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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. 2) (Nehemiah Prays,
Works, & Defends) (Neh 4:10‑23) 5/23/10 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. NEHEMIAH’S OPPOSITION
INCREASED TO A NEW LEVEL (10‑12) A. Sanballat and his cohorts
had sunk to a level lower than mere sarcasm. They now had “conspired together
to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it”
(8). Now there was a conspiracy and a definite threat of military aggression. B. As a result of Sanballat’s undertakings,
the talk of the town was that the people were beginning to falter. In fact
there was even a jingle so to speak being passed around, “The strength of the
burden bearers is failing” (10). There was “so much to do and so little
time.” There was an incredible amount of debris that still remained from
Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of the city and morale and motivation was at an
all time low. C. Enemy threats were now circulating among
the people that Sanballat and his military were going to sneak in and kill
everyone in order to stop the work (11). Whether Sanballat was serious or
bluffing, he wanted to intimidate the people and he was succeeding. The Jews
living outside the city reported the rumor “ten times” that the enemy was
coming against them and there would be no place to hide (12). D. It was not that the Jewish people were
complaining, they were legitimately a frightened people in a city with no
walls. II. NEHEMIAH’S LEADERSHIP
RESPONDED TO INCREASED OPPOSTION (13‑23) A. Nehemiah would have to
step up and not only continue to be the Chief Engineer, but had to be the
Commanding Officer. He not only would have to rally the troops but would have
to lead them in strategic defensive moves that would defend the city as well
as complete its wall. B. In Ne 4:13‑23, we see Nehemiah’s
strategic steps to carry on the work God called him to do while keeping the
city unharmed by its enemies. C. Nehemiah Filled The
Breaches (13) 1. Nehemiah’s
first move was to fill the exposed gaps in the wall with armed families from
within the city. These people were armed with swords, spears, and bows. 2. The bows were used for long range
defense. The spears could be thrown or keep attackers at bay, and the swords
were for close hand-to-hand battle. Nehemiah obviously had some knowledge of
weaponry as well as military defense. 3. This is an amazing principle that unified
families are the defense of the church. It is no wonder that Satan readily
attacks the family so that gaps in church are not filled. D. Nehemiah Encouraged The
Entire Group (14) 1. Nehemiah
found himself having to give a moving speech with which to give courage to
the people of the city. He spoke to the entire group which included nobles,
officials, and the people. 2. He exhorted them not to be afraid by
remembering that the Lord is great and awesome. If the Lord called them to do
this work, then the Lord would protect them and fight for them. 3. With the knowledge that the Lord was on
their side, Nehemiah pleaded that they were to fight for their brothers,
sons, daughters, wives, houses, and everything that was near and dear to
them. 4. It was an awe‑inspiring speech that
successfully met this life and death situation for the Jewish people and
their future existence. E. Nehemiah Split The Work‑Force
(16‑18, 21) 1. that day
was a turning point for Nehemiah, who proceeded forward with the rebuilding
as well as added their own militia protection. He accomplished this by
splitting the work force. One group continued the rebuilding project, while
another group was armed and stood guard. Those with spears had shields for
close combat. Those with bows had breastplates to deflect the enemies’
arrows. 2. Behind these forces stood the captains of
the militia to command orders during an engagement with the enemy. 3. Those who were part of the rebuilding
work force were instructed to carry their load with one hand and hold a
weapon with the other hand (17). In this way, they were not simply waiting
for an attack from the enemy while nothing was accomplished. Furthermore, the
work was being carried as quickly as possible so that they might remove the
enemies opportunity for attack. 4. The actual specialized builders needed
both hands to work but were instructed to be girded with a sword in case of
an attack. F. Nehemiah Draws Plans To
Unify The Troops (19‑20, 22) 1. As
Nehemiah surveyed the situation, he realized that in the case of an attack,
the people were spread too thinly around the city (19). Nehemiah recorded in
vs. 18b that there was a trumpeter who stood by Nehemiah wherever he went. If
at anytime an attack broke out at a particular place at the wall, Nehemiah
would send the trumpeter to that location. When the people heard the trumpet
sound, they were to rally to that part of the city and bring reinforcement to
the battle (20). 2. The blowing of the trumpet could be
analogous to the preaching of the Word of God, which sounds the alarm to
Satan’s attacks in the form of false teaching. The enemy’s strategy is to
keep on attacking with false teaching from as many different angles as
possible. The trumpet of the Word must check the attack wherever the attack
may come from. 3. It is this next comment by Nehemiah that
explained Nehemiah’s faith. He maintained that, “Our God will fight for us”
(20b). a) Nehemiah’s
boldness and courage came from the fact that God fights the battles for His
people. Obviously, familiar with the Old Testament, Nehemiah knew that God fought
for Moses, Joshua, and David. God fought for His chosen people which was
promised in the Abrahamic Covenant, “I will bless those who bless you, And
the one who curses you I will curse” (Ge 12:3). b) Nehemiah realized that God would also
protect His chosen people in order that the Messiah could come and fulfill
the Davidic Covenant (2Sa 7:16). So their protection was guaranteed by God no
matter how many sides the enemy attacked. c) However, Nehemiah understood that even
though the Lord would fight for them, it did not exempt them from also
engaging in battle. Pr 21:31 shows that God has given man a responsibility
for preparation and battle, but ultimately victory comes from the Lord.
Nehemiah trusted God to win the battle through them and for them. 4. Nehemiah
also addressed the people that lived outside the city to come in and take
turns standing watch at night as well working during the day (22). So
Nehemiah rallied the troops inside and outside the city. G. Nehemiah Appealed For
Constant Vigilance (21, 23) 1. As
leader, Nehemiah instituted that the militia should be on duty from dawn to
dark (21). 2. In addition, he encouraged constant
vigilance even to the point of not changing clothes as well as carrying their
weapons while getting water (23). III. GOD FRUSTRATED THE PLANS
OF NEHEMIAH’S OPPOSITION (15) A. The result of Nehemiah’s
prayers and leadership was that God frustrated the plans of the enemy. B. God allowed the plans of the enemy to be
revealed to Nehemiah so that he would pray, fill the breaches, prepare for
battle, and continue the work. As a result, their plans were “frustrated” (parar
‑ break, annul, make invalid) and broken down. Yet this would not
be the end of the enemies’ attacks. IV. OBSERVATIONS AND LEADERSHIP
PRINCIPLES A. Leadership understands
when to pray, work, or defend, and when to do all three simultaneously (Ne
4:17‑18). B. Leadership understands that if God is for
believers, no one can come against them (Ne 4:20). C. Leadership is being willing to give all
the time and strength necessary for completing a task (Ne 4:23). |
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