6 months ago

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This Week’s Lesson

Today we are in Lesson-06 in the series “Rebuilding the Covenant Community” from the book of Nehemiah.

This is Volume II of our series: “After the Exile” a study of Ezra-Nehemiah-Esther.

The lesson is titled “Finish What You Start – Part I” and our focus passage is Nehemiah 6.

Please find your way in your Bible to that passage.

In our previous episode, we began our teaching of Nehemiah 5-6, a study we are calling “Finish What You Start.”

As we began to resume our study in CH5, we learned that despite of the mockery and threats, the wall rebuilding project had progressed nicely, but it was not quite finished.

But in this chapter, Nehemiah was faced with multiple disruptions to keep him from his high priority task.

Initially, the problem came from inside the community. There was internal strife threatening the completion of the project.

Difficult economic conditions had forced many of the people to borrow money beyond what they would pay. The Jewish leaders and nobles were taking advantage of their own people.

Nehemiah responded with righteous indignation but with wisdom. He thought things over, then he confronted the Jewish leaders with their wrongdoing, called them to reverse course, and led by his own example.

The forgiveness of debts amongst the Jewish people led to restoration and a renewed sense of unity among the covenant community.

In today’s lesson we will conclude our study of Nehemiah 5-6.

The enemies of the Jews realized that the project was progressing well and that with a renewed sense of unity, the Exiles could not be stopped.

In this chapter, they will increase the pressure on Nehemiah, the man they have to stop at any cost.