“Rebuilding the Walls,” from the lesson series Return from Babylon | scattered & gathered, June 2020
our Scripture
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. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 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” (ESV).
Nehemiah 2:17-20 NASB
Nehemiah 2:17-20 NIV
Nehemiah 2:17-20 MESSAGE
Nehemiah 2:17-20 NLT
our lesson
“You see the trouble we are in.” Could Nehemiah’s words be any more pointed? Could there be any words that would ring this true, generation after generation? Are there any better words to describe our lives right now? How would you describe our trouble? Isn’t it time for rebuilding?
Enjoy a one page summary of the lesson. You can print copies for use with your group.
[su_pullquote align=”right”]Points to Ponder
1) Let’s get them out on the table. Describe some of the troubles that are facing our nation today. Identify the troubles that are facing the church. What troubles sit on your personal doorstep?
2) Psalm 127 reminds us that when the Lord watches over the city, He will give sleep to his beloved. What does that say to us when our times are enough to keep us awake at night? [/su_pullquote]
The COVID-19 pandemic is surely an example. Can you add to that the tensions and struggles that divide our country? It is easy to center on ethnicity and race because they are in the news, but those certainly are not the only points of division. What are the “polar opposites” that separate America today?
We know that stress has physical effects on us. Could stress have similar spiritual effects on us as well? Think for a moment. If you are depressed, what does that do to your spiritual life? Does it keep you from praying? Does it take you away from your Bible reading? If you are feeling overwhelmed and anxious? Does it make you worry to the point of trusting God less? Does it make you question God more?
Our bodies intertwine the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical. If we are concerned about the spiritual, we have to make sure the other areas are protected and healthy by strong walls because they have an impact on the spiritual.
[su_pullquote]Verse to Memorize
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 (Nehemiah 2:17a ESV). [/su_pullquote]
[su_pullquote align=”right”]Words to Wrangle
The purposes of walls are to provide strength and protection for the inhabitants of the city. Most cities employed a watchman to patrol and warn the people when danger was approaching. Are the church and the Christian supposed to serve as a watchman for the world? Read Psalms 122 and 127. If so, what does it mean to be a watchman on the wall?
1) Solomon writes “Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain” (Psalm 127:1 NIV). How have you seen this true in the cases of the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial tensions and protests?
2) In Psalm 122, David describes Jerusalem as a city that is bound firmly together. How does the unity of the people help the watchman? How does unity help make the walls secure? What is the meaning of verse nine: “For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.” [/su_pullquote]
“Do you see the trouble we are in?” Isn’t Nehemiah speaking to the church today? We are getting back to worshiping again, but the way we “do church” must be different today. It needs to be better. It needs to be more personal. It needs to meet the needs of a changing culture and society. It needs to reach beyond the walls of the building. Are you up for the task?
How can the church strengthen itself for the task at hand? Let’s look at a handful of opportunities.
- Recognize your need to depend upon God.
- Identify the priorities and structure of your life.
- Build daily routines and traditions that will work for you.
- Make time for your own self.
- Regularly review your priorities and adjust.
[su_pullquote]Conclusions to Consider
1) One of the important truths in this lesson is our need for walls – hedges – which provide us strength and protection. What are the walls in your life that ensure your well-being and safety? How have God and others worked to rebuild what our circumstances have destroyed?
2) What encouragement do you see from the church being able to meet again? How can you build upon that strength? What can you do if you are still unable to attend services and studies? [/su_pullquote]
When Nehemiah was able to paint the correct picture to the people, and mapped out a plan for them to follow and rebuild, the people responded positively. It mirrors our own time, doesn’t it? The time is now. The culture is in despair. The walls and structures of society are in shambles.
Building walls is taking responsibility for who you are and who God is calling you to be. Do you see the difference? There are parts of who we are that are not who God wants us to be. We are to take responsibility for our sins. That is difficult and humbling. We want to blame someone or something else for who we are. It’s my parent’s fault. I am the product of my culture. I need to take responsibility for my sins and I need to repent of them.
God is in the process of building, building a new way. He wants a new way for your life, and for the structure and ministry of the church. The time to rebuild is now.
| Return from Babylon | | Lesson Two: | Rebuilding | sub-lessons | ||
| Want to take your study to a deeper level? The images to the right represent ten “sub-lessons,” each supporting the theme in today’s lesson. |  |
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| Click on an image and you will be taken to another page of content. Pick as many as you like. If you have a small group that meets two weeks apart, there is a study for each week day. |  |
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