C Opposition from Without (6:114) III Work Is Finished (6:15—7:73a) A Building Program Completed (6:15-19) B Jerusalem Guarded (7:1-4) C Families Resettled (7:5-73a) The completion of the building project was a blow to the enemies of Israel Nehemiah reports that they were much cast down, “for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God” (6:16) (The two verses of 6:15-16 are Nehemiah’s concluding words for the reporting of the building project.) (7:736—10:39) A major turn is made in the book of Nehemiah at 7:736 The shift is from the C REVIVAL physical and material rebuilding to building for spiritual security The reading of God’s Word is given no higher honor than in chapter 8; thanksgiving and penitence are blended together in sublime and startling proportions in the prayer of chapter 9; and the people’s determination to prove the sincerity of that prayer by action is wonderfully exempli ed in chapter 10 The people solemnly covenanted “to walk in God’s law,” which they were proud to claim as having come to them through “Moses, God’s servant” (10:29) Among other things, they said, “We will not neglect the house of our God” (10:39) The passing of time would tell how faithfully they and their children would keep this covenant (11:1—13:31) The last chapters of Nehemiah record D CONSOLIDATION important aspects of Israel’s life as they entered the phase of consolidation Those aspects are: the nation’s size and distribution; the nation’s defense; and the nation’s purity The same subjects appeared earlier in the book, but in a slightly di erent context Chart 61 gives a survey of this nal section of Nehemiah Mark the divisions in your Bible, with the outlines, as a guide for your reading X KEY WORDS AND VERSES OF NEHEMIAH Some of Nehemiah’s key words are: build, remember, pray, wall, work, mercy, disobedience, thanksgiving Suggested key verses are 2:176 and 6:3 Look for others XI APPLICATIONS OF NEHEMIAH Nehemiah is an invigorating and challenging book, showing what God can through a remnant of believers who rise to God’s call through His servant to restore a vital, worshipful relationship with Him John C Whitcomb makes this appraisal of the book: It must be said … that no portion of the Old Testament provides us with a greater incentive to dedicated, discerning zeal for the work of God than the Book of Nehemiah The example of Nehemiah’s passion for the truth of God’s Word, whatever the cost or consequences, is an example sorely needed in the present hour.17 Problems, pains, prayer, and perseverance are some of the ingredients of the success story of Nehemiah What other ingredients ... appraisal of the book: It must be said … that no portion of the Old Testament provides us with a greater incentive to dedicated, discerning zeal for the work of God than the Book of Nehemiah The example... Among other things, they said, “We will not neglect the house of our God” (10:39) The passing of time would tell how faithfully they and their children would keep this covenant (11:1—13:31) The. .. defense; and the nation’s purity The same subjects appeared earlier in the book, but in a slightly di erent context Chart 61 gives a survey of this nal section of Nehemiah Mark the divisions