Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community: The Problem. Nehemiah 4:1-23

Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community
The Problem

Nehemiah 4:1-23

 

The Naysayers Return (v. 1-6)

• Sanballat: Leading political official of Samaria residing at Beth-horon in Ephraim
  • His anger at the rebuilding of the wall was because he saw it as a threat to his influence in the area
    • Anger is often the world’s response to God’s work because it threatens the powerful and the status quo
  • He even questions the builders’ commitment to God (v. 2b)
• Tobiah: An Ammonite official whose family claimed to Jewish roots to Jerusalem
  • He tries to undermine the quality of their work (v. 3)
  • Even though archaeological excavations found Nehemiah’s wall to be about 9 feet thick
• Nehemiah’s response:
  • Prayer (v. 4-5): Trusting God to deal with these accusers
  • Determination (v. 6): The work continued

 

The Plot (v. 7-14)

• The naysayers’ anger turns to plots of violence to stop the work (v. 7-8)
• Again, Nehemiah and the people turn to God in prayer (v. 9)
  • And they set guards where the wall was the weakest/shortest
• The work in these areas was overwhelming for those who lived closest (v. 11)
  • So they asked for help! (v. 12)
• Their neighbors stepped up to help defend the gaps (v. 13)
  • Being encouraged by Nehemiah to trust God (v. 14)

 

The Plan (v. 15-23)

• They continued working despite the opposition
  • Keeping defenses close at hand throughout the work
  • If an attack came, they had a plan to rally to where they were needed (v. 20)
• Nehemiah encouraged those from outside the city to stay in the city while the work took place (v. 22)
  • Which meant people opened their homes to one another
• They stayed ready for battle at all times (v. 23)

 

So What?

• As we seek to do God’s work in our community, we will face opposition
  • Because it means a change to the status quo
• We must trust God to fight for us
  • As we continue with diligence and prayer
• The Church must model love and support

Meditation Verse: Neh. 4: