Joy of Living bible study on the book of Nehemiah

2. “Every day they read the scripture. Every day
they saturated themselves in the thinking of
God. That is what makes for realism: When
you think like God thinks, you are thinking
realistically. You are beginning to see yourself
the way you really are. You are seeing your
children, your home and your nation the way
they really are. For the first time you are able
to divest yourself of the illusions and
delusions of a mistaken, confused world. You
are beginning to work toward wholeness,
healing, and strengthening of the things that
abide”.

5. All of our efforts to dilute sin dissipate in the
presence of our holy, righteous God. As long as
we compare ourselves with others we can play
this self-justification game. But when we place
our sins alongside the attributes and actions
of God, feeble excuses to discount our
wickedness fail miserably. Juxtaposed to God,
each of us stands our as what we truly are:
sinners and rebels against God, who, are lost
completely apart from his mercy. It is a matter
of being compared to the incomparable.
Mark D. Roberts

6. By your words I can see where I’m going;
they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back
from living by your righteous order.
Everything’s falling apart on me, GOD;
put me together again with your Word.
Festoon me with your finest sayings, GOD;
teach me your holy rules.
My life is as close as my own hands,
but I don’t forget what you have revealed.
The wicked do their best to throw me off track,
but I don’t swerve an inch from your course.
I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—
what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
I always have and always will.
Psalm 119:105-112, The Message

7. presumptuously –
When someone takes liberties, doing
things too boldly, you can describe
them with the adjective presumptuous.
Presumptuous comes from the Latin
verb praesumere which means to take
for granted. It means taking for granted
your access to someone or power to do
something.

8. Seeing how God continued to be with
his people shows that his patience is
amazing! In spite of our repeated
failings, pride, and stubbornness, he is
always ready to forgive, and his Spirit is
always ready to instruct. Realizing the
extent of God’s forgiveness helps us
forgive those who fail us, even “seventy
times seven” if necessary.
LIFE Application

9. Israel was devastated by times of intense rebellion
and sin. Yet when the people repented and
returned to God, he delivered them. God puts no
limit on the number of times we can come to him to
obtain mercy, but we must come in order to obtain
it, recognizing our need and asking him for help.
This miracle of grace should inspire us to say,
“What a gracious and merciful God you are!” If
there is a recurring problem or difficulty in your
life, continue to ask God for help, and be willing
and ready to make changes in your attitude and
behavior that will correct that situation.
LIFE Application

10. Sometimes the way we take for granted the
very blessings God has showered on us leads
us to forget him. We are often tempted to
rely on wealth for security rather than on
God who makes it possible. As you see what
happened to the Israelites, look at your own
life. Do your blessings make you thankful to
God and draw you closer to him, or do they
make you feel self-sufficient and forgetful of
God?
LIFE Application

11. “So today we are slaves! In the very land you
gave to our ancestors to eat its fruit and to
enjoy its good things—we are slaves. Its
abundant produce goes to the kings you
have placed over us due to our sins. They
rule over our bodies and our livestock as
they see fit, and we are in great distress!
Nehemiah 9:36-38

12. The Israelites were in the strange position of
being slaves in their own land, having to turn
over a part of their resources each year to a
foreign king. How ironic, since God had given
the land to them. This was certainly a bitter
reminder of the lasting consequences of sin.
LIFE Application