Opposition against the prophet

(Transition) Oftentimes when God is on the move there can be, will be, is, opposition, resistance against what God is doing. Tonight, while we are only looking at two verses in context we will expand into opposition more than just these two verses.

Opposition verses

Nehemiah 2:19–20 NASB95

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 So I answered them and said to them, “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.”

Before pulling, extracting information from the verses, anything stand out to you on this?

Who are the people named in these verses that are opposing Nehemiah?

Sanballat the Horonite

Tobiah the Ammonite

Gesham the Arab

What did they do when they heard what Nehemiah is doing?

They mocked, they despised

They questioned

How does Nehemiah respond to their opposition?

He says God will give us success

Will give success because they are His servants

Tells them they will have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.

The opponents

Sanballat and Tobiah (2:19; 2:10)

Nehemiah 2:10 NASB95

10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.

These were men who were disturbed (NKJV) by Nehemiah coming and asking about the welfare of the sons of Israel in Jerusalem

Tobiah means “Yahweh is good.” - What a strange name for one who is in opposition to God’s work

Tobiah was a man of influence, being associated with the high priest’s family and would be a name known for generations to come

Nehemiah 13:4 NASB95

4 Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah,

Sanballat was connected to the priestly families by marriage

Nehemiah 13:28 NASB95

28 Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me.

according to an ancient document from this period, Sanballat was “governor of Samaria.”

Horonite: would make his origin from Moab according to (Jeremiah and Isaiah).

What more can we know about them?

They were Jews

They were citizens of Jerusalem

You would think being Jews, brothers, citizens of Jerusalem they would be all for the work to be done, but they were in opposition to it.

Opposition is never easy, but from within there is even some pain and betrayal too.

There are many places throughout scripture that speaks of enemies, and Jesus even tells us how to deal with them, but our biggest enemies we face today are spiritual ones. (Eph6:12; Mt16:23)

Ephesians 6:12 NASB95

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Rulers, the powers, forces of darkness, spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places

It can come even in unexpected places within your family

Matthew 16:23 NASB95

23 But He turned and said to Peter, “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.”

Was Peter Satan? Was Peter and actual physical enemy of Jesus? No, but spiritually speaking he was against God’s interest here. He was a stumbling block here.

“We can experience spiritual attack on a direct inward level from spiritual enemies, or through people who are, wittingly or unwittingly, being used as tools by our spiritual enemies.” (Courson; N.T. commentary)

The actions of Sanballat and Tobiah; laughed, mocked, scorned, despised (Neh2:19; ref: Act5:29; Gal1:10)

They used scorn to try to make Nehemiah feel mocked, stupid, foolish for even thinking will get this done. They laughed at the very notion of them trying to accomplish what they had not in the many years since the destruction of the walls and the city.

Scorn may come inwardly, feeling that we are looking foolish to others, strictly scorning ourselves

Scorn man come in mocking, laughing, despising by the words of others, if they know it or not are being used by spiritual enemies as their tools.

Guzik says this about scorn, and it is interesting that several commentators build out on that word scorn.

“Many are turned away from God’s will because they experience or fear scorn. Men who were not afraid of death have been manipulated because they did not want to be laughed at. It seems that sooner or later, God will allow every Christian to be tested at this point; as to whom they regard more, man or God. We must never be more concerned about what people may say about us than what God requires of us.”

Consider Act5:29

Acts 5:29 NASB95

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

or Gal1:10

Galatians 1:10 NASB95

10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

Give you something else to consider now, How Sanballat and Tobiah used laughter and scorn, we should be careful how we use humor. Even good meaning Christians can be used as a tool by spiritual enemy just to get a few laughs.

Sanballat and Tobiah’s accusation: Are you rebelling against the king?

There is problem here. They had a wrong view of God’s authority. Nehemiah said he was God’s mission to fulfill God’s purpose and God’s hand was on the work

They had wrong view as the king of Persia was the ultimate authority

They were ignorant and were speaking of what they did not know. The king was a partner in the rebuilding of the wall. People who speak up, out against Christians oftentimes come from ignorance not knowing what they are really talking about.

They were not concerned about God’s authority. It really did not matter if the king was for or against the work, if it is God’s work there would be no stopping it. The question should be Sanballat, Tobiah are you rebelling against the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords? -

Nehemiah’s not impacted by their scorn by looking at his response.

Nehemiah 2:20 NKJV

20 So I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.”

Nehemiah was not concerned, influenced by their scorn, ridicule, laughing, he was bold, confident, straightforward in his response to them.

When faced with a choice of pleasing man (cease the work) or pleasing God (continuing the work) it was no choice to Nehemiah. He knew exactly what he would do, please God, go ahead mock all you want, I will serve the Lord.

He did not go and produce the letters from the king, or even comment on all the kings men and the kings lumber that were with him. He just assured that the God of heaven would prosper them.

Nehemiah did not put the work on hold, did not wait for a crisis response team to get involved, he was not going to get sidetracked.

Think about this if we allow enemies to stop us when we are doing things, we will never get anything accomplished and the enemies will have won.

Nehemiah calls himself a servant of God, and the servants will rise up and build.

What Has God called you to do that you need to step out in faith and do even if there is opposition?

In facing our enemies may we remember who we are, whose we are and know what we are to do and do it regardless of opposition for if God is for us who can be against us (Rom8:31) God will prevail!

Finally, Nehemiah tells the opposers they have no heritage, no right or memorial in Jerusalem

They may have been Jews by birth

They may have been citizens of Jerusalem

They may have been property owners in Jerusalem

But their hearts were far from God and had no inheritance in God’s city.

We can say the same thing to our spiritual enemies, and admit it or not they are out there, they have no heritage, no memorial in the city of God (Heaven)

Praying in Jesus name, calling things out in Jesus name does not make opposition just go away, but it does take any power away from them. They may be a thorn in your side, but You are in Christs hand and He will not leave you.

We live in a battleground, there is much opposition against Christians and the evil one uses any tool he can to try to oppose, stop, distract, discourage you from being whom Christ called you to be, Salt/Light!

Opposition did not slow down or hinder the work that Nehemiah enlisted the people to help with.