Standing by our promises - A Not so Happy Ending

When has it been hard for you to keep a promise or commitment? Nehemiah 13:1-3 The foreigners among us What did they find written about the Ammonites and Moabites? (Num 22)  Why was it important to exclude them from the Jewish Nation?  Wasn’t this narrow-mined and unloving? Did God forbid fellowship with the Ammonites and Moabites because of their race or because of their attitude toward God? Deut 10:18-19 “the nature of a fire is to go out; you must keep it stirred, fed and remove the ashes”

Nehemiah 13:4-9 Good family, poor Judgement Who was Eliashib? What was his relationship with Tobiah?  Tobiah (2:10,19; 4:3,7; 6:12,17,19 )  Eliashib (3:1;12:10, 13:28) What did Eliashib do for Tobiah? And Nehemiah’s response? Was Nehemiah justified in his reaction to Eliashib? Thought Question: Thought Question: What might be something similar to Eliashib that someone might do today?

Nehemiah 13:8 Righteous Anger What do we learn about righteous anger from the following verses?  Exodus 32:19  1 Samuel 11:6-7  Matthew 21:12-13 Thought Question: Thought Question: Is righteous anger ever warranted by God? Personal Question Personal Question: Are there times when we should respond in righteous anger?

Nehemiah 13:10-14 A House forsaken What did Nehemiah learn in vs 10? How did Eliashib’s sin affect the entire nation? What principle can we learn from the following references?  Luke 9:62  Philippians 3:13 Thought Question Thought Question: Why did Nehemiah pray the prayer recorded in vs 14?

Nehemiah 13:1-14 Using this passage, list some of the things Nehemiah did right? We’d call Nehemiah a layman today. What lesson can we learn from this lay leader’s faith in God. Personal Question & Challenge: What action do you intend to take after this week’s passage?

Nehemiah 13:15-18 What did Nehemiah see happening on the Sabbath?  Why was this a big deal? How did Nehemiah respond? What do we learn from the following verses  Genesis 2:1-3  Exodus 20:8  Exodus 34:21 Thought question: Thought question: In light of these verses, how can you apply he principle of keeping the Sabbath?  Isaiah 58:13-14  Matthew 12:11-13

Nehemiah 13:19-22 What action did Nehemiah take recorded in verse 19? Thought Question: Why was Nehemiah reacting so strongly in verse 18 to those who sold goods on the Sabbath? How could you apply each verse below to your own life?  Deuteronomy 6:5  Psalm 119:139  Isaiah 62:1  Colossians 1:29  Colossians 3:23

Nehemiah 13:23-27 Unequally yoked From what nations did some men of Judah find wives? Thought Question: Thought Question: Why was Nehemiah so upset that one-half of the children did not know how to speak the language of Judah? How did Nehemiah respond to these ungodly marriages in verse 25? Personal Question: Personal Question: What lesson can we learn from Nehemiah’s reaction to his people’s disobedience to the will of God? Solomon turned from God (1 Kings 11:1-6). What actions did he take in turning from God?

Nehemiah 13:28-31 Why did Nehemiah drive away the grandson of the high priest, Eliashib?  What negative influence might the actions of Eliashib, the high priest, recorded in Nehemiah 13:4-6 have made in his grandson’s life? What was Nehemiah’s bottom line reason for being upset with the high priest, Eliashib, and his family (v29)? What action did Nehemiah take in v29, 30 and how can we apply it to our lives today.