Bible Commentaries

John Brown

Nehemiah 4:1-9

Overcoming the Opposition

St. Teresa of Avila (d. A.D1582), founder of the Carmelites, was noted for an ironic sense of humor and a deft way of turning a phrase. One day, Teresa was about to go on a trip, and she prayed to God for a safe journey. The trip was almost a disaster. There were delays, accidents, illness. When she returned, she went back to talk to God again, this time to complain.

Her complaint went something like this: "Lord, I prayed for a safe and pleasant trip, and what do I get? I get nothing but problems."

God replied, "But Teresa, that's how I treat all my friends."

Teresa answered: "Yes, I know, and that's why you"ve got so few of them."

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Last week in our study of Mark 4:19 (NKJV) "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

c) We also learned that we need to be content with what we have! And not let our lust for things keep us from serving the Lord!!!.

B. This morning, we are going to take a look at how the enemy tried to keep Nehemiah from Nehemiah 4:1-9 (NKJV) But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews.

2And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish--[stones] that are burned?"

3Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up [on] [it], he will break down their stone wall."

4Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!

5 Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked [You] to anger before the builders.

6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its [height], for the people had a mind to work.

7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry,

8 and all of them conspired together to come [and] attack Jerusalem and create confusion.

9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

A. Ephesians 6:11-12 (NKJV) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].

1. We must therefore, look beyond the Sandballats and Tobiahs of life and see an old enemy using even the same tactics he used against Christ!

2. satan most always starts his opposition from the outside first, then moves to the inside.

a) OUTSIDE: derision and scorn!

(1) Nehemiah 4:2-3 (NKJV) And he (Sandballat) spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish--[stones] that are burned?"

3Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up [on] [it], he will break down their stone wall."

(a) "Your personnel is weak, your task impossible and even if you do start to Luke 22:63 (NKJV) Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.

(ii) Luke 23:35-37 (NKJV) And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."

36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine,

37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."

(iii) Luke 23:12 (NKJV) That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

(iv) John 15:18 (NKJV) "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before [it] [hated] you.

(v) Matthew 10:24 (NKJV) "A disciple is not above [his] teacher, nor a servant above his master.

(a) For some reason, if people can get others to unite with them, they seem justified!

(b) Even if it is in destroying something God is in!

(c) It has been said, "If we do not feel Satan's black breath of hate and contempt and scorn, maybe we"re living to close to him!"

(i) He is never upset when there is no threat!

(ii) But if you rise to build, you can expect him to be there to stir us the Sandballats and Tobiahs

b) INSIDE: derision and scorn!

(1) Remember Ephesians 6:11-12, its the same enemy, with the same tactics, but he moves from outside to inside the "family"

(a) Numbers 14:27 (NKJV) "How long [shall] [I] [bear] [with] this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me.

(b) Numbers 14:36 (NKJV) Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land,

(c) 1 Corinthians 10:10 (NKJV) (don"t) complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

(2) Not all have a mind to work!

(a) Nehemiah 3:5 (NKJV) Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.

(b) Most families, and every church family has within it a "mixed multitude".

(c) Exodus 12:38 (NKJV) A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds--a great deal of livestock.

(d) Numbers 11:4 (NKJV) Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: "Who will give us meat to eat?

(e) In other word, there are some who will believe God is leading you in this building, or Exodus 16:8 (NKJV) . . . for the Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what [are] we? Your complaints [are] not against us but against the Lord."

Two farmers were having a long bitter feud over a fence line. The quarrel became more and more heated until finally, under cover of darkness, one farmer went to the other's well and dropped bags of salt into it to contaminate it. He thought he had really showed his opponent who was in charge. A few days later, though, when he lifted water out of his own well, he discovered that it had a salty taste. Both farmers" wells shared a common underground water table.

(iii) If you do not like that way something is done in your home or at your church, became a part of the solution! Without murmuring!

III. OVERCOMING

A. Don"t get diverted!

1. All of this opposition is for one reason! To keep you from building and Nehemiah 4:6 (NKJV) So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its [height], for the people had a mind to work.

b) Nehemiah ignored the sarcastic remarks and kept working". Doing what God had told him to do!

c) Jesus did the same thing.

(1) 1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV) who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed [Himself] to Him who judges righteously;

(2) Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

(3) John 19:30 (NKJV) So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

B. We must have a mind to work, and a heart to pray, and an eye to watch!

1. Nehemiah 4:9 (NKJV) Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

a) REDPATH: "...it is one of Satan's greatest victories when he just laughs you out of a work for God."

John Brown

Nehemiah 4:10

Removing the Rubish

Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Last week = talked about our common and old enemy (Satan)

1. We also talked about him using the same old tactics because they are still very effective.

2. We have seen, as with Nehemiah 4:2 (NKJV) And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish--[stones] that are burned?"

Nehemiah 4:3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up [on] [it], he will break down their stone wall."

5. This morning we move to satan's second strategy = opposition from the inside!

a) You see if he can"t discourage us from building or Nehemiah 4:10 (NKJV) Then Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is failing, and [there] [is] so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall."

A. Nehemiah was a man called of God, commissioned by the king, and he had secured an army of helpers, yet now he is faced with tremendous discouragement.

1. Started out with great success, which was attacked on the outside by the scoffers.

2. Now, the opposition moves in a little closer!

B. Look where this discouragement comes from: JUDAH!

1. Genesis 49:10 (NKJV) The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him [shall] [be] the obedience of the people.

a) Judah was the cream of the army; they were the strongest and the best!

b) They were the tribe from whence the Messiah would come; yet here they are, threatening revolt, and spreading discouragement!

(1) Nehemiah had expected it from Sanballat and his crew. Maybe even from some of his own people who were on the "fringe". But not from the strongest and the best, not from JUDAH!

(2) Nehemiah must have been discouraged! Those whom should have been sharing the burden and vision most deeply- had no vision at all!

(a) Nebuchadnezzer had completely destroyed Jerusalem during the invasion!

(b) The job of 1 Corinthians 3:10 (NKJV) According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 1 Corinthians 3:11. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

(1) Satan has always been trying to get us to build upon rubbish instead of the ROCK.

(2) But the Lord keeps sending men like Nehemiah to remind us to clear the rubbish first!

(a) Men like Martin Luther = back to God = Justification faith.

(b) Calvin = back to God = sovereign grace.

(c) Knox, Wesley, Moody and even Chuck Smith, saying, "Let's clear the rubbish and get back to the simplicity of God!

(i) Psalm 127:1 (NKJV) Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

(d) In the church as well as in our private lives, if anything is not built upon the ROCK, it has to go!

(e) If it is not built upon the ROCK then it is built upon the "rubbish" and must be cleared so the foundation can be seen and the building process started over!

(f) This is the wood, hay, and stubble Paul was referring to in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NKJV) For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12Now if anyone builds on this foundation [with] gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.

14If anyone's work which he has built on [it] endures, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

(g) Wood, hay, and stubble are rubbish. They burn!

III. CONCLUSION

A. satan will always try to get you and I to build upon the rubbish and miss the sure foundation!

1. Pride, unbelief, anger, temper, despondence, self-importance, evil desires, is all rubbish!

a) Sin makes a poor foundation.

2. Getting right with and serving God can"t be left up to public opinion.

a) Remember JUDAH? The "cream of the army". The ones that in the past that seemed to be so spiritual and rock solid!

b) When Nehemiah needed them the most, they had neither vision nor burden for the work!

c) My bet is that it will be the "JUDAHS" in your life that will be the very ones discouraging you from the work that lies ahead.

(1) Even more that the Sanballats and Tobiahs!

(2) You see, the closer to home it Romans 7:18 (NKJV) For I know that in me (that Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV). . . . "This [is] the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: `Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," Says the Lord of hosts.

(4) We should be pursuing holiness yes, but there is nothing we can do to earn Heaven apart from Jesus!

c) #3 - We are CO-laborers with Christ!.

(1) 2 Peter 1:5-7 (NKJV) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,

7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

(a) All of these must be built in His power, His strength, and with His enabling.

(b) 2 Peter 1:8 (NKJV) For if these things are yours and abound, [you] [will] [be] neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

C. Willful and intentional sin is a "veil" between you and the Lord that He Himself died to remove?

1. We can"t build a decent life "on top" of it!

2. We must "clear it out" and start fresh and new as did Nehemiah!

John Brown

Nehemiah 4:11-23

Fighting and Building

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Last week in our study of Nehemiah 4:11-23 (NKJV) And our adversaries said, "They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease."

12So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, "From whatever place you turn, [they] [will] [be] upon us."

13Therefore I positioned [men] behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

15 And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and [that] God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

16 So it was, from that time on, [that] half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and [wore] armor; and the leaders [were] behind all the house of Judah.

17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.

18 Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet [was] beside me.

19 Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, "The work [is] great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall.

20 "Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us."

21So we labored in the work, and half of [the] [men] held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared.

22At the same time I also said to the people, "Let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day."

23So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, [except] that everyone took them off for washing.

A. Remember in Nehemiah 4:6 we were told . . . the entire wall was joined together up to half its [height], for the people had a mind to work.

1. Well, way there is always the hardest place of any work!

a) way there is when the "Honeymoon" is over and the initial enthusiasm is gone.

b) The harsh reality of the costs begins to set in!

c) All of a sudden we become aware of how much bigger the job is than what we first thought!

d) It is the same with our Christian walks.

(1) There comes a time in every Christian's walk where we "become aware" of the real costs of serving the Lord.

(2) The magnitude of finishing becomes more of a focus than what has been accomplished.

(3) The enemy and his opposition becomes more real at times than does Christ whom is standing there to help us finish the work!

(4) We begin to ask ourselves, "Will I ever make it?" "Will I ever finish?"

B. I would like to give you four important points from our lesson in Nehemiah this morning- that will not only help you in battle- but will allow you to build the wall and finish the race!

1. The enemy knows the best possible time to launch a fresh attack!

a) It is usually hen we are tired, weary, and got our eyes on the1/2that is not built!

(1) Nehemiah's enemies started with gossip, discouragement, sarcasm, and "put-downs", but they failed.

(2) Now it is threats of a full scale, frontal attack.

(a) Nehemiah 4:11 (NKJV) And our adversaries said, "They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease."

(i) Notice it was planned as a "surprise attack!"

(a) "They will neither know nor see anything. . ."

(ii) The attack was up close and it was going to be with bloodshed!

(a) ". . . we (will) come into their midst and kill them. . ."

(iii) The enemy was very confident of his success!

(a) ". . and cause the work to cease. "

(iv) At any cost the enemy did not want the wall to go up!

(3) Please notice that it was the mixed multitude who brought the bad news.

(a) Those with marginal walks! They become the pessimists!

(b) Nehemiah 4:12 (NKJV) So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, "From whatever place you turn, [they] [will] [be] upon us."

(c) They focused on what was yet to be done. And on the strength of the enemy.

(d) This fear that the mixed multitude started, began to spread, even among the leadership!

(i) Nehemiah 4:14 (NKJV) And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

(e) There are always some that live too close to the enemy! They see him more clearly than they see the Lord.

(i) They are the first to spread discouragement among God" s people and His work!

(ii) They are most often, the ones without zeal, the onlookers.

(iii) This type of Christianity affects the whole church.

(iv) His/her lukewarmness affects the whole spiritual temperature of the fellowship.

(f) One of the worst things we can do for our walks in Christ is to enter into service as a by-stander, instead of a participant!

2. Nehemiah and the builders were being opposed because a work for the Lord was being done!

a) Nehemiah 4:7 (NKJV) Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry,

(1) Whenever Satan sees a work of the Spirit, he will concentrate all his energies to stop it!

(a) Even Christ's earthly life was so much of a Spiritual work; His very presence convicted people of their sin!

(b) When a person is convicted of sin he has only two choices:

(i) #1. Get right with God or:

(ii) #2. Become an instrument of destruction in the hands of Satan.

(a) Jesus was killed!

(iii) Steven's committed life, full of the Holy Spirit had the same affect on people.

(a) Steven was also killed because he convicted people of their sin!

(2) If our lives are full of the Holy Spirit, sinful people will be very uncomfortable around us!

(a) John 15:18-20 (NKJV) "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before [it] [hated] you.

19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

20 "Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master." If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you . . ..

(b) As the saying goes, "Don"t pray far easier lives, but that we will be stronger Christians."

3. Nehemiah looked to God as the solution!

(1) Nehemiah 4:14 (NKJV) And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

(a) All the pressure was on him. Fear permeated the camp. The enemy was closing in and breathing down his back.

(b) But, his eyes were on the Lord!

(c) Jehosaphat said the same thing in 2 Chronicles 20:12 (NKJV) "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes [are] upon You."

(d) There are times in our Christian walk when we can do nothing except trust and hold on!

b) But, trusting and holding on to the Lord doesn"t eliminate our responsibility!

(1) Nehemiah 4:14 b . . .. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

(a) We must remember- everything Is at stake In this battle- brothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and homes"

(b) Our walk does not just affect us.

(i) 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

c) Nehemiah told his people to resist the enemy and keep on fighting!

(1) Nehemiah 4:16-17 (NKJV) So it was, from that time on, [that] half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and [wore] armor; and the leaders [were] behind all the house of Judah.

17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.

(a) 1 /2worked, 1 /2watched and they all worked with a weapon in one hand and a tool in the other!

(b) Dear Christian friends, in our own lives, the battling and the building must be inseparable!

(i) Serving = active battle.

(ii) BuiIding is the personal growth.

(c) Active duty without weaponry is certain death!

4. Nehemiah kept a trumpeter by his side!

a) The rebuilding was wide spread.

b) At the sound of the trumpet they were to leave their work and gather around him.

c) At the sound of the trumpet they were to gather around their commander-in-chief to win the victory.

III. CONCLUSION

A. Satan doesn"t care much about churches, church services, nor those that call themselves "Christians".

1. But, he hates a genuine Spirit directed work or life dedicated to the Lord"

2. Expect his attack when you are the most weary!

3. We should grow accustomed to his thick, black breath, breathing down our backs and even welcome it as evidence of a successful walk.

4. Always, we should look to God for the strength to build and to fight.

a) Keep a "tool" in one hand (our service) and the "sword" in the other (our devotion).

5. One day the trumpet will sound. We too will gather around the Commander-ln-Chief.

a) The enemy will be defeated, and we will enter in to His rest!