11/2/2025 Midtown Church Sacramento
Dr. Efrem Smith
Biblical Background: The Book of Nehemiah – An Overview
- When the City Called Out to Nehemiah
- In 586 B.C., Babylonian forces under King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city of Jerusalem, leaving behind only the poorest of the people.
- Under Persian rule, Jerusalem remained without social or economic stability — broken walls, broken systems, and broken hearts.
- But God… was already preparing Nehemiah to respond to the call to rebuild what was lost and restore what was broken.
The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:
“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
Nehemiah 1:1-11
Big Questions of the Series:
- Will you accept God’s mission for your life?
- Will you join God’s mission for your city?
1. The Call to Repentance (Nehemiah 1:3–7)
- Lament, fasting, and prayer — the city’s crisis moved Nehemiah to action.
- He repented not only for what he had done, but for what he knew to be true — the collective brokenness of his people before God.
2. The Call to Reconciliation (Nehemiah 1:8–10)
- The Great Reconciler gathers those living in exile.
- It becomes easier to embrace reconciliation when you recognize yourself as the exiled sinner — one in need of God’s direction and mercy.
3. The Call to Responsibility (Nehemiah 1:11)
- Becoming a servant in God’s mission for the city.
- Praying for God’s success and favor, just as Jeremiah encouraged (Jeremiah 29:4–7).
Final Thought: The Call to Rebuild (Nehemiah 2:1–5; Revelation 21:1–7)
- A beloved rebuilding versus a gentrifying rebuilding — one rooted in love, not self-interest.
- Can you hear the city calling you? More importantly, can you hear God calling you?
- Let God restore and rebuild you first.