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Nehemiah Heard News of JerusalemDear Parents,
Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project® for Kids; we have certainly come a long way together! From creation and the fall all the way through the Babylonian exile, God’s promises stand firm. This unit, kids will continue with the story of the returning exiles, now known as Jews—people from the kingdom of Judah. Two or three million Jews had originally been deported, but only a remnant—50,000 people—returned after King Cyrus gave them permission to go home. Nehemiah’s story takes place after Ezra led a second group of exiles back to Judah. Nehemiah was a Jew living in Persia. He served as the king’s cupbearer, a position of great trust. Nehemiah received word about God’s people who had returned to Judah. They were in trouble and living in shame; the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, and the city gates were burned. They lived in fear, unprotected from their enemies. Nehemiah sat down and wept. Nehemiah fasted and prayed for days. He remembered God’s promise to His people. Their disobedience led to exile, but if they turned back to the Lord, God promised to restore their fortunes and give His people a home. (See Deut. 30:1-10.) The king noticed Nehemiah’s sadness, and Nehemiah was afraid. After saying a quick prayer, Nehemiah explained the plight of his city. The king granted him permission to return to Jerusalem. When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he encouraged the people to rebuild the walls and stood confidently against opposition. Nehemiah trusted that God would keep His promise to protect His people and give them a home. When we trust in Jesus, we have a home in heaven with God. Jesus obeyed God perfectly. He died on the cross and rose again so we can have a home with Him forever in heaven. |
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Nehemiah Heard News of Jerusalem
Nehemiah 1–2
Nehemiah (nee huh MIGH uh) was a Jew, one of God’s people. God’s people had lived in Babylon for many years until King Cyrus let them go home. Some of God’s people went home to Judah, but some of them stayed in Babylon. Soon, the king of Persia took over Babylon. He became the new king. Nehemiah stayed and worked for the king of Persia.
One day, some men came from Judah. Nehemiah asked, “How are God’s people doing in Jerusalem?”
The men had bad news. “The people are in trouble. They are ashamed. The walls around Jerusalem are broken down, and the gates have been burned down.”
When Nehemiah heard this, he sat down and cried. Nehemiah prayed and fasted for several days. “Yahweh, God,” he prayed, “let Your eyes be open and Your ears hear my prayer. We have sinned against you. Please remember Your words to Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. But if you return to Me and obey Me, I will gather you from the ends of the earth and bring you to the place I have chosen.’ Please, Lord, hear my prayer.”
Nehemiah went back to serving the king, but he was still sad. The king noticed Nehemiah’s mood and asked Nehemiah, “What’s wrong? Why are you sad?”
Nehemiah was afraid; no one was supposed to be sad around the king.
Nehemiah told the king, “The city where my ancestors are from is in trouble. It is in ruins, and the gates of the city have been burned down.”
“What do you want to do?” the king asked.
Before Nehemiah answered the king, he prayed. Then Nehemiah said, “Please send me to Jerusalem so I can rebuild the city.”
The king agreed to send Nehemiah to Jerusalem. He gave Nehemiah letters to keep him safe as he traveled. If anyone tried to stop him, Nehemiah could show that he had the king’s permission to go to Jerusalem. Also, the king made sure Nehemiah had wood to help rebuild the city gates and wall. He even sent some men from his army to protect Nehemiah.
Nehemiah arrived safely in Jerusalem. He didn’t tell anyone why he was there. After three days, Nehemiah got up in the middle of the night and went to look at the city’s walls. Then he told the people there, “We are in trouble. The city is ruined, and the gates have been burned down. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall.”
Nehemiah told the people how God had helped him, and he told them everything the king had said and done. The people said, “Let’s start building,” and so they did.
Christ Connection: Nehemiah trusted that God would keep His promise to protect His people and give them a home. When we trust in Jesus, we have a home in heaven with God. Jesus obeyed God perfectly. He died
on the cross and rose again so we can have a home with Him forever in heaven.
Nehemiah 1–2
Nehemiah (nee huh MIGH uh) was a Jew, one of God’s people. God’s people had lived in Babylon for many years until King Cyrus let them go home. Some of God’s people went home to Judah, but some of them stayed in Babylon. Soon, the king of Persia took over Babylon. He became the new king. Nehemiah stayed and worked for the king of Persia.
One day, some men came from Judah. Nehemiah asked, “How are God’s people doing in Jerusalem?”
The men had bad news. “The people are in trouble. They are ashamed. The walls around Jerusalem are broken down, and the gates have been burned down.”
When Nehemiah heard this, he sat down and cried. Nehemiah prayed and fasted for several days. “Yahweh, God,” he prayed, “let Your eyes be open and Your ears hear my prayer. We have sinned against you. Please remember Your words to Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. But if you return to Me and obey Me, I will gather you from the ends of the earth and bring you to the place I have chosen.’ Please, Lord, hear my prayer.”
Nehemiah went back to serving the king, but he was still sad. The king noticed Nehemiah’s mood and asked Nehemiah, “What’s wrong? Why are you sad?”
Nehemiah was afraid; no one was supposed to be sad around the king.
Nehemiah told the king, “The city where my ancestors are from is in trouble. It is in ruins, and the gates of the city have been burned down.”
“What do you want to do?” the king asked.
Before Nehemiah answered the king, he prayed. Then Nehemiah said, “Please send me to Jerusalem so I can rebuild the city.”
The king agreed to send Nehemiah to Jerusalem. He gave Nehemiah letters to keep him safe as he traveled. If anyone tried to stop him, Nehemiah could show that he had the king’s permission to go to Jerusalem. Also, the king made sure Nehemiah had wood to help rebuild the city gates and wall. He even sent some men from his army to protect Nehemiah.
Nehemiah arrived safely in Jerusalem. He didn’t tell anyone why he was there. After three days, Nehemiah got up in the middle of the night and went to look at the city’s walls. Then he told the people there, “We are in trouble. The city is ruined, and the gates have been burned down. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall.”
Nehemiah told the people how God had helped him, and he told them everything the king had said and done. The people said, “Let’s start building,” and so they did.
Christ Connection: Nehemiah trusted that God would keep His promise to protect His people and give them a home. When we trust in Jesus, we have a home in heaven with God. Jesus obeyed God perfectly. He died
on the cross and rose again so we can have a home with Him forever in heaven.