The Bible is God’s words given to us. His words are without
any error. When you study using other resources, you are able to glean from the
revelation that has been given to others regarding their personal relationship
with the Holy Spirit and their Bible Study. Then, the Lord can show you what he
wants to reveal to you as an individual. Reading Nehemiah, I learned a lot
about effective Christian leadership and how God can use any willing servant
regardless of their background. Through further study, the Lord unveiled a
whole other layer to my study of Nehemiah. I have previously done a post on the
importance of Biblical names, but there were just so many in Nehemiah that I
had to share. They are all focused around our Yahweh (literally means “I AM”
please see previous Biblical names post) and are not only pertinent to the text
but to our application today. So here they are!
(All definitions taken from The Expositor's Bible Commentary)
1. Asaph: “Yahweh has gathered” This was the man that was
the head of the forest where Nehemiah was authorized to go and get lumber to
rebuild the wall and city. Yahweh had gathered his remnant together to begin
this work
Application: We are the body of Christ and must be unified
to be effective. I Cor. 12:20 “But now are they many members,
yet but one body.” The chapter talks about spiritual gifts and how we
are to be one body unified in Christ to accomplish His will. All members of the
body are necessary.
Application: James 5:16 “Confess
your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man availeth much.” Allow the Spirit to exude his healing powers
to others through you.
Hasshub: “Yahweh has considered” He knows you and
comprehends what is going on in your life.
Application: Psalm
31:7 “I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known
my soul in adversities;”
Hadiah: “Yahweh is splendor” splendor: magnificent
appearance or grandeur; The Lord is so great and awesome that we can not
understand it!
Application: I
Timothy 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise
God, be honour and glory for ever and
ever. Amen.”
Abijah: “Yahweh is my Father” Application: Romans 8: 15 “For
ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received
the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father.” Abba is a very
endearing term meaning “daddy” He is our Father and He will never let us down.
Hoshea: “May Yahweh save!” Exodus 14:13 “And Moses said unto
the people, Fear ye not, stand
still, and see the salvation of the Lord,
which he will shew to you to day: for the
Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.” His salvation is sure and available
to all who ask! It is only through his power that salvation is accomplished!
Pelatiah: “Yahweh delivers” Application: 2 Kings 17:39 “But
the Lord your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all
your enemies.” Your relationship with the Lord must be right- He will deliver
you from temptation- trust in Him and allow him to purify you!
Ahiah: “My brother is Yahweh” Application: Exodus 33:11 “And
the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man
speaketh unto his friend. And he
turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young
man, departed not out of the tabernacle.” We are a part of the family of God! Brother and friend are interchangeable when
talking about the family of Christ- He is as close as a family member and we
can have this level of intimacy if we will just allow Him to do His work in us!
Anan: “Yahweh has manifested himself” application: 2
Corinthians 4:11 “For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus'
sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in
our mortal flesh.” When people look at us, they should see and be in awe of
Jesus, not us! We must allow God to put death to our old man so that He can
make Himself manifest to others through us!
Chapter 11
Athaiah: “Yahweh has shown Himself preeminent” Application: Col. 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the
church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things
he might have the preeminence.” The
Lord is to be first in our lives- it says in the Bible that our love for God
should be so preeminent that in comparison we hate our family members. He will
always be in control and everything is done for His glory.
Hazaiah: “Yahweh has seen” Application: Prov. 15:3 “ The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
beholding the evil and the good.” He saw and judged Israel for
her sin and He blesses them for their good. The Lord will chastise His own in
order to bring him back to Himself. He blesses the righteous and those who
delight in His way will be given the desires of their hearts.
Joed: “Yahweh is witness” Romans 8: 16 “The Spirit itself
beareth witness with our spirit,
that we are the children of God:” The presence of the Lord via the Holy spirit
bears witness of our being a part of the family of God
Kolaiah: “Voice of Yahweh” Application: I Sam. 3:10 “And the
Lord came, and stood, and called as at other
times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” Samuel did not know the voice of the Lord at first. Are you
acknowledging the Lordship of God in your life? If so you will hear his voice.
Pelaliah: “Yahweh has interposed” Interposed: to intervene,
intercede Application: I Tim. 2:5 “ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus;” Jesus Christ has become our literal mercy seat meaning he intercedes
for us as His child to remove our sins and make us perfect before God the
Father (please see Mercy seat blog post) - Satan is the great accuser while
Jesus is the great intercessor
Ahzai: “Yahweh has grasped” Application: John 10: 28 “And I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man
pluck them out of my hand.” The
Lord is our sure foundation- no matter our circumstances, trust God- He has a
firm hold of you as His child
Mica (short of Michael): “Who is like Yahweh?” Application:
Exodus 8:10 “And he said, To
morrow. And he said, Be it
according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord our God.” God is the only true God.
Abda: “slave of Yahweh” Application: I Cor. 7: 22 “For he
that is called in the Lord, being a servant,
is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's
servant.” The Lord frees us from
the bondage of sin so that we can be willing servant just as Jesus demonstrated
on the earth. In order to be great in God’s kingdom, one must be a willing,
humble servant. This is Lordship demonstrated in our lives.
Zerah: “Yahweh has shown forth” Again, see the others which
are more specific. The Lord will show up in His time and way. Our job is to
allow Him to work in us and trust Him to accomplish His perfect will.
Chapter 12
Hoshaiah: “Yahweh has saved” Application: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Anyone is welcome- He is waiting for you!
What a blessing to end with the reminder
that Yahweh has saved. The people of the OT did not have Jesus’ sacrifice yet,
but trusted Him to send their Savior as He promised. They learned the proper
relationship and position they have with God. They learned how the Lord worked
through His unified body of believers with servant-leadership to accomplish His
perfect will. When will you submit to the Lord so that He can lead you to your
wall to build?
