Lesson 20 – Teaching Video

Nehemiah 5 and 6 – Brett Cushing

  1. God’s Restorative Work Requires More Than Rescue (Nehemiah 5–6)

    1. The central thesis: God’s restoration is more than deliverance; it forges a new heart.
    2. Deliverance from hardship or sin is good but insufficient without ongoing dependence on God.
    3. True restoration:
      1. Is based on dependence upon Jesus.
      2. Endures resistance.
      3. Is attained by reliance on God rather than human resolve.
  2. Deliverance Without Heart Change: Internal Discord (Nehemiah 5:1–5)

    1. Though delivered from Babylon (cf. Ezra 1), the people cry out again in distress (Nehemiah 5:1; cf. Exodus 3:7).
    2. Economic hardship:
      1. Shortage of grain threatening survival (Nehemiah 5:2; cf. Genesis 41).
      2. Mortgaging fields and vineyards (Nehemiah 5:3).
      3. Borrowing to pay Persian taxes (Nehemiah 5:4).
    3. Exploitation within the covenant community:
      1. Charging interest forbidden by the Mosaic Law (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35–37; Deuteronomy 23:19).
      2. Enslaving fellow Israelites.
    4. Key truth: Deliverance from exile did not remove sinful hearts. Restoration requires inner transformation.
  3. Nehemiah’s Righteous Response (Nehemiah 5:6–13)

    1. Righteous anger at covenant violation (Nehemiah 5:6).
    2. Right accusation:
      1. Public rebuke for charging interest (Nehemiah 5:7–8).
      2. Call to fear God and protect His reputation among the nations (Nehemiah 5:9).
      3. Implicit connection to loving one’s brother (cf. 1 John 3:17).
    3. Call to repentance:
      1. Return fields, vineyards, houses, and interest (Nehemiah 5:10–11).
      2. Repentance as total reorientation of values and ambitions.
      3. Not mere emotional change but sustained transformation.
    4. Public covenant and oath confirming repentance (Nehemiah 5:12–13).
    5. Key truth: Repentance involves restitution and visible obedience, yet still requires a new heart.
  4. Nehemiah’s Righteous Example (Nehemiah 5:14–19)

    1. Denied his rightful privileges as governor for twelve years (Nehemiah 5:14–15).
    2. Identified fully with the people.
    3. Devoted himself to the work of rebuilding.
    4. Generously provided daily food for approximately 150 people at his own expense (Nehemiah 5:17–18).
    5. Prayer of dependence:
      1. “Remember me with favor, my God” (Nehemiah 5:19).
      2. Living for an audience of One.
      3. Possibly functioning as intercessor on behalf of the people.
    6. Key truth: Restoration is sustained through dependence on God’s gracious favor.
  5. Foreshadowing Christ in Nehemiah

    1. Righteous anger toward sin (cf. John 2:13–17).
    2. Righteous accusation:
      1. Humanity stands condemned apart from belief (John 3:17–18).
    3. Perfect repentance and active obedience on our behalf.
    4. Denial of divine privileges:
      1. Christ emptied Himself (Philippians 2:5–8).
      2. Took on human flesh (John 1:14).
    5. Intercessory role:
      1. Christ represents believers before the Father.
      2. His blood covers sin once for all (cf. Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9–10).
    6. Generous provision:
      1. Future feast in the kingdom.
      2. Robe of righteousness.
  6. Resistance to God’s Work (Nehemiah 6)

    1. External opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem (Nehemiah 6:1–2).
    2. Repeated call to “come down” as a trap (Nehemiah 6:2–4).
    3. Nehemiah’s refusal:
      1. “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down” (Nehemiah 6:3).
    4. Parallel with Christ:
      1. Mocked to “come down” from the cross (Matthew 27:40).
      2. Christ refused in order to accomplish salvation.
    5. Key truth: God’s restorative work will always meet resistance, yet it advances through steadfast reliance.
  7. Application and Reflection

    1. Would you rather have deliverance from a besetting sin without dependence, or ongoing struggle with deep dependence upon Christ?
    2. In what areas has competence reduced your dependence on Jesus?
    3. Do you approach God with reverent fear or casual familiarity?
    4. Where might internal sin threaten the testimony of God before watching unbelievers?
    5. Final exhortation:
      1. We are saints and sinners simultaneously.
      2. We never outgrow dependence on Christ (Colossians 1:16–17).
      3. God’s restoration is ongoing until Christ returns.

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