Nehemiah 4:1-23
Q.1. Why would the enemies be opposed to the rebuilding of the wall? How did they oppose the Jews? What do you think of Nehemiah’s prayer? – (Neh.4:1-9)
Judah’s enemies had their own vested interests as leaders and didn’t want any rivals. They were from opposing religious interests. Sanballat was from Samaria, where they rejected the primacy of Jerusalem. Tobiah was an Ammonite. They who were sworn enemies of the Jews. There were Philistines from Ashdod, and a group of Arabs (Neh.4:1-3, 7-8 c.f. 1 Sam.5:6; 6:17; Jn.4:20). They ridiculed the builders, and – All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it (Neh.4:8). Nehemiah was so sure of his calling and mission, that he prayed – 4 Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders (Neh.4:4-5). The truth is that God had guarded Israel as the Apple of His Eye (Dt.32:10). Nehemiah did more than pray – But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night (Neh.4:9). This is a wonderful example of how God’s work succeeds by a combination of prayer and practical action.
Q.2. How did the enemies oppose the people? How did Nehemiah encourage the workers? What strategies did he put in place to complete the task? – (Neh.4:9-23)
As happens with any huge project, there was some discouragement (Neh.4:10). This was seized on by the enemy, and they never let up threatening the workers with death (Neh.4:11-12). These events only served to redouble Nehemiah’s efforts to build, and to plan proper protection for the workers – then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows (Neh.4:13). When he saw that some were overtaken with fear, Nehemiah reminded them to keep their focus – … 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 houses (Neh.4:14). He adopted some unique strategies – 17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. 18 As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me (Neh.17-18). So they could protect each other, Jeremiah ordered the leaders – At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us (Neh.4:20). They set guards within the walls of Jerusalem and slept in their clothes (Neh.4:21-23). This was an opportunity of a lifetime and required unusual commitment.