Keep An Eye On The Enemy and a Grip On The Lord

Introduction - The Setting

These accounts occur after the exile from Babylon

This is the third group to be led out of captivity (444BC)

They faced a wall that was in great ruin Neh 1:3; 2:13

Introduction - The Themes

It was God’s will for the wall to be rebuilt

The enemy always stands ready to oppose the will of God (Job 1:6; Zech 3:1-2; Rev 12:10)

The true enemy is one we cannot see: his name is Satan

The Reality of our Warfare

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 NASB95

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

Ephesians 6:12 NASB95

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.

As we seek to restore God’s nation the church, community, country, and the world, we must keep an eye on the enemy and a grip on the Lord

The enemy was against Israel’s welfare

Nehemiah 2:9–10 NASB95

Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 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.

We see the results of this displeasure

Nehemiah 2:19–20 NASB95

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?” 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.”

We learn from Neh 2:20, that while I should keep an eye on the enemy I also need to keep my trust in God

Consider Jesus since he has our welfare in mind

John 10:10 NASB95

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

The enemy was against Israel’s work

Nehemiah 4:1–3 NASB95

Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?” Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!”

This was the talk amongst Sanballat and his companions, but Nehemiah heard about it Neh 4:4

Nehemiah 4:7–8 NASB95

Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it.

Doubt is powerful. it can derail, deter and discourage!

The assurances of Jesus must keep us going. 1 Jn 3:8

The devil woke up with a plan to destroy you today but God already had a plan made yesterday, all we have to do is trust Him Neh 4:6 -this is exactly what the people did.

The enemy (Satan) will work both sides

Nehemiah 5:1–5 NASB95

Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. For there were those who said, “We, our sons and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live.” There were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine.” Also there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. “Now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

Background of the misuse of usury (Ex 22:25; Lev 25:38; and Deut 15:1–11)

Matthews, Victor Harold, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. electronic ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000. Print.

Our enemy can use different methods to accomplish the same purpose Eph 6:11

Satan can also seek to tear us apart Lk 22:31-32 (the disciples) 2 Cor 2:5-8;11 (the congregation)

The enemy has a character

Sanballat and company had an intent to destroy Neh 6:2

Satan’s intent is to destroy 1 Pet 5:8

Sanballat and company resorted to lying Neh 6:8

Satan is liar Jn 8:44

Shemaiah (prophet hired by Sanballat and cohorts) tried deception

Satan is a deceiver Rev 12:9; 2 Cor 11:3

Success in the warfare

Submission to God Neh 1:9 (James 4:7)

Prayer Neh 4:9 (Eph 6:18)

Work and be Watchful Neh 4:17 (1 Pet 5:8 “be alert”)

Be saved when you hear God’s word and respond in obedience by repenting and being baptised like the people on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:37-38.