INTRODUCTION TO FEBRUARY LESSONS
The root of the word courage comes from the Latin cor, which is the word for “heart.” So, courage is strength of heart. Courage is formally defined as “the strength to do something that frightens you; bravery; strength in the face of pain or grief.” If Nehemiah—the cupbearer of king Artaxerxes and later governor of Judea—was anything, he was courageous. During February, students will learn from the book of Nehemiah about the courage to stand up against all odds, take appropriate risks, deny one’s own amenities, and restore righteousness.
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Unit: Nehemiah
Theme: It’s About Courage
Lesson text: Nehemiah 1:11–2:8
Supplemental texts: Ezekiel 22:29-30; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; Ephesians 6:13-15; Joshua 1:6, 9-11
Aim: Courageously obey God’s call to action.
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Download a PDF of this week’s lesson material (the Study by Mark Scott, Application by David Faust, and Discovery Questions by Michael C. Mack): LOOKOUT_February5_2023.
Send an email to [email protected] to receive PDFs of the lesson material each month.
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By Mark Scott
Joshua the successor to Moses, Ezekiel the exilic prophet, and Paul the church planter had one thing in common. They all had courage. Joshua led the people across the Jordan into the Promised Land (Joshua 1:6, 9-11). Ezekiel stood in the gap for God’s people during their exile in Babylon (Ezekiel 22:29-30). And Paul challenged the Corinthian church to be courageous (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) and the Ephesian church to be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:13-15). Nehemiah was cut from this same cloth, for he also was a man of courage.
Kneeling Is the Key to Standing
Nehemiah 1:11
The key to standing with courage is to kneel before an all-powerful God in prayer. Nehemiah was one of the exiles during the end of Babylonian captivity. He, like Daniel and his friends, served in the government. Nehemiah had heard from his brother Hanani that the restoration of the temple and the city of Jerusalem had been derailed (Nehemiah 1:3). Nehemiah was deeply affected by this. He sat down and wept and mourned for days. Then he fasted and prayed. His prayer was filled with praise for God’s mercy, confession of the sins of God’s people, and a reminder to God to fulfill his promise (vv. 5-11).
Nehemiah pleaded with the Lord (Adonai) to be attentive to his request and the requests of his other servants. Nehemiah and these servants delighted (took pleasure) in God’s name. Nehemiah also prayed for success and favor (mercy) from King Artaxerxes. The chapter closes with an autobiographical comment: Nehemiah was the cupbearer (butler) to the king.
Touched Is the Beginning of Action
Nehemiah 2:1-4a
A touched heart typically is what spurs a person to action. The devastating news of Jerusalem caused Nehemiah to weep and mourn in chapter 1, and God used Nehemiah’s sadness to get the king’s attention in chapter 2. Nehemiah was able to hide this sadness for four months (from Chislev to the first month in the Jewish calendar, Nisan—Nehemiah 1:1; 2:1). This professional effort to mask his feelings probably saved his hide for those four months. In the ancient world, to show sadness in the presence of the king was an invitation for discipline or death.
At some point, however, Nehemiah could no longer hide his sadness, and the king noticed it. The king could read the depression on his cupbearer’s face. Nehemiah admitted his fear and then gave an apologetic for why he was sad. While never actually naming the city (Jerusalem) lest that trigger angst for the king, Nehemiah mentioned that the city where his ancestors were buried lies in ruins (waste or desolation), and the gates have been destroyed by fire. This emotional admission secured a good response from the king, “What is it you want?”
Humility Is the Road to a Bold Request
Nehemiah 2:4b-8
Nehemiah was a classy person. He knew the protocol of the king’s court. He had a sense of propriety. He knew the courtesy appropriate to royalty. In the earlier section he had spoken the typical, “May the king live forever!” That was the way people in that world addressed the king. And Nehemiah’s humility continued to be on display by saying three times, “If it pleases the king.” To this phrase he added, If your servant has found favor (wellness) in your sight.
Nehemiah’s humility was covered in prayer (like a quick flash prayer), and then he made his bold request to the king and queen (her presence probably indicates this was a private meeting, for the queen would not normally have been part of court dealings). Nehemiah requested permission to go to Jerusalem and rebuild it.
This bold request could have resulted in Nehemiah’s death. Instead, the king asked him how long he would be gone. Nehemiah could see that it would be to his advantage to set a time. But his bold request also consisted of asking for letters for safe-conduct and provision. He needed the protection of the governors (captains or deputies) of the Trans-Euphrates, and he needed wood from Asaph, the Persian officer in charge of the royal forest. The timber was needed to rebuild the city gates, the city walls, and even for his own house. Nehemiah placed his courage in God for he was aware God’s hand was providentially guiding him every step of the way.
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