Listen Intently, Pray Specifically and Build Strategically!

New Living Translation Chapter 4

4:1 Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews,

2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”

3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”

4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land!

5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.”

6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.

7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious.

8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion.

9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.

Historical Information

Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem were trying to used different methods to distract Nehemiah and the Israelites from build the wall with nothing but talk and insults to the people of God. Most times when talks like these happen they want you to focus more on them rather than focusing on what God/Yahweh has said.

The Horonites and the Amorites were two groups of people that God drove out the land for the Israelites. The Amorites were believe to been descendants of Lot the nephew of Israel’s forefather Abraham. The Amorites served Molech and Milcom.

Have you every had something in your heart to do for God, the church, your pastor or a project and you received nothing but criticism and haterade (not gatorade)?

They are not coming to assist you with the project or to help you get back to your original status of strength and stability. They rather you stay broken down like the ruins around you and wanting to reign over you!

Molech was a fire-god with the face of a calf; his images had arms outstretched to receive the babies who were sacrificed to him.

Milcom was described as a king of the Amorites.

Major Points

Listen Intently - God will allow you to hear what your enemies are saying about you not discourage you, but to keep you in on their thoughts about you, their plans towards you, but forget you have Yahweh on your side. (see verses 1-3, 7-8).

Pray Specifically - God will not only allow you to hear what the enemy has to say about you and their condescending/disdained/haughty/lofty/scornful or withering thoughts about you. In this place God will show you what to counter in your prayer life (see verses 4-5, 9).

3. Build Strategically and Be Ready to Fight to Protect the Vision - The vision must stay on course for the latter manifestation to be housed. Fight to protect the vision of rebuilding and building and remain enthused through your opposition. Restraint builds strength, focus and a determinative, conquering and an alert spirit to move with precision. (see verses 5 - 6, 9).