Let Us Rise Up and Build
OPENING THOUGHT
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs.” Making plans is easy. Why is it so hard to follow them through to the end?
THE READING (Nehemiah 2:9-20)
After Nehemiah’s plans were approved by the king, he made the long, four-month journey from Babylonia to Jerusalem and then communicated his vision to the people. They responded willingly, but enemies threatened to halt their progress.
EXPLORE
Discuss these questions to get a better understanding of the text.
How long was Nehemiah in Jerusalem before he began his work? What do you think he was doing all this time?
What is the first thing Nehemiah did? Why do you think he began this way?
Nehemiah outlined three motives for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Can you name them
Who were the three rulers who made an accusation against Nehemiah? What were their accusations?
How did Nehemiah respond to the unfair criticism lodged at him?
How did the people respond?
APPLY
Discuss these questions to envision what it would be like to practically live out this passage.
Like a good doctor, Nehemiah did not attempt to fix his problem until after he had made a thorough diagnosis of the case. Why are we tempted to ignore the problems around us? Could our failure to diagnose the true problems keep us from doing God's will?
Nehemiah not only had a vision, he communicated it. What do you notice about Nehemiah’s communication and what can it teach leaders about communicating their vision for doing God's will today?
Should we ever expect to make progress without facing criticism and opposition?
What does Nehemiah teach us about responding to criticism? See also Prov. 9:8; 15:1; 22:10; 26:4; 29:1; 1 Thes. 5:21.
What are some of the obstacles tempting us to stop returning, rebuilding, and rejoicing? How can we patiently deal with these challenges and endure?
