Nehemiah (“Yahweh comforts”) – rebuild, restore, renew
Romans 15:4 (NLT) Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises.
1 Corinthians 10:11 (NLT) All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close. 

Introduction
Christchurch – April last year. Hadn’t been there since 1985. Magnificent cathedral; fine architecture; well laid out streets.
Christchurch’s central city and eastern suburbs were badly affected, with damage to buildings and infrastructure already weakened by the magnitude 7.1 Canterbury earthquake of 4 September 2010.
A 6.2 earthquake occurred in Christchurch on 22 February 2011 at 12:51 p.m. Earthquake was centred 10 kms SE of centre of Christchurch.
Earthquake caused widespread damage across Christchurch, killing 185.
The authorities/businesses had to find someway to get people back to the city. 80% of the CBD had been demolished. Re:START – a temporary mall built from shipping containers in Christchurch Central City in 61 days
Initially considered a short-term response to the lack of permanent buildings, Re:START was popular with locals and tourists alike and remained open for business for 5.5 yrs until January 2018.
Paul Lonsdale of the Central City Business Association. Threatened with legal action by organisers of a similar project in London. Lease agreement hassles. Government red tape. Transport deadlines.
Enter Nehemiah: In the Old Testament, God called a man named Nehemiah to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.
But was that it? Was that all that God wanted?
True, God called Nehemiah to rebuild the wall, but ultimately God wanted the people to repent and return to Him so that he could restore their hearts and rebuild their lives. And so, using the wall as a catalyst, God called Nehemiah to Rebuild, Restore, and Revive the people.

Except for the prophecy of Malachi, it gives us last clear look at Jewish state before reappears in light of the gospels.

The ark of the covenant was gone.
There was no shekinah glory in the temple (rebuilt under Zerubbabel).
Instead of being an independent state, with a magnificent capital and temple precinct, Judah had become a inconsequential province of Persia, while Jerusalem was but a half-rebuilt ruin.

Recurring Themes:
Prayer – bookended by prayer
The power of repentance –
Returning from exile – been disobedient as a nation/individuals
Conflict – internal and external – Nehemiah’s enemies failed, not so much as a result of the success of Nehemiah’s strategies, but because “God had brought their plot to nothing” (4:15).
Heart of God for marginalised and the downtrodden – justice
Serving in the public square – serving pagan world cupbearer, wall builder, governor.
Spiritual renewal – The spiritual revival came in response to Ezra’s reading of “the Book of the Law of Moses”
The good hand of God – as capable a leader as he was, Nehemiah’s work is eclipsed by God, who orchestrated the reconstruction of the walls in spite of much opposition and many setbacks; the “good hand of God” theme carries through the book of Nehemiah (1:10; 2:8, 18).