The idea of “The Factual Data” sheet comes from reading that Warren W. Wiersbe’s homiletic teacher, Lloyd Perry used a generic “Factual Data” sheet for sermon preparation. I have adapted “The Factual Data” sheet to the different genres of Scripture instead of one-size fits all approach. See David Howard, Jr.’s An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books for more information on the introduction to Nehemiah.
1. STUDY THE CONTEXT (Macro Hermeneutics)
A. Context of narratives (Narrative is the most common genre in the Bible making up 75% of the Bible). Names some books of the Bible with narratives.
1. The literary art of narrative or story is a means of communicating the author’s theological message (In 1 & 2 Samuel, God sovereignally raises up kings: Samuel who is described as the king maker, then Saul followed by David).
2. The narratives were written not only to teach a message but to persuade the listeners to respond to the author’s message (Nathan used a story to persuade king David to repent in 2 Samuel 12:1-7).
B. Context of the book
1. What is the theme or theological message of the book? God blesses obedience and judges disobedience (In Nehemiah 1:8-9, Nehemiah refers to Dt. 28:63-67; 30:1-5). Important dates:
931 B.C. Division of the kingdom because of the disobedience of Solomon
722 B.C. The northern kingdom taken captive by Assyria because of their disobedience
586 B.C. The southern kingdom taken captive by Babylon because of their disobedience
538 B.C. Zerubbabel returns and rebuilds the temple (Ezra 1-6).
458 B.C. Ezra returns and reforms the people (Ezra 7-10).
445 B.C. Nehemiah comes and leads the people to rebuild the walls around God’s city (Nehemiah 1-6).
2. How is the theme developed? Leading God’s People to Obedience
1) By rebuilding the Walls (chapters 1-6) (Six Marks of Leadership)
2) By reviving the People (chapters 7-13)
C. Who wrote the book? Nehemiah wrote in first person what is called the Nehemiah’s Memoirs
D. To whom did he write the book? Nehemiah wrote to the remnant who returned from the Babylonian Captivity. Nehemiah "wrote the book that bears his name soon after all its events were completed. This means the book was written about 430 B.C. or shortly thereafter” (Gene A. Getz, “Nehemiah” in Bible Knowledge Commentary). Nehemiah wrote to influence God’s people to obey and be blessed and not disobey and be judged as spelled out in Dt. 28:63-67; 30:1-5. His task was to rebuild the walls that would protect God’s people from God’s enemies.
Jesus promised in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church.” As His undershepherds and leaders of ministries, we follow our Shepherd in building His church. James Montgomery Boice in his Nehemiah: An Expositional Commentary wrote, “May God, who raised up Nehemiah, raise up many like him in our day. The church has seldom been in greater need of such leaders” (James Montgomery Boice, Nehemiah: An Expositional Commentary, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1990, 10).
2. EXAMINE THE DETAILS OF THE PASSAGE SELECTED TO PREACH (Micro Hermeneutics)
A. Identify the scenes in the story you will teach or preach (In the NT Epistles the preaching unit is the paragraph, in Hebrew Poetry it is the stanza, and in narratives, it is the scene)
1. Scenes are identified by content changes (Nehemiah 1:5-11).
2. Scenes are identified by time changes (Nehemiah 2:1).
3. Scenes are identified by location changes (Nehemiah 2:9).
4. Scenes are identified by circumstance changes (Nehemiah 4:1).
5. Scenes are sometimes identified by key introductory words (“because” therefore” and “since”).
B. Identify the plot or the storyline. The plot is the organization of events or scenes to inform the author’s message to persuade the listener to respond.
The plot has a basic pattern:
1. The beginning or background
Here the main character or characters are introduced: their names, personality traits, position in life, geographical or historical information, etc. in Nehemiah 1:1 (Especially, at the beginning of a large narrative as in Nehemiah 1-6. Not in the smaller narratives).
2. The middle of the story provides the crisis or complication as in Nehemiah 1:2-3.
3. The end of the story which provides a resolution to the crisis is Nehemiah 1:5-11.
a. Within the stories look for Scene Depiction where the author speeds up and down the action to make his point. The author speeds up the action in Nehemiah 2:11 which covers four months of travel and slows down the action in 2:12-16 which emphasizes one important night of inspection.
b. Within the stories look for Characterization
1) Protagonist (central character as Nehemiah).
2) Antagonist (forces arrayed against the protagonist as Sanballot).
3) Foils (characters who heighten the central character by providing a contrast occasionally a parallel as Hanani in 1:2).
a) These characters are idealized (Nehemiah) or villainized.
b) These characters are sometimes given designations or titles that can reflect their character (“the cupbearer” 1:11 and “the man” 1:11 “uncircumcised Philistine” 1 Samuel 17:26).
c) These characters are rarely physically described but when they are, the description reflects their character as in 2:2).
c. Within the story look for Dialogue (which is more important than the action in a story). Sometimes the narrative is provided so we can hear the message spoken.
1) In narrative dialogue is compressed and precise.
2) In narrative dialogue sometimes communicates the theme (1:3) (1 Samuel 4:3).
3) In narrative dialogue provides insight into the character of the speaker (1:5-11).
d. Within the story look for Repetition of words, phrases, and sentences that create an atmosphere, and announce the theme or structure of the story (“the walls of Jerusalem are down and the gates are burned with fire” repeated in 1:3; 2:3, 8, 13, 17, etc.).
e. Within the story look for Theologically significant words (“remnant” 1:3 “covenant” 1:5 and quotes 1:8-9 historical events 1:3, 10).
Six Marks of Leadership in Nehemiah
1. The Leader Shows Concern for God’s Work (Nehemiah 1:1-4)
2. The Leader Prays for God’s People (Nehemiah 1:5-11)
3. The Leader Follows his Leader (Nehemiah 1:11-2:8)
4. The Leader Motivates his Followers (Nehemiah 2:9-20)
5. The Leader Organizes his Work (Nehemiah 3:1-32)
6. The Leader Handles his Opposition (Nehemiah 4-6)
A. He handled opposition from without (4:1-23). Ridicule and threats from the enemy produced discouragement.
B. He handled opposition from within (5:1-19). Selfishness from believers.
C. He handles opposition from without (6:1-19) Personal attacks from the enemy.
What is the Context for Nehemiah’s Leadership?
Under King Solomon, the Nation of Israel was divided in 931 BC (1 Kings 11:11). The Northern Tribes were taken captive in 722 BC by Assyria. Next, the Southern Tribes were taken captive in 605, 598, and 586 BC (2 Chronicles 36:5-19). God used three leaders to restore His people to the land and Himself:
1. Zerubbabel the Builder in Ezra 1-6.
2. Ezra the Teacher in Ezra 7-10.
3. Nehemiah the Layman in Nehemiah 1-13.
These three men were very different. God knew which leadership styles and unique gifts and talents His people needed in their leaders at different stages of their lives. G. Campbell Morgan pastored Westminster Chapel and emphasized the Gospels in his preaching. His associate, Martin Lloyd Jones, succeeded him. Jones believed that he followed Morgan because his passion for the Epistles would complement what Morgan had preached. Their unique ministries gave the members a more balanced diet.
What Kind of Leader was Nehemiah?
A. Nehemiah was a layman.
Nehemiah was not a preacher (priest or prophet). Nehemiah worked a secular job (1:11 “the cupbearer) for the government of Persia. The cupbearer was an important advisory position to kings (Genesis 40:9-15; 41:9-13). James Boice described this position as "Chief of Staff" (Nehemiah, page 18). The White House Chief of Staff is the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President. The office-holder has been dubbed "The Second-Most Powerful Person in Washington" due to the nature of the job. Nehemiah wielded the same kind of influence on his superior and exerted great spiritual influence like Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon.
B. Nehemiah was not only a layman but a volunteer.
Nehemiah took a 12-year leave of absence without pay and volunteered to help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He left this soft bed in the palace in Susa, the capital of Persia, for a sleeping bag in Jerusalem.
The local church today needs lay leaders like Nehemiah who volunteer in the Lord’s work. The local church cannot and should not hire professionals for every position in the church while the rest look on as spectators.