Week 453 · Old Testament · about 2 minutes · 281 words
🍞 Nehemiah 4
Nehemiah 4 opens with these words: “But when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and was very indignant, and mocked the Jews.” The line to keep is Nehemiah 4:4: ““Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, give them up for a plunder in a land of captivity;” Carry the word “hear” from that verse into the rest of the day.
Nehemiah 4 is a real chapter from the Old Testament. It starts, “But when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and was very indignant, and mocked the Jews.” That is not a motto invented for a poster. It is the first sentence a family hears when this page is opened at night.
Keep going a little further. The chapter also says, “When the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”” Nehemiah 4 opens with these words: “But when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and was very indignant, and mocked the Jews.” The line to keep is Nehemiah 4:4: ““Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, give them up for a plunder in a land of captivity;” Carry the word “hear” from that verse into the rest of the day.
The line worth learning out loud is Nehemiah 4:4: ““Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, give them up for a plunder in a land of captivity;” If the rest of the chapter feels crowded, hold that one sentence until the room is quiet.
What happens first in Nehemiah 4? Then try this: Read ““Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, give them up for a…” once more. What does it show you about God? You do not have to finish every verse. You can close the book after the memory verse and still have read the Bible together.
““Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, give them up for a plunder in a land of captivity;”
Nehemiah 4:4 · Nehemiah 4
Say it
Practice Nehemiah 4:4
Tap the words in order. The blanks follow the verse from left to right.
“Hear,ourGod;forwearedespised;andturnbacktheirontheirownhead,upforaplunderinalandofcaptivity;
Talk about it
- What happens first in Nehemiah 4?
- Read ““Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, give them up for a…” once more. What does it show you about God?
- Who can you tell one sentence from Nehemiah 4 before bedtime?
Prayer
Father, thank you for Nehemiah 4. Help us remember Nehemiah 4:4 when we wake up, and teach us to notice you in an ordinary night. Amen.
Parent tip
If Nehemiah 4 is long, read Nehemiah 4:4 twice and ask one of the talk-about questions. The chapter page has every verse if you want more tomorrow.
Week 453 · the whole night
🍞 Nehemiah 4
Story, coloring page, word search, and the verse to trace.
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