This sets the stage for the events of Nehemiah. Sometime after the Jews began to return from Babylon to the land of Israel, a man named Nehemiah caught the eye of King Artaxerxes, the emperor of Persia. Obviously, being a cupbearer was infinitely more important than it sounds. 1:11b), attests to a cupbearer at court as late as the Persian period. Nehemiah Biography. Categories: Nehemiah. 12). Nehemiah inquired about the condition of the city and the people. How did one become a cupbearer? - 22153481 s2102644 s2102644 03/10/2021 History Middle School answered Nehemiah The king respected Nehemiah, so when Nehemiah asked him for a favor, the king was willing to grant it. A God who hears His peoples prayers. He was one of the three leaders that were sent from Persia on a special mission to rebuild Jerusalem. Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah, is the Jewish patriot whose life is recorded in the Biblical work named after him. A nation is now much less than it should, by lying in ruins. Lessons from the life of a stalwart man of God. This high position Nehemiah was willing to give up for the sake of God's people. The vigilant King noticed that Nehemiah was sad. Children to -: Children to know that having great ideas inspires us and others around us. EARLY CHURCH. Verses 1:1 7:73a: Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and successfully leads a 52 day rebuilding of the wall project (compare 6:15). to repair the wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah prayed. When, several years later, Nehemiah asked the Persian King for permission to return to Zion and rebuild Jerusalem, the Queen is sitting by him (Nehemiah 2:6), and she influenced the Kings decision to approve Nehemiahs request. Ezra helped to bring spiritual revival, and Nehemiah worked to build the city and bring about political, moral, and social reform. The Persians had taken over the kingdom of Babylon. But the cupbearer will be freed from prison. What happens if you fast for 5days? After hearing about the sad state of affairs in Judah, Nehemiah acquired the kings permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and its fortifications. The baker, unfortunately, will receive a death sentence from Pharaoh. But they understood trusting God for protection differently. Nehemiah himself didnt face any of the problems the people of Jerusalem faced. This story opens in the imperial palace of Artaxerxes, Persian Emperor in the fifth century B.C. Acts 7:60. Before he set out on the project, Nehemiah prayed. Stories from Elsie Egermeier's Bible Story Book. The moral and spiritual reform is a slow and painful process. Answer: prayed to the God of heaven. read more. Nehemiah had an important position in the court of Artaxerxes I (465-424 BC), king of Persia: I was cupbearer to the king (Nehemiah 1:11). He became the kings most trusted advisor. The cupbearer was considered to be a very high position because of the direct access to the king. In this fascinating account, Nehemiah, the Jewish cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes [1], successfully petitions to take a group back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls after hearing they are in disrepair. You may not always have a key task to perform, but you will always have a task. As with the books of Ezra and Esther, named after his contemporaries, the book recounts selected events of his leadership and was titled after him. (Neh. 3 They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble Watch and pray and work characterized this man. Nehemiah knew that God was a Promise-keeping God who keeps His covenant of love (Neh 1:5). Nehemiah had to appear cheerful and confident at all times in the Kings presence. ( Genesis 40:1 Genesis 40:21; 41:9) Nehemiah 1-2, 4. Fact: Cupbearer to the king. Favor before the king for unique service. Cupbearer to the king may sound like a lowly position, but it was actually considered a high office. The King trusted Nehemiah and gave him a very important job which was to make sure that nobody poisoned or did anything bad to the King. How did Nehemiah become cupbearer? Nehemiah was a powerful man in the Kingdom of Persia. Jewish leader who oversaw the reconstruction of Jerusalem in the mid-5th century BC after being released from captivity by the Persian monarch Artaxerxes I, also known as Nehemiah or Nehemias (flourished 5th century BC). Title: Nehemiah (Yahweh has comforted), is a famous cupbearer, who never appears in Scripture outside of this book. Is Nehemiahs wall still standing? intercession Additional instances of Paul, for God's people the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the LORD. Verses 1:1 2:20: This section details how Nehemiah became the governor of Judah (compare 5:14; 8:9; 10:1; 12:26). Nehemiah is a notable example of a cupbearer. In a case like that of Nehemiah, a cupbearer for royalty was not just a personal servant but also a trusted confidant and advisor. And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries working together as a priest and a governor. A cupbearer may appear to be a mundane position, somewhat like the job of a butler or maid. C) Lets meet the man : RD V.1-11. The King's Cupbearer and His Story. The cupbearer explained that his sadness resulted from word he had received from fellow Jews who had returned from exile to Jerusalem. T hough no author is claimed in the book of Nehemiah it is believed that Ezra or Nehemiah wrote the book. Nehemiah was very sad. 2. how to become a person of vision. And Jerusalem is a symbol of the city of God, God's dwelling place and the center of life for the world. Nehemiah didnt become effective in prayer because he had only big matters to pray about. Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah permission to go to Jerusalem, which was then a subdivision of the Persian government. Answered By: Benjamin Patterson Date: created: Jul 16 2021. Nehemiah is one of the most overlooked of Old Testament heroes. Because of his constant presence with the king, the cupbearer often became a person of unusual influence and counsel. Nehemiah was up against an impossible task. God did not call us to make a living, He called us to make a difference. He held an honored and influential position, that of cupbearer to Artaxerxes, king of Persia. He became the mighty monarchs personal cupbearerthe man who tasted the emperors wine and guarded his sleeping quarters. The report comes to him of the despicable and destructive state of his beloved city. Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I at a time when Judah in Palestine had been partly repopulated by Jews released from their exile in Babylonia. A God of Covenant of Love. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally combined into a single book. This meant that he would test the food and drink for poison before it was served to the king. He must have been a man of wisdom and discernment. The Story of Nehemiah. To read the story, click the "Next Page" button below the picture. Mordecai had one of service, Luke was a penman, and the boy with seven loaves had a task to perform. Nehemiah is the account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. The cupbearer explained that his sadness resulted from word he had received from fellow Jews who had returned from exile to Jerusalem. As was true in the courts of many ancient kings, it was forbidden to be sad in the presence of the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Part 1. Both were godly, prayerful leaders. 1. In this short book, we have 14 of his prayers. Nehemiah stands before the king. The answer will be shown in 60 seconds. What did Daniel and his friends eat? The two leaders made an effective team. Any change in his demeanour would raise suspicions in the King and incur his wrath. 1. He was the official cupbearer for King Artaxerxes. ( Neh 2:9-10) Arrival and opposition. Nehemiah, one of the Hebrew exiles, occupied a position of influence and honor in the Persian court. But perhaps the most tragic of all happens in Genesis 40. JUDEA AND SAMARIA PHASE When the 490 years (Daniel 9) came to an end, Israel sealed its fate by persecuting the church. This Month's Featured Stories Originally, the function of a cupbearer was to taste (either for quality or for poison or for both), carry, and serve wine to his master. Nehemiah had this job Nehemiah There. April 18, 2021 NEHEMIAH 2: 11-20 INTRODUCTION: The words rebuild, restore, and reform would all indicate the need for improvement. PREPARING TO BUILD: The project to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem fails and they are torn down again. 1:11b), attests to a cupbearer at court as late as the Persian period. There 4 things that I want us to consider today about Nehemiahs Character that made him a man God would use [1 st He was a man of humility] A) The final phrase of chapter one gives to us an insight into Nehemiahs great humility I WAS THE KINGS CUPBEARER 1. Nehemiah 2:20 Nehemiah 1-4. It is certain that Nehemiah did not ask in haste but carefully bided his time, constantly praying to God to grant the proper opening" (Expositor's Bible Commentary, note on Nehemiah 2:1). 2) one of the 12 heads of the people who returned from exile with. Now, it should be noted, that such a prayer is effective only when The king also provided an escort and wrote letters to governors of provinces through which Nehemiah would pass, giving the cupbearer the authority to receive supplies from the governors.21-Nov-1998. Such a position allowed him to sit at the right hand of the king, as he had to drink the king's cup to test it for poison. Children to help others with their great ideas Children to become doers of great things We think, glorified waiter, but they would have thought, the person the king trusts with his life.. 1. Nehemiah believed in watching and working. Nehemiah makes the point that he had never been sad when appearing before the King (Esther 4:2). As cupbearer, one of Nehemiah's duties was to guard against anyone poisoning something the king might drink.Nehemiah 2:2 suggests that Artaxerxes looked upon Nehemiah with some degree of respect or, at least, concern since he asked the cupbearer why he looked sad In the 20th year of Artaxerxes I (445 or 444 BC), Nehemiah was cup-bearer to the king. Nehemiah served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes; he was an important personal servant. The cupbearers job was to taste any wine brought to the king, in case it was poisoned. He sat down and cried. Jerusalem became a functioning society and culture again under the oversight of Nehemiah. Posted on October 22, 2019 by Claude Mariottini. We find Nehemiahs prayer right away in chapter one. He held an honored and influential position, that of cupbearer to Artaxerxes, king of Persia. JERUSALEM PHASE After receiving the Holy Spirit, the Church grew quickly, but it functioned as a sect of Judaism, consisting of Jews only. The book is a first person account of the events from the perspective of Nehemiah. Zerubbabel. And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Hes just received news from a friend that the survivors of the Babylonian captivity are in great distress and reproach. The walls of Jerusalem are broken down and its gates burned. Verses 1:1 7:73a: Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and successfully leads a 52 day rebuilding of the wall project (compare 6:15). Nehemiah knew most of these facts before this. The Talmud sees Hamans decree as a punishment from Heaven to these Jews. His job was to drink the kings wine to make sure it wasnt poisonous! For I was the kings cupbearer (Nehemiah 1:11). Now I was the cupbearer to the king. Verses 1:1 2:20: This section details how Nehemiah became the governor of Judah (compare 5:14; 8:9; 10:1; 12:26). Think about how scary that job would be. 2 Although the sages had forbidden the drinking of gentile wine, Nehemiah was given a special dispensation to do so due to his distinguished position. He mourned and fasted and prayed. intercession Additional instances of Nehemiah, in behalf of judah and jerusalem. 3) son of Azbuk and ruler of the half part of Beth-zur, who helped. Book of Nehemiah. It is in Hebrew , Nemyh, "Yah comforts". At last an opportunity presents itself when the king asks him about his downcast demeanor. Nehemiah worked for the Persian king name Artaxerxes. A cupbearer was someone who served the king all his drinks and had to taste them before giving them to the king to ensure that they were not poisoned. He was a clever and composed person and was appointed to be the cupbearer 1 of King Darius. Nehemiah was a powerful man in the Kingdom of Persia. Nehemiah was an excellent cupbearer because he trusted and honored God in all that he did, and he worked diligently. Nehemiah is the central figure of the Book of Nehemiah, which describes his work in rebuilding Jerusalem during the Second Temple period.He was governor of Persian Judea under Artaxerxes I of Persia (465424 BC). Nehemiahs Prayer. Nehemiah served as the kings cupbearer (Nehemiah 1:11), which evidently put him in a position to speak to the king and request favors from him. He was more than his title implies; the role of the cupbearer was that of a kings closest aid; his confidant, and counselor. Nehemiah 1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. Sometimes we become content with being saved but to never make a difference. Artaxerxes Nebuchadrezzar Darius Sanballat . Nehemiah adds this point to show us the providential nature of this episode. He gained the favor of the king, traveled across the world, rallied the Jews, worked through mockery and threats, and built a wall in 52 days! He therefore had to be willing to die for the king if necessary. The name is pronounced / n i m a / or / n i h m a / in English. Besides certifying that wine served to Artaxerxes was safe, Nehemiah was a confidant and counselor to the king. In 464 BC, Artaxerxes, a Persian king, ascended to the throne. 2:1.) They will serve before kings. Such was the case with Nehemiah. Nehemiah understands that he is bowing before the great heart-changer, and so he prays, When I serve the king his wine today, make him pleased with me and have him do what I ask (1:11). The news tears Nehemiahs heart apart, so he begins fasting and praying to God. Esther is Artaxerxes stepmother. The office of cupbearer brought Nehemiah into close and confidential contact with the king. After pouring his heart out in prayer Nehemiah abruptly makes the following statement, For I was the kings cupbearer (1:11). All that we know about him from contemporary sources is found in this book; and so the readers of this article are referred to the Book of Nehemiah for the best and fullest account of his words and deeds. Also to know is, how did Nehemiah become Cupbearer? A case in point: Nehemiah was very nervous about meeting with the wealthiest, most powerful man on the planet. Now I was cupbearer to the king. Nehemiah was a cupbearer who was successful. What is in the Daniel Fast? Both Ezra and Nehemiah were seeking to be faithful in their labors. 1. In this book we see Nehemiah in his function as the cupbearer for the King of Babylon. He obviously would hear much of what the king would hear, and would serve as a source of objective wisdom. Nehemiah continues on in his community organizing by considering his resources. Nehemiahs work as a cupbearer is a good reminder to us today that God cares how we work. And when, as a veteran statesman, he turned his focus to the rebuilding of old Jerusalem and the exacting of religious reforms, nothing and no one was allowed to stand in his way. 1. The kings cupbearer did more than simply serve the king his wine. At the time Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king in a distant land. Nehemiah was born to Jewish parents in Persia during their exile from Jerusalem. Nehemiah's words, "For I was cupbearer to the king" (Neh. In an individual life, then, the rebuilding of the walls would be a picture of re-establishing the strength of that life. The Temple at Jerusalem had been rebuilt, but the Jewish community there was dispirited and defenseless against its non-Jewish neighbours. Artaxerxes, king of Persia, trusted Nehemiah with his life. An Aramaic inscription of the ninth century B.C.E. The cupbearer was a trusted person at the royal courts and in the nobles' and princes' households. Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king's letters. In his prayer, he remembered who God was: A great and awesome God. Image source She must have been influential in Nehemiahs appointment to such a high office.