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Sund 1st July 2007
Nehemiah 4: 1-9. How Nehemiah Dealt With Opposition.
Opposition started early – Ch 2:19-20. It increased in chapters 4 and 6 continuing through the two months of rebuilding. Even after the wall was built it continued. (1 Thess 2 : 18. Satan opposed Paul.)
Sanballat is a type of Satan. He was the Governer of Samaria and had much power. We learn how the enemy works from his actions. ( 2 Cor 2 : 11. For we are not unaware of his schemes.)
“Opposition to God’s work always has a source beyond its human vehicles. Opponents are driven by dark powers, powers that hate God.” John White. Excellence in Leadership – The Pattern of Nehemiah. P63. (See Eph 6 : 12.)
Attack. V 1 – 3.
a. Sanballat hated the kingdom of God. See 2:9-10. He was very angry. Greatly incensed = enraged.
A well defended Jerusalem went against his plans and threatened his position.
b. He used ridicule. “He ridiculed the Jews.” Thomas Carlyle – “Ridicule is the language of the devil.” Shakespeare called ridicule “paper bullets.” However they can be effective. Few of us like to be laughed at.
c. Sanballat gathered supporters. He had an army with him. This was public ridicule. He made a show of strength. However , he could not use his army to attack the Jews because Nehemiah had authorization from the Emperor to build the walls.. So Sanballat had to use propaganda weapons of intimidation, fear, doubt accusation, discouragement and discrediting Nehemiah’s character and purpose.
d. He spoke words that were poisoned darts. We must learn to discern and discard these.
1. What are those feeble jews doing? Feeble = “Weak. Not strong. Without force or effectiveness. Easily broken.” He belittled them to make them lose the will to fight. He aimed his darts at how they were feeling. They had been feeble – downtrodden, humiliated, walked over and they still felt it.
It had a sting of truth to it. A well chosen insult. He played on their sense of inferiority.
2. Will they restore their wall? It is just “their” wall. Not God’s wall. It is insignificant. Its just rubble.
3. Will they offer sacrifices? He questions their faith in God and the whole purpose of rebuilding. It was all to do with God’s worship and glory. Is God really there? Does God really care? Why should I pray?
4. Will they finish in a day? He implies that it is too big a job for them. They have bitten off more than they can chew.
5. Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble? Jerusalem was beyond repair. Even the stones themselves were too damaged to be used.(Actually not true) Why don’t you just give up?
e. Sanballat had a side-kick. Tobiah. V 3. Sarcastic. Good at pathetic jokes. A sucker up.
Sanballat’s aim was to stop God’s work. Our aim must be to keep the work of God going.
Response. V 4 – 6.
a. Prayer. V 4-5. Nehemiah overcame opposition by prayer. He did not argue back or retaliate. He prayed to God – an honest prayer – even a shocking prayer. He is really upset and he pours out his heart before God.
He hands over his enemies to God for Him to deal with them. ( This is very serious – prayer
is very powerful ) He prayed from a sense of need and out of a sense of God’s justice.
God’s work was at stake and it was the right thing to do to ask for God’s intervention.
How should we pray for our enemies? Matthew 5 : 43 - 44? Was Nehemiah right or wrong to pray like he did?
b. Work. V 6. So we rebuilt the wall. He refused to be distracted from the task. They worked with all their heart.
c. Progress. The wall reached half its height and gaps were being closed.
Unity and high motivation kept the people going in the face of opposition.
Another Attack. V 7 – 8. Ridicule did not work so Sanballat had to think again!
a. They were very angry. God’s work progressing makes the enemy very angry. Not a pretty sight!
b. They all plotted together. V 8. Sanballat drummed up support – a few lunches and telephone calls, negative comments in a few emails to sow seeds of doubt and discontent. He used his position to build a power base.
c. They made threats of violence. They planned to stir up trouble against Jerusalem. Scary stuff.
Another Response. V 9.
a. Prayer. Note “We” prayed. Prayer was catching on! They focused their minds on God, not on the threats.
b. We posted a guard day and night. Nehemiah was spiritual and practical. This was a good commonsense thing to do to meet the threat.
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Robert Duncan, 11/11/2007 |
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