Building Together - "Preparing with Wisdom" - Nehemiah 2 - Mike Maglish

LifeSpring Christian Church Sermons

Preparing with Wisdom
Nehemiah 2
Mike Maglish

Part of Building TogetherA Study in Nehemiah

July 7, 2024

—Nehemiah 2:1-5

The return of the exiles to Judah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem:

1) 538 B.C. under the leadership of a man named Zerubbabel. It was during this period that the people of Israel built the second Temple.

2) About eighty years later, a second group, under the priestly leadership of Ezra, returned to the land. Spiritual and religious reformation occurred at that time. But the walls of Jerusalem and the completed temple would not be built.

3) Under the leadership of Nehemiah, a king’s cupbearer, many more returned. Nehemiah’s focus was to repair Jerusalem’s walls and gates.

—Nehemiah 2:6-8

All KINGS answer to the KING of KINGS

9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River (Jordan or Euphrates) and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. —Nehemiah 2:9-10

Sanballat represented Samaria and Samaritan interestests - Intermarried Assyrians, allowed for Ba’al worship, refused to recognize Jerusalem’s temple or Pentateuch. He wanted political influence, power, and control.

Tobiah had been conducting business in the temple. He had a lot of influence in and among Jerusalem.

There will ALWAYS be OPPOSITION to God’s Plan (Be Ready)

11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. —Nehemiah 2:11-1516 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work. —Nehemiah 2:16

It’s WISE to get DETAILS before SHARING God’s Plan

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. —Nehemiah 2:17-18And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. —Nehemiah 2:18

OLD hearts can be MADE NEW with VISION

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.” —Nehemiah 2:19-20

Others will try to STEAL THE WORK of God

Takeaway: A WELL-ESTABLISHED plan from a GOD-GIVEN vision can be TRUSTED