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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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NEHEMIAH’S
REACTION TO OPPOSITION (Pt. 1) (Nehemiah Prays
& Works) (Neh 4:1‑9) 5/16/10 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. NEHEMIAH IS SCORNED AND
RIDICULED BY HIS ENEMIES (1‑3) A. In chapter 3, Nehemiah
outlined for us the work on the wall of the city. He systematically stationed
workers on particular parts of the wall until completion. Chapter 4 revisits
the situations going on during the building of the wall. It especially includes
the attempt of his nemesis, Sanballat, who attempted to discourage and come
against the rebuilding of the Jerusalem. It is here that we begin to see more
of the leadership skills of Nehemiah, as he responds to opposition that would
thwart the work of God. B. Sanballat is reintroduced in the narrative
(4:1‑2). His name is mentioned some ten times (Neh. 2:10, 19; 4:1, 7;
6:1, 2, 5, 12, 14; 13:28) and makes him a key character in Nehemiah.
Sanballat, who already mocked Nehemiah and the Jews (2:19), heard that the
Jews were continuing to rebuild the walls. His initial reaction was that he
“furious and very angry.” “Furious” (charah) means to burn or kindle
with anger and is used of both God (Is 5:25) and man (Ps 124:3). “Anger” (kaas)
means to be very vexed and provoked to anger. Sanballat probably believed he
controlled Jerusalem and it inhabitants to some degree. While the walls were
in ruins, the people were dejected and defenseless. However, all that was
changing with the arrival of Nehemiah. C. Nehemiah records that Sanballat scorned
and ridiculed the Jews. This scorn and ridicule was not to be taken lightly
because he spoke to his associates and the “army” of Samaria. (The NASB
translates chayil as “wealthy men”, which is possible, but is probably
better translated “army” as in Ne 2:9; 11:6, 14; cp. also NET, NIV, and KJV).
He was no doubt “poisoning the well” concerning the Jews and appears to be
willing to stop at nothing. D. His cutting scorn and ridicule began with
a personal attack on the inner strength (“feeble,” amêlal ‑ weak and
withered; a woman who no longer is able to bear children ‑ 1 Sam. 2:5,
a fisherman whose trade fails ‑ Is. 19:8, and inhabitants of a defeated
land ‑ Hos. 4:3) and the outer strength of the Jews (“Are they
going to restore it for themselves?”). He mocked them and God as he
thought they would surely not complete the wall and present offerings to the
God who helped them. He implied it would take forever (“in a day?”) for the
Jews to rebuild the wall. The very stones with which they would rebuild were
ruined by the fire. E. As is the case with ridicule, it is
contagious and Tobiah the Ammonite chimed right in. He mocked that even a
fox, being one of the smallest and lightest (aprox. 5‑10lbs) wild animals
could knock down the wall with its weight. II. NEHEMIAH’S FIRST RESPONSE
TO OPPOSITION WAS PRAYER (4‑5) A. Nehemiah, who already
showed us that he was a man of prayer when he approached the King and planned
for the rebuild (1:4, 6, 11; 2:4), utilizes prayer in his response to
opposition. He prayed to God because this was God’s work of whom He was
divinely called to play a part. Nehemiah prayed because he was dependent upon
God from beginning to end. Believers would due well to follow Nehemiah’s example. B. First Nehemiah acknowledged before God
that those who were called to rebuild Jerusalem were “despised” (buzah ‑
reject and show contempt) by their enemies. C. Then Nehemiah began to pray for cursings
on the heads of his enemies. He prayed that his enemies’ reproach would turn
around and fall on their own heads. He prayed that that his enemies would
become as mere plunder for a conquering nation. He prayed that God would not
forgive the iniquities of his enemies nor their sin blotted out. 1. There is
a knee‑jerk reaction to Nehemiah’s prayer. However, it falls along the
same lines as David’s “Imprecatory Psalms” where he calls for God’s judgment
and punishment on his enemies (Ps 7; 35; 40; 55; 58; 59; 69; 79; 109; 137;
139; 144). Such prayers were acceptable before the cross, against anyone that
attempted to thwart God’s plan, work, or will, especially in regard to the
coming Messiah. Since God called Nehemiah and the Jews to rebuild, Sanballat
was attempting to thwart not only the Jewish people (“demoralized the
builders”), but specifically the divine work of God. This included the
restoration and preservation of the Jewish people, the Messianic line, and
the future fulfillment of Davidic
Covenant. In addition, God had already pronounced judgment on Israel’s
enemies in the Abrahamic Covenant (Ge 12:3), and therefore Nehemiah was
praying according to God’s will. We even find Jesus rebuking Peter when he
forbids Christ to go to the cross, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a
stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests,
but man's." (Mt 16:23). D. So why are we taught to
“love our enemies and pray for those who persecute” us (Mt 5:44)? 1. First,
this teaching was not absent from the OT (Pr 25:21‑22). 2. Second, we are positioned on the
completed side of the cross. The cross is the only work necessary for
salvation. Now that Christ has died on the cross and rose from the grave, our
mission like Christ’s First Advent, is not judgment but forgiveness and grace
(Jn 3:16‑17). Therefore, we are instructed to prayerfully expect (2Th
1:4; 2Ti 3:12) and endure (1Co 4:12; 2Co 12:10) persecution for the sake of
the cross as well as love and pray for our enemies (Ro 12:14, 20‑21). 3. However, at the same time we must keep in
mind that vengeance belongs to the Lord, he can and will judge those who
reject Christ and attempt to thwart His work. III. NEHEMIAH’S SECOND RESPONSE
WAS TO WORK HARDER (6) A. After praying, Nehemiah
committed himself and the people to the very work that God had called them.
His was a leadership like the Latin phrase ora et labora which means
“pray and work.” They prayed and worked. Both actions kept their minds from
being overly preoccupied with the enemy. Furthermore, as they worked they
were not demoralized because they saw that God was accomplishing His work
through them. B. Nehemiah adds a detail that we did not
know in Ch. 3. Their first objective was to build and join the wall at least
to half the height. In one sense, they could say they completed the first
phase of the work. It was a morale‑builder for the Jews because Nehemiah
recorded that “the people had a mind to work” and worked heartily,
devotedly, and strenuously on the work. It also took away the sting of the
enemies scorn. IV. NEHEMIAH LED CORPORATE
PRAYER AGAINST HIS CONSPIRATORS (7‑9) A. The completion of half the
height of the wall infuriated Sanballat and his associates, who by now had
grown to the Arabs, Ammonites, and the Ashdodites. B. In a sense the situation was becoming very
grave as Nehemiah’s enemies “conspired together to come and fight against
Jerusalem.” It supports the idea of a Samarian military under Sanballat
(cp. comments on 4:2). C. We must pray and work in the face of
opposition, but we must also understand that opposition often will increase. D. In response to the increased opposition,
Nehemiah lead the group in corporate prayer. Numbers in prayer is another
lesson Nehemiah teaches us. Though God can accomplish His will without our
prayers, He often chooses to wait for the prayers of His people. V. OBSERVATIONS AND
APPLICATIONS A. Previous Leadership
Principles: 1. Leadership
recognizes that there will always be trouble in the midst of ministry (Ne
2:10). 2. Leadership takes time to prayerfully plan
before God (Ne 1:5‑11). B. New Leadership Principles: 1. Leadership
responds to opposition with repeated prayers and petitions (Ne 4:4‑5,
9). a) An
ongoing prayer life is vital to every believer in every situation. b) Believers should pray to love their
enemies as they look for opportunities to share the Gospel. c) Believers should pray for the salvation
of those who are persecuting them. We must realize that God is divinely
drawing our attention to them. 2. Leadership
expects increasing opposition and prepares to pray and work through it. a) We must
join in prayer against persecution and opposition to God’s work. b) We must stay motivated and help others be
motivated in continuing the work during times of opposition (4:6b). |
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