Nehemiah For You: Strength to Build for God (Expository Guide with commentary to help sermon preparation, personal devotions and Bible study leading) (God's Word for You)

How did God’s people rebuild after returning from exile? In Nehemiah For You, Eric Mason shows us strength to build for God.Accessible and VersatileAs part of the God’s Word For You series from The Good Book Company, this excellent expository Bible-study guide to Nehemiah is accessible and versatile. At under 200 pages, it is a fitting devotional read but also helpful for preachers and teachers. Mason is quick to note that Nehemiah is often used in reference to rebuilding – whether it be homes, churches, or communities. But he does not want us to miss the bigger themes of gospel mission, redemption, and providence.Mason is skilled at matching the context of Nehemiah to modern times. For instance, he says that the setting of the story is the “Persian version of Mardi Gras.” And as cupbearer to the king, Nehemiah is “basically the king’s personal bartender.” It really helped the story come to life! Of course, this all serves the purpose to show us the meaning of the text, which is that Nehemiah was put there on purpose for a specific purpose. Nehemiah recognized his place of privilege, and he sought to give glory to God.Seeing JesusI was most interested to see how Mason relates Nehemiah to Jesus Christ. Just as Nehemiah enters into the people’s issues and includes his lot with theirs, so does Christ. Just as Nehemiah was in a high place at the right hand of his king but came down to Jerusalem to help his people, so does Christ. The parallels are unmistakeable, and Mason makes sure you see it.In Nehemiah 3, Mason explains the Sheep Gate and how it made a way for the sacrificial sheep to come in that way. This was the first gate to be repaired. The Sheep Gate was the only gate that was consecrated, and this consecrated the entire wall. There were also no bolts or bars – there were no locks on it, signifying that the door to salvation is ever open for the sinner. This gate is a beautiful symbol of the cross.Christ Our CornerstoneI was most moved to see how Nehemiah provides parallels to slavery and oppression in the United States. Mason points out that the “Jewish brothers” in Nehemiah 5 walked in some type of blindness in order to justify the mistreatment of their Jewish brothers. Mason holds them accountable, but also shows that injustice is a failure to have the fear of God. Repentance is crucial, but the ultimate answer is in the forgiveness and freedom found in Jesus.This book also has the strength of giving several specific applications at the end of each section. I was most excited to see the finished wall at the end of the book, but I was also hit with a sense of sorrow. There were compromises to the commitments made by God’s people, and Nehemiah had to make things right. Ultimately, these rebuilt walls were not the true end-goal. We look to Christ, our Cornerstone, and his Kingdom. He is building that Kingdom now, and I am humbled to partake in it.I received a media copy of Nehemiah For You and this is my honest review.

My familiarity with the book of Nehemiah mainly stems from my childhood church's building campaign, and I read "Nehemiah For You" with one of the "Let us rise up and build" fundraising bookmarks my dad made in the late nineties. However, even though I felt like I knew the story well, it had been years since I had actually read it, and this book inspired me to go back and revisit Nehemiah, reading chapters before reading the associated sections in this book. I appreciated Eric Mason's clear explanations of some of the more complex historical and cultural elements of this Bible book, and he draws out great applications for how Christians can apply core themes from Nehemiah in their churches and communities.Mason writes with a realistic, boots-on-the-ground perspective about church ministry and community renewal projects, sharing some examples from his pastoral ministry in an urban church. He emphasizes both the internal and external changes that were necessary for repentance and healing in Nehemiah's context, and he shows how these core themes apply to current issues today. I appreciate how well he balanced writing about both personal holiness and social justice, addressing both as essential without emphasizing one over the other."Nehemiah For You" is a great resource for pastors who are planning to preach through Nehemiah, especially if they feel uncertain about how to handle the social justice themes without watering them down or overly politicizing them in today's cultural context. This book would also be a great selection for Bible studies, personal reading, and family devotions with older children, especially when people are going through phases of vision-casting, project management, and communal renewal.

There's nothing more frustrating than rebuilding a sand castle.Okay...maybe a few things, but working to get the sand just right, mounting each turret perfectly without crushing the foundation beneath, it's all a lot of hard work.I can't imagine what it was like as the exiled Jews returned to Jerusalem, to see their ancestral city laying in a crumbled heap, without protection, without the vibrant life they'd known from the stories of the grandparents.The book of Nehemiah tells us the story of how God initiates, and completes, restoration and our role in His work as His representatives. The walls need to be rebuilt for Jerusalem to become a place of worship again and He's working not only on the structures of the city, but also on the hearts of the people.Nehemiah For You: Strength to Build for God by Eric Mason takes us chapter by chapter through this historical book to show us how the tasks and challenges Nehemiah faces as he walks in obedience to God and how that influences our work for the kingdom today as light bearers in our churches and communities.He draws lessons for us as we serve in our local churches, about how to deal with opposition or resistance, how to move with one purpose, the value of surrendering our personal preferences, being a student first and foremost of God's Word.This commentary series is one I really enjoy. They're written for the average church member so they're easy to follow and understand. With helpful reflection questions at the end of each section it's also very practical.If you're studying the book of Nehemiah, this is a great resource for you to have!Quick Stats# of pages: 176 pagesLevel of Difficulty: EasyMy Rating: 5 stars*A big thanks to the Good Book Company for the complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review!