Return and Rebuild Lesson 6
Teachers
Lesson Summary
In this lesson, teacher Clint Davison introduced the book of Nehemiah as the class continued its study of the post-exile restoration period. The lesson provided important context, noting that approximately 13 years had passed since Ezra's return and nearly 100 years since the initial exile. While the temple had been rebuilt, Jerusalem's walls remained broken and the city was in disrepair. Nehemiah, unlike Ezra (a priest and scribe), was an ordinary man whose position as an official in the Persian king's palace gave him comfort and security. When Nehemiah learned from his brother about the dire conditions in Jerusalem—the broken walls, burned gates, and the great trouble and disgrace of the Jewish remnant—he responded with genuine emotion and spiritual devotion. Rather than ignoring the news, Nehemiah sat down and wept, fasting and praying before God. The teacher emphasized that Nehemiah's remarkable prayer in chapter 1 demonstrated his deep care for his people and his commitment to God's work. His prayer included confession of sin, remembrance of God's promises, and a specific request for compassion before the king. The lesson highlighted that Nehemiah's character and qualities were what truly made him extraordinary, and that his example shows what an ordinary person devoted to God can accomplish through faithful leadership and prayer.
Key Scriptures
These [Bereans] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hakkoz, the son of Bilkua, which he spoke to the king of Persia: "When I was in the fortress city of Susa, one of my brothers came from Judah, and he said to me, 'The remnant of the Jews who survived the captivity, and those who had returned from the captivity to Judah, are in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.'"