Nehemiah and Leadership
Nehemiah 1:1-11, 2:1-20
1.
Leaders consult with peers, which may include
family.
B.
Nehemiah inquired of the Jews who escaped and
survived captivity and Jerusalem (1:2)
3.
Leaders are concerned about foundational and
symbolic cities and/or geography.
4.
Leaders are cognizant of other’s
circumstances—(surviving and escaping).
C.
Nehemiah learned of the wall of Jerusalem
being broken and its gates burned. He wept, mourned, fasted and prayed for days
before God (1:3-5)
5.
Leaders understand the significance of
physical structures:
i. Spiritual –
The wall in those days signified the strength of one’s god. Thus a destroyed
and burnt wall reflected poorly upon God.
ii. Geographical
iii. Societal
iv. Political
v. Emotional
vi. Relational
6.
Leaders wholly, authentically invest themselves
in others’ lives—weeping and mourning for days
7.
Leaders submit themselves to God (Nehemiah
uses your servant (NASB) eight times in the first chapter in referring to
himself, the Jews and Moses)
8.
Leaders pray to God
9.
Leaders fast before God
10. Leaders seek
God in recognizing, acknowledging, and speaking God's awesomeness
12. Leaders
understand the consequences of disobedience to God.
13. Leaders understand
the significance of obedience to God.
14. Leaders seek
God’s attention when praying
15. Leaders Know
God’s Word, and Character--as much as humanly possible--which is a lifelong,
perpetual gaining and growing.
D.
Nehemiah confesses sins of sons of Israel and
himself (1:6-10)
16. Leaders
confess personal sins
17. Leaders
confess corporal sins
Summarization of Leadership Principles
Nehemiah serves in upper
management with King Artaxerxes, as his cupbearer. Consequently, a
self-centered leader would lack concern for others, especially those who lack
adequacy to aid one's secular gain.
Conversely, Nehemiah's God-centeredness
immediately illuminates as he inquires of his brother and peers regarding the
status of the Jews who survived and escaped captivity and about Jerusalem.
Nehemiah deeply grieves for days over the destruction of Jerusalem's wall
because of its spiritual and societal implications.
He recognizes this results
from disobedience to God, the vulnerability of the Jews without the wall, and
the symbolism of God appearing weak to society. Nehemiah responds with fasting
and prayer, along with confession of sins of him and the Jews as a whole.
He pleads
to God, reminding God of the covenant, including God's promised response of the
Jews obedience and disobedience. Nehemiah diligent planning included prayer
while speaking to the King, this also provided God's favor before the King.
Nehemiah responded to the King's questions with specific plans, including the
necessary approval letters of others in authority over his route to Judah.
Nehemiah's leadership displays the significance of loving God, including his
people (Deut. 6:5; Mt. 22:37-40). His leadership and vision relies on knowing
God's word, the necessity of obedience, preparation and prayer.
A few Admirable skills/principles noted before engaging the King
1.
Nehemiah is concerned about the
Jews and Jerusalem
a.
Nehemiah records specifics of
month, year, and location of inquiry (1:1)
b.
Nehemiah consults with peers and experts (1:2).
c.
“I asked them concerning the Jews
who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. (1:2)
2.
Nehemiah responds to destruction and
disobedience with grief for days, before God.
a.
Sat down
i. Lack of physical strength caused from deep mourning
ii. Displays long duration of events
b.
Wept
Running on Faith Ministry, Inc.
http://www.rickemeyer.com/running-on-faith.htm
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