Arise and Build!Lessons from the Life of

Nehemiah

Nehemiah’s WorldNehemiah 1:1-3

For Discussion …• What is spiritual vision?• Where does it come from?

Are you visionary … orAre you stationary?

Deuteronomy 28

TheDivided

Kingdom( 930 B.C. )

Depicting the Israelites in captivity

Assyriancapture ofSamaria

Guarded the entrance to Sargon’s throne room

Sargon’sThroneRoom

Cuneiformof Sargon II

Jewish communities during the Exile:• In Egypt• In Babylon

What happened among the Jewish community during the exile in Babylon?

• The name “Jew”• Aramaic language• Rise of the synagogue• Rise of the scribes and Pharisees• Growth of Spiritual disciplines• Departure from pagan idolatry

Jewish communities during the Exile:• In Egypt• In Babylon• In Judah

Tomb of Cyrus the Great, Pasargadae (Iran)The Cyrus Cylinder

Jewish Return to the Land• 537: under Zerubbabel• Persian Kings:• Cambyses II• Darius I• Xerxes I• Artaxerxes I

Tomb ofArtaxerxes

For Discussion …• What spiritual vision are you operating under right now?