The Jesse Tree for Families: 18
THE EXILE AND WAITING
Nehemiah 1:1-2:8, 13:15-22
Nehemiah lived among strangers in a faraway place. He became very sad and wept when he heard about the destruction of Jerusalem and longed for peace and safety of his home.
So, he began praying that God would provide a way home and rebuild the city of his fathers, the home of the Israelites. God’s hand was on Nehemiah when he asked the king he served if he could return home and rebuild the temple, the gates, and the walls. The king agreed, and Nehemiah returned to God’s City.
It wasn’t easy rebuilding the walls, and God’s people still struggled with following His ways. But as Nehemiah built the wall he was able to strengthen God’s people and their dedication to God. Once the walls were restored, people began to hope that perhaps now would come the fulfillment of the prophecies about a future Messianic King (Isa. 11), about God’s returned presence in a new temple (Ez. 43:4-9, Zech. 8:3), and even the promise given to Abraham, to bless all nations through his descendants (Gen. 12:2-3).
Nehemiah lived among strangers in a faraway place. He became very sad and wept when he heard about the destruction of Jerusalem and longed for peace and safety of his home.
So, he began praying that God would provide a way home and rebuild the city of his fathers, the home of the Israelites. God’s hand was on Nehemiah when he asked the king he served if he could return home and rebuild the temple, the gates, and the walls. The king agreed, and Nehemiah returned to God’s City.
It wasn’t easy rebuilding the walls, and God’s people still struggled with following His ways. But as Nehemiah built the wall he was able to strengthen God’s people and their dedication to God. Once the walls were restored, people began to hope that perhaps now would come the fulfillment of the prophecies about a future Messianic King (Isa. 11), about God’s returned presence in a new temple (Ez. 43:4-9, Zech. 8:3), and even the promise given to Abraham, to bless all nations through his descendants (Gen. 12:2-3).
Family Thoughts
Nehemiah discovered, shockingly, that people still continued in their sin; they neglected the Temple of God and sold produce on the Sabbath as if they didn’t care for God. While the city had undergone physical restoration, the hearts of the people were unchanged.
The message was this, the fulfillment of their hopes, wouldn’t come from social or political reforms, but only from the one who could “remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh” (Ez. 36:26). The one who could give them new hearts—Jesus, who is the peace and safety longed for by Nehemiah.
The message was this, the fulfillment of their hopes, wouldn’t come from social or political reforms, but only from the one who could “remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh” (Ez. 36:26). The one who could give them new hearts—Jesus, who is the peace and safety longed for by Nehemiah.
Family Connect
Nehemiah wanted to build a good home for God’s people to return to. What makes your home a good home?
Pause to pray
As a family, pray that God would use you to change the broken things, to make them the way He wants them. Pray that God himself would change these things, restoring them.
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