Building Under Pressure
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We are continuing our series in Ezra and Nehemiah, looking at how God’s people returned from exile and how they rebuilt the temple, the walls, and themselves.
Week four of Nehemiah.
Only two weeks left after this one.
Throughout the Ezra-Nehemiah story, opposition continually occurs to frustrate and impede God’s people from doing their work.
As soon as Nehemiah gained favor with King Artaxerxes, two particular individuals were very displeased: Sanballat and Tobiah (Nehemiah 2:10).
We see these two taking center stage in their opposition in today’s reading. Turn to Nehemiah chapter 4.
Who are they?
Sanballat, “Nehemiah’s arch-rival, is known from a document discovered in Egypt to have been the governor of Samaria” (H. G. M. Williamson, “Ezra and Nehemiah,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. [Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994], 433).
Tobiah was already in Jerusalem when Nehemiah arrived in about 445 BC. Tobiah “was known as 'the Ammonite servant' (Neh 2:10, 19), a designation associated with a person of high office, such as a governor” (Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988], s.v. “Tobiah”).
Sanballat and Tobiah are determined to oppose Nehemiah and the work the people of God are doing.
When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews before his colleagues and the powerful men of Samaria and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!”
Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from your sight, because they have angered the builders.
So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working.
When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.
In Judah, it was said:
The strength of the laborer fails,
since there is so much rubble.
We will never be able
to rebuild the wall.
And our enemies said, “They won’t realize it until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, “Everywhere you turn, they attack us.” So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”
The Work of God Inspires Opposition
The Work of God Inspires Opposition
As we seek to do all things for the glory of God and to be his agents of change upon this earth, we too will face opposition.
Even though many times that opposition will manifest itself through circumstances or even other people, we must remind ourselves that the real opposition we face is spiritual.
As Paul reminds us
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
We have a real enemy opposing us in Satan, whose objective is to devour us (1 Peter 5:8).
Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
So the question is, what wisdom can we gather from Nehemiah and how he faced the opposition that was brought against him as we face opposition?
What does Opposition look like?
What does Opposition look like?
Can look different ways, but often anger and rage.
Ever known an angry atheist?
Look in Nehemiah 4:1-3
When news reached Sanballat and Tobiah that the wall-rebuilding project had commenced, they became enraged and mocked the Jews (Nehemiah 4:1–3).
When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews before his colleagues and the powerful men of Samaria and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!”
Similarly, our enemy, the devil, is also enraged (see Revelation 12:17) against us.
So the dragon was furious with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep the commands of God and hold firmly to the testimony about Jesus.
When we are doing God’s work, the opposition to us can sometime look like anger and rage, because God’s plan and design for creation is in direct opposition to the designs and plans of the devil, of the world.
How Then Do We Respond to the Anger and Rage?
How Then Do We Respond to the Anger and Rage?
Easy to respond in kind.
I know that I sometimes have that issue.
But this is not how Nehemiah responds and it is not how we are called to respond.
First, Nehemiah responds to their ridicule and insults by praying (Nehemiah 4:4).
Again, Nehemiah’s first instinct, as we have seen again and again, is to pray first
“React Less, Pray More.”
As we encounter spiritual attack, we too combat it through prayer.
Nehemiah’s prayer is modeled after the prayers of deliverance in the book of Psalms.
In the same manner, Jesus taught his disciples to pray for deliverance: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).
The Israelites did not let the ridicule hinder their work; they kept building the walls (Nehemiah 4:6) with all their heart.
Prayer didn’t stop the work, they kept working while they prayed
Prayer didn’t immediately end the opposition, however.
Upon hearing that the repairs had continued, that the wall was at half its intended height, and the breaches in the walls were being closed, “Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod … were very angry” (Nehemiah 4:7).
Notice that the opposition had grown.
added “the arabs, the ammonites, and the people of Ashod”
Also, the level of intimidation goes from mockery to physical threat.
All the adversaries schemed together to make war against Jerusalem and to stir up confusion among the people (Nehemiah 4:8).
As we continue to do the work God has called us to, we will face greater intimidation and opposition.
Again, Satan and the kingdom of darkness is waging war with all those who “keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus” (Revelation 12:17).
Notice the response of Nehemiah and the people: they prayed to God even more (Nehemiah 4:9).
Resisting the devil is not necessarily a one-time action, and then he just quits.
We might have to continually resist him over and over until he flees (see James 4:7).
Second, Nehemiah posts watchful guards(Nehemiah 4:9).
With the increased opposition, Nehemiah not only prays but takes action
He posts guards twenty-four hours a day to protect the builders from the threat.
We too must constantly be on the alert and watchful from the attacks that Satan wants to launch against us.
Third, Nehemiah made sure to protect the most vulnerable places (Nehemiah 4:13).
Next, not only were their enemies seeking to intimidate them but now their friends and families (fellow Jews) repetitively sought to persuade them to stop working on the walls (Nehemiah 4:10, 12).
Nehemiah continued to be on guard to the threats, and strategically stationed armed guards at the “lowest points of the wall at the exposed places” (Nehemiah 4:13).
Once more, this is a great illustration that we must be aware of places we are individually and corporately vulnerable to attacks from the Enemy.
We must strengthen places in our lives that are exposed and weak to his attacks and temptations.
Lastly, Nehemiah knew that as the people stood against the enemies, they were not alone.
First, God was with them.
Nehemiah 4:14
After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”
As we stand against the Enemy, we do not do it in our power, but we are to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” Eph 6:10-11
Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.
Indeed, God is at work for Nehemiah and the people of God by frustrating the plans of their opposers (Nehemiah 4:15).
Second, the people were called to support one another.
The work on the wall continues, but the people are constantly on vigil against their enemy.
As the builders performed their work, they also had their swords strapped to their side.
Charles Spurgeon used this scene for the name of his monthly magazine, The Sword and the Trowel.
We cannot let down our guard at any time.
We need to always have our sword at our side, which Paul tells us is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.
Also, Nehemiah was very concerned that since the people were so spread out around the city they could be vulnerable to attack, as they were separated from one another.
Therefore, if anyone sounded a trumpet, signifying an attack was happening, all the people were to come together and fight (Nehemiah 4:19–20).
Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated far from one another along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”
We must learn to fight for one another.
When a brother or sister is in trouble and signals they need help in their spiritual battle, we must rally together and come to their aid, fighting for them through prayer, encouragement, and being with them.
10. A great illustration of overcoming opposition by coming together "as one" is from the scene in the film Gladiator referred to as the "Barbarian Horde Battle Scene"—a sequence that takes place in the gladiator arena. The scene begins by Maximus stating, "Whatever comes out of these gates, we've got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together, we survive." Not only did they survive but they defeated their adversaries.
Application Point: As followers of Jesus, we will encounter opposition from spiritual forces that scheme against us. We can overcome our adversaries by praying, being watchful, guarding the places where we are most vulnerable, and fighting for one another.