“The Bones of Success” - Nehemiah 1

The word “bones” is often used figuratively in language and writing. Here are a few examples: 1. A bone of contention —I read that this saying is derived from the idea that two dogs might fight over the same bone making that bone, “a bone of contention.” 2. The Bare Bones — This means the very heart/crux of a matter; the part left when all the peripheral parts have been stripped away. 3. I have a bone to pick with you — Apparently,

this means you need to get to the bottom of something with someone else. 4. Make no bones about it — I read what I could on this one and it has something to do with finding bones in your soup. Honestly, I could not quite make the connection. I'll make no bones about it, you probably need to look this one up to get to the bare bones of the matter. If you choose not to however, i'll have no bone of contention to pick with you.

This Sunday I would like to use bones figuratively as well. As our graduating seniors head out the door, ready for a new chapter in their lives, I want to share with them (and you) the bones needed to build a successful life. Most all of these bones can be witnessed in the life of the successful leader Nehemiah.

In 597 BC., after a three month siege of Jerusalem, the Israelites were defeated by the Babylonians; Jerusalem was destroyed, and the inhabitants exiled to Babylon. This “Babylonian Captivity” lasted seventy years. Toward the end of that seventy year exile, Nehemiah, a Jewish exile who served in the royal palace as Cupbearer to the king, received a report from travelers from Jerusalem on the state of Jerusalem and the remnant living there.

This report both broke his heart and inspired an amazing mission — the rebuilding and repopulating of Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 1). The book of Nehemiah describes theses “Bones of Success.”

Every great mission begins with a dream, a vision, a call, a mission. Great things are born out of moments of inspiration. This was true for Nehemiah as well. When he