SERIES: The Book of Nehemiah
TEXT: Nehemiah 6:15-19
MESSAGE: “God’s Finished Work: Forging a Flourishing People”

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” — Matthew 7:9-11 NIV

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”  — Psalm 14:1-3 NIV

1. God finishes the work (v. 15)

“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.” — Nehemiah 6:15 ESV

2. God forges the path (v. 16)

“And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” — Nehemiah 6:16 ESV

“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion [or “brought back the captives from Zion”], we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.” — Psalm 126:1-3 ESV

3. God flourishes the people (vv. 17-19)

“Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.” — Nehemiah 6:17-19 ESV

“This Nehemiah is pointing to the ultimate Nehemiah; that is, the ultimate one who was in the palace, completely safe, had it made, and left all of that and went out into danger to identify with his people… Of course, Jesus Christ, the ultimate Nehemiah, did that [too], not at the risk of his life but at the cost of His life.” — Timothy Keller

“…He said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” — John 19:30b ESV

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” — Ephesians 2:13-22 ESV

CONFESSION QUESTIONS: In what ways do we still try–without the help of our God–to…

• Finish the work that God is already finishing in our lives?
• Forge the path that God is already forging us on?
• Flourish ourselves apart from God’s flourishing care?