Weapons Formed Against You
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Nehemiah 4:7-23
Nehemiah 4:7-23
. Nehemiah 4:7-23
What's his story?
What is he up against once he moves in God's direction? (inner toil vs. outer toil)
Nehemiah faces opposition from all around
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
Nehemiah faces troubles from within
The inner struggles of those rebuilding could do as much damage as the threats from outside the camp.
The poor raise a great outcry against the leaders, complaining that they have had to sell their fields, vineyards, and homes in order to obtain grain for the next year’s planting (5:1–5). Because of a famine, they have no money and as a result, many have been enslaved to the leaders. Obviously, this problem had not developed since Nehemiah arrived, but rather was one of long standing. The work in rebuilding the wall took only fifty-two days (6:15), but the history of the second commonwealth of Judea by this time already covered some ninety years, allowing ample opportunity for inequities to develop among the people
Goldberg, L. (1995). Nehemiah. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 316). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
How does Nehemiah handle these attacks from all around?
Prays/Worships
Keeps his faith in his God
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes,
You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.’
Encourages others
Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”
Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”
Develops new strategies against the attacks
This is the fourth of Nehemiah’s prompt counter-moves in a single chapter. He was not a man to fight new battles with old tactics. Taunts had been met by prayer and concentrated work (1–6); plots by prayer and guard-duty (7–9); stronger threats by a general call to arms and the charge to ‘keep your minds on the Lord … and fight’ (10–14, cf. jb). Now the temporary lull is accepted for what it is: a chance to start building again, but not to disarm.
Kidner, D. (1979). Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 12, p. 101). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
How does Nehemiah's story fit into our stories today?
Constant attack and opposition
Inner struggles cause us to doubt
We allow our emotions to dictate what we believe
What are the take-aways?
A. Be in constant prayer no matter how far in the slop you seem to be or how impossible rebuilding the wall may seem.
B. Even though you are surrounded by your enemies God is still fighting your battles.
C. Keep the faith, no weapon formed against you shall prosper. That weapon can even be your own emotions.