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Weekly Guide：2022-2023 Week 97
November 12, 2023
Week 97 Day 1: Rebuilding the Wall ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did Nehemiah start rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Nehemiah fasted and prayed for the land of his ancestors.
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King Artaxerxes let Nehemiah to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall.
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Nehemiah inspected Jerusalem saw its wall lies in ruins and its gates have been burned with fire.
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Nehemiah called the people to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Nehemiah heard about the wall of Jerusalem and fasted and prayed. What attitude can I see from him toward his country and people? Do I prioritize serving God higher than my own needs?
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Fidelity - Nehemiah was a leader and did not act in recklessness. What spiritual principles can I learn from him? How may I apply what I learned in my daily life and service?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 97 Day 2: Rebuilding the Gates ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the people work together to rebuild the wall?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The people worked together to rebuild the gates in order.
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Sanballat became angry and was greatly incensed when he heard that the Israelites were rebuilding the wall.
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Sanballat plotted to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
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The enemies did not come when they heard that the Israelites were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Sanballat was incensed when he heard about the Israelite’s plan. Am I discouraged by my own weakness? How may I be strengthened and encouraged?
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Fidelity - Rebuilding the wall is a long and arduous process. But it was rebuilt in fifty-two days. What does work sharing means to God’s kingdom? Are the challenges remaining in my co-working with others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 97 Day 3: Wall Reconstruction Completed ⇧ ⇩
Forward
We continue to read the book of Nehemiah this week. The attacks from their enemies escalated when Nehemiah’s plan was going well. The Israelites worked in the daytime and took on defensive positions at night. They had to bear arms when went out for water. We often have to work relentlessly when we are in pursuit of something valuable. Going backward is not a meaningful choice when facing challenges, but success is brought by perseverance.
Those who persevere will be saved. It is not that they are never under pressure or without doubts, but from the Holy Spirit, they receive the strength to continue. Persevere in faith, in His word, to build on a solid and unshakable foundation, to hold fast the original believe, would be victorious in Christ.
May you all be renewed each day in God’s word!
Question
What was the reaction of all surrounding nations when the wall was completed?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The people raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews because they are living in poverty.
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Nehemiah was very angry when he heard this outcry.
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For the twelve years Nehemiah was appointed the governor in the land of Judah, he never ate the food allotted to the governor.
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When the enemies heard Nehemiah had rebuilt the wall, they schemed to harm him.
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The wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
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When all enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of God.
Meditation: My Story
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Community - Nehemiah accused the nobles and the officials that they were charging their own people’s interest. May we tell the truth with love to those who are doing things not pleasing the Lord? What do I need to be careful about?
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Fidelity - Nehemiah was responsible and diligent in his service because he understood the importance of his ministry. How do I value my own service?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 97 Day 4: Registration by Families ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Nehemiah do after the completion of reconstructing the wall?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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After the wall had been rebuilt and doors were set in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed.
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Hanani and Hananiah the commander of the citadel were put in charge of Jerusalem. Hanani was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.
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God put it into Nehemiah’s heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families.
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The whole company numbered 42,360.
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The list of some heads of the families contributed to the work.
Meditation: My Story
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Community - To rebuild the wall, Nehemiah assembled the people to unify them and bought them to become one. We need to be aware that serving is not just to get things done, but to build relationships in constructing Christ’s body. What can I learn from this?
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Fidelity - What was Nehemiah’s criteria to put Hanani in charge? What can I learn from this?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 97 Day 5: Obey the Law ⇧ ⇩
Question
Why did all the people come together?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In the seventh month, Ezra read aloud the Law before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
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Nehemiah and Ezra said to the people: “This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
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The whole company built temporary shelters and lived in them. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - What were the people’s reaction when Ezra praised the Lord, the great God? When I worship, do I shout out amen from within my heart?
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Identity - Why did the people weep when they listened to the word of the Lord? Why did they celebrate in great joy later? Have I experienced similar feeling when worshiping God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 97 Day 6: Confession and Covenant ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the Israelites make a covenant with God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. They confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.
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The Levites praised the Lord that He created everything and delivered Israel time after time.
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They confessed their sins against the Lord.
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In view of all this, they made a binding agreement, put it in writing, and affixed their seals to it.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Why did the people fast? What does it mean for the confession of their sins? Through prayers, do I have a better understanding of my spiritual identity and original sins?
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Identity - What does it mean to Israelites’ understanding of God by looking back in history? Do I often look at God’s blessing from the past so I may know better God’s will?