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Nehemiah: A Picture of the Intersection of Faith and Action... (5 of 9)
We Prayed & Posted A Guard!
Nehemiah 4:1-23
Nehemiah tells the thrilling story of Jerusalem’s walls being transformed from rubble to completely restored in just 52 days despite persistent opposition.
The account of Jerusalem’s walls being rebuilt is a thrilling picture of God bringing a great victory. The NIV titles chapter 4 – Opposition to Rebuilding.
Nehemiah 4:6 (ESV) –
“So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”
The Lord’s work often faces opposition; it should be expected. In fact, the presence of opposition is often evidence of God’s blessing. Resistance and difficulty are often the strongest right before great victory. Nehemiah faced ridicule, discouragement and serious threats with deep faith in the Lord that led to courageous actions.
Nehemiah 4:9 (ESV) –
“And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.”
Nehemiah 4:1-6 (ESV) –
“Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”
1. Those who opposed the reconstruction of Jerusalem’s walls attempted to demoralize the workers through mockery and ridicule.
Nehemiah 2:10 (ESV) –
“But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.”
With completed walls, Jerusalem would be able to resist Sanballat’s actions as a regional bully. So, he sought to discourage the workers and stop the rebuilding.
Nehemiah 4:2 (ESV) –
“What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?”
They intended to remind the workers of the massive scope of the project and get them to think – It’s too difficult. We’ll never succeed. It’s futile.
Nehemiah 4:2 (ESV) –
“Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?”
Nehemiah 4:4-5 (ESV) –
“Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.”
These enemies were fighting against God and provoking Him to anger. Instead of getting drawn into a war of words Nehemiah gives the situation to God in prayer.
The insults could have sown enough discouragement to get the workers to stop working. They could also have become an angering distraction. Both of these possibilities lead off course – pursuing getting back at the bullies would draw them away from the project just as discouragement would.
Nehemiah didn’t give in to the opposition and didn’t allow his enemies to distract him. He gave it all to God in prayer.
Psalm 94:1-2 (ESV) –
“O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!”
Psalm 137:7-8 (ESV) –
“Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us!”
Romans 12:19 (ESV) –
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Matthew 5:44 (ESV) –
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...”
As followers of Jesus our desire should be for people to come to repentance and faith not everlasting destruction. That said, I also know that carrying around passionate feelings and desires for vengeance is both common and extremely dangerous.
Nehemiah’s prayer is deeply honest and very raw. It’s right to be completely honest with God about our angry feelings and to give the situation to Him. We need to give our desires for vengeance to God and let Him deal with it.
Nehemiah 4:6 (ESV) –
“So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”
Nehemiah 4:7-15 (ESV) –
“But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
“In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.”
2. Realizing their campaign of mockery was unsuccessful these enemies became even angrier and began to violently plot against Jerusalem.
Insults didn’t slow progress on the wall, it came quickly. At this point Jerusalem was surrounded by enemies on all sides.
Nehemiah 4:7-8 (ESV) –
“But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.”
Nehemiah 4:11 (ESV) –
“They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”
Often, immediately before great victory, opposition significantly intensifies.
Nehemiah 4:9 (ESV) –
“And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.”
They responded in prayer and with common-sense precautions. Prayer and action go together.
Ephesians 6:18 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“...praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints...”
Nehemiah 4:13 (ESV) –
“...in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.”
Nehemiah 4:14 (ESV) –
“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome...”
Ask – Do I see trouble through the lens of God’s greatness and glory? Or – Do I focus on the trouble? How we look at trouble makes a huge difference.
Nehemiah 4:15 (ESV) –
“When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.”
The reason they were not destroyed by a surprise attack is because God foiled the plot against them. The deliverance and credit go to the Lord.
3. The opposition, the constant threat of attack and the scope of the project led to discouragement and fear among the workers.
Nehemiah 4:10 (ESV) –
“The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”
Widespread discouragement was talking hold. Do you know how that feels? The reality of persistent ridicule, the threat of attack and exhausting work had begun to take a toll.
Nehemiah 4:14 (ESV) –
“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome...”
How do we avoid giving way to fear? We fix our gaze on the greatness and goodness of God. Trusting God and facing the opposition, they continued rebuilding.
Nehemiah 4:16-23 (ESV) –
“From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
“So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.”
Half the people worked on the wall and the other half were armed and ready to fight the moment attacked. Those who carried supplies, carried them with one hand and had a weapon in the other.
Nehemiah 4:23 (NIV) –
“...each had his weapon, even when he went for water.”
Nehemiah 4:19-20 (ESV) –
“The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
If one area was attacked the trumpet would sound and everyone was to rally to the sound!
Nehemiah 4:20 (ESV) –
“Our God will fight for us.”
Exodus 14:14 (ESV) –
“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Expect opposition because a spiritual battle rages all around us all the time.
Sometimes we wrongly expect that if we’re doing the Lord’s work it will be smooth-sailing. We might hope for this but we ought not to expect it.
Behind the opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem is a much larger spiritual battle, this is part of the story of God sending His Son, the Messiah to rescue us from our sins. Jesus, the Savior walked the streets of Jerusalem!
Meet opposition with prayer. Avoid being pulled off course.
The project could have been derailed by discouragement leading to giving up. It also could have been pulled off course by getting caught up in a desire to fight back.
Faith and action go together. Prayerfully trusting God leads to bold actions.
Nehemiah was an excellent leader but before that he was a man of prayer and a prayerful dependence on God leads to taking the right actions at the right times.