RETURN TO ACTION (Part 1)

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DAY 18 - January 22

The sixth chapter of Nehemiah continues to discuss the opposition the Israelites were facing in rebuilding the wall.  But work continued, and verse 15 finally declares,

“So on October 2 the wall was finished - just fifty-two days after we had begun.” Nehemiah 6:15 (NLT)

Can we just pause here and think about that?  What began as a seemingly impossible task was completed in just FIFTY-TWO days, despite the constant opposition they faced!  Friends, may we never forget that when God says it, He means it, and He will always help us in accomplishing it!  Can I get an amen??

Now, with that brief overview of chapter 6, for the remainder of today’s study, we will be focusing on Nehemiah 7.  So grab your Bible, and go ahead and read Nehemiah 7 in its entirety.

A majority of Nehemiah 7 details out a meticulous census and genealogy of the returned exiles after the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, transitioning from the physical rebuilding to organizing God’s people to rebuild that nation’s spiritual and cultural heart.  It is here that we begin to see the fulfillment of the prophecy that we read previously in Zechariah, which is also echoed in the book of Micah.  

“The other angel said, “Hurry, and say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem will someday be so full of

people and livestock that there won’t be room enough for everyone!  Many will live outside the

city walls.’”Zechariah 2:4 (NLT)

“In that day, Israel, your cities will be rebuilt, and your bodies will be extended.”  Micah 7:11 (NLT)

If you remember, a large grouping of God’s people returned to Israel after the initial call to return and rebuild.  In fact, there were three man waves of people who returned at that time: the first being the largest (approximately 40,000 people), which was led by Zerubbabel; the second was much smaller (approximately 4000-5000 people), which was led by Ezra; and the third, the smallest of the three waves, which was led by Nehemiah.  These are the people who put in the hard work to rebuild the wall, taking steps to restore Israel to its former God-given glory.  

But the rebuilding of the wall was only the first step in the mission the Lord had for them!  For once the wall was secure again, the next step began to unfold, starting with this new wave of returnees listed in Nehemiah 7.  You see, the building of the wall wasn’t just for protection for the people within it; God had a much greater purpose for those living beyond it.  And the same is true for us…

All that you have done over the last few weeks - every meal skipped, every prayer prayed, every reflection question answered and surrendered to the Lord - has a purpose that goes far beyond yourself.  During this time of prayer and fasting, you have been repairing the walls of your life, shoring up the weak areas and allowing the Lord to completely tear down and rebuild the areas that did not honor Him.  

For the Israelites, this “next step” included welcoming this new wave of returnees, teaching them all they had learned (shepherding them well), and bringing them along to work on mission with them.  

“In October, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled with a unified

purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate…” Nehemiah 7:73b - Nehemiah 8:1a. (NLT)

Now, before we dig any further into the practical nature of today's study, I just have to take a moment and address the odd formatting found at the close of chapter 7 and into the beginning of chapter 8.  After all, it seems pretty clear to me that Nehemiah 7:73b should just be a part of Nehemiah 8:1.  So why is it split like that, literally mid-sentence??

First, it’s important to remember that, in its original form, the Bible was not split into chapters and verses.  The splitting of scripture into chapters was introduced around 1227 by Stephen Langton, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the addition of verses was later introduced when Robert Estienne introduced the system for the New Testament in 1551, with the Old Testament following soon after.  These changes were made in order to make it easier to navigate the vastness of scripture and became standard with the Geneva Bible in 1560.  

But that still doesn’t answer the question as to why Nehemiah chapters 7 and 8 are literally split mid-sentence!  To put it simply, Nehemiah 7:73b serves as a “hinge” or transition, resolving the record of the census in chapter 7, showing everyone having “settled in their towns”, and the second half of that sentence sets up what is to be discussed in chapter 8, showing the people gathered “with a unified purpose.”  So, though the mid-sentence split feels out of place, the decision to do so was made with intention by those scholars tasked with splitting the vastness of scripture into chapters and verses.

Ok.  Rabbit trail over.  Now let’s get back to what we were discovering in Nehemiah 7:73b - Nehemiah 8:1a.  Let’s reread it together for a quick refresher:

“In October, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled with a unified

purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate…” Nehemiah 7:73b - Nehemiah 8:1a. (NLT)

For the Israelites, this “unified purpose” included spiritual renewal, leading to repentance, understanding, and renewed commitment to God’s commands.  And God’s mission for us is very much the same.  What began as a personal journey for you (21 Days of Fasting and Praying), is now shifting into a mission with a unified purpose - putting feet to your faith and welcoming others into the safety and security we are all given in the Lord; living with intentional purpose to reflect Jesus, share the Gospel, and make disciples in our every day lives, working daily to expand His kingdom.  For as Acts 1:8 says,

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.  And you will be My witnesses,

telling people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to

the ends of the earth.” (NLT)

And this going and telling isn’t a suggestion, it’s a command, as we see in Matthew 28:19-20, which says,

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the

Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. 

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NLT)

So, no matter what you have been fasting from or seeking the Lord for specifically, the next step for all of us is the same: action.  It’s time to get to work, being His witnesses, telling people about Him everywhere we go, living with intentional purpose to reflect Jesus, share the Gospel, and make disciples daily.  

Before we close out our time together today, let’s take a moment to reflect and then make some commitments to get into action with a few action-step challenges for us to all tackle this week.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. In what ways has the Lord spoken to me in this season of fasting and prayer that are not just for my own personal growth but to prepare me to serve others?  Am I viewing all that I’ve learned and all the ways I have grown closer to Him as a personal gift only, or as preparation for the mission He has for me?

2. What does “unified purpose” look like for me in my family, my church, my workplace, and my community right now?  How can I better serve others in each of these arenas of life?

3. Where is God asking me to put “feet to my faith” in this next season?  What fears or excuses are keeping me from doing what He’s asking?  

ACTION STEP CHALLENGE

1. Name one area where God is calling you to act, not just reflect (ie, sharing your testimony, inviting someone to church, serving, mentoring, etc.).  Ask the Lord for open eyes to see an opportunity to do that very thing this week. And when fear or anxiety starts to creep in, remember, it’s not by your strength or might but by HIS power!

2. Each day, before you even roll out of bed, take a moment to commit your day to the Lord, asking Him to show you the day's “next step of obedience”, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you clearly who He is sending you to minister to that day.  

3. If you are not doing so already, take the leap and begin serving God’s people by joining a serve team at church.  If you are already serving, take the opportunity to prayerfully consider your current serve (or serves) with the Lord, allowing Him to renew within you a passion to continue serving Him and His people.  

“For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do  the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)