Send Me That I May Build It
Neh. 1, 2:5
I. Nehemiah’s
Awareness of the Condition – 1:1-3
A. The
Reproach of the Remnant
There
was a remnant, but they were in pitiful shape.
No organization,
no leadership, no boldness, no government, no army, no
B. The
Walls are Broken Down
1.
A picture of Identification – a real wall, made out of real stones, in a
real place (no abstracts)
2.
A picture of Separation
3.
A picture of Protection
4.
A picture of Information – it was on top of the wall where the watchmen
could keep lookout
C. The
Gates are Burned
This
was the entrance into the city; the place where outsiders had to present
themselves.
This
was also the exit to the city; this is where those wanting to leave had to
present themselves.
Without any gates or walls, people could come and go without
any accountability.
NOTE: The
men of the city sat in the gate; there was oversight and there was authority at
the gates.
Without the gates, there was no oversight, no leadership, no
authority, no accountability.
II. Nehemiah’s
Affirmation to the Cause – 1:4-11
A. Notice
his Response – vs. 4 I sat down and
wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed
B. Notice
his Realization – vs. 5 he realized that it was not God’s fault that the
walls had been destroyed
C. Notice
his Repentance – vs. 6, 7 – we have
sinned against thee; we have dealt corruptly against thee…
D. Notice
his Remembrance- vs. 8 – he knew the Scripture; he called God into
remembrance of His word
III. Nehemiah’s Availability
to the Construction – 2:5
A. Notice
his Occupation – 1:11 For I was the king’s cupbearer. He wasn’t an architect
or a builder!
B. Notice
his Opposition – 2:1, 2
NOTE: It
was Artaxerxes that had stopped the building of the walls and the temple. SEE
EZRA 4:11-24
Nehemiah was troubled and very sore afraid because the very
man that had stopped the building of the wall was asking him why he was sad.
C. Notice
his Offer – 2:5 …”send me… that I may
build it”
