Problems in Rebuilding the City

Introduction: The progress of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was met with swift and severe opposition that was fueled by jealous anger. This is a lesson to us all that a faithful work done for God’s glory will often be ridiculed and opposed; however, we should be encouraged to do God’s work despite those who would oppose our efforts.

Problems for Rebuilding (4:1-8)

Problems Because of a Mad Response to the Rebuilding (4:1-3) - “1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews 2 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?" 3 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!”

Note (4:1): Sanballat’s opposition is just another instance in a string of hindrances to this great work because of jealous and cruel hearted actors who are resolved to hinder God’s people at every turn (Nehemiah 2:10; Ezra 4:1-5).

Acts 5:17 (HCSB) - “Then the high priest took action. He and all his colleagues, those who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.”

1 Corinthians 1:27 (HCSB) - “27 Instead, God has chosen the world's foolish things to shame the wise, and God has chosen the world's weak things to shame the strong.”

Note (4:2) - Sanballat used the tactic of discouragement, to try and dishearten God’s people from carrying out the work. Throughout Nehemiah, we will see Satan’s various devices including: doubt, division, discouragement, and division.

Problems Could Not Change Their Mind’s From Rebuilding (4:4-8) - “ 4 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. 5 Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from Your sight, because they have provoked the builders. 6 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. 7 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. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion.

Note (4:4): The response to Sanballat’s railing and negative pronouncements was to pray to God. Our conversation is with the God who has called us to the work, and not in meaningless arguments with those who do not understand our service, nor have relationship with the one who has called us to the work.

Psalm 123:3-4 (KJV) - “3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.”

Proverbs 3:34 (HCSB) - “34 He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble.”

Isaiah 43:25 (NIV) - “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

Note: (4:6) - The work progressed because the people “had a mind to work.” This glorious statement was an acknowledgement to how God had moved upon their hearts and minds to continue doing the work he laid to their hands. There is no opposition or foe that can stop God’s people, when they put their minds to work for the master. While they prayed, they also worked. It is foolish to stand still and wait to work, until all enemies have been removed. We must work and allow God to prosper that work in the very presence of our enemies.

Philippians 2:12-18 (HCSB) - “12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you, [enabling you] both to will and to act for His good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. 16 Hold firmly the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run in vain or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.”

Note (4:8): There is always a federation of wicked, enemies, and foes who are glad to band together to frustrate God’s people in their service to Him.

Psalm 2:1-3 (HCSB) - “1 Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed One: 3 "Let us tear off their chains and free ourselves from their restraints.”

Acts 23:12-13 (HCSB) - “12 When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse: neither to eat nor to drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than 40 who had formed this plot.”

Prayers for Rebuilding (4:9-12)

Prayerful Response to Problems in Rebuilding (4:9-10) - “9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night. 10 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.”

Note (4:9): - Here is another instance of God’s people responding to opposition with prayer. The two greatest defenses for God’s children are prayer and faith. We should always rely upon them before trusting in any other device, strategy or tool. Pray and keep the faith!

Psalm 50:14-15 (HCSB) - “14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High. 15 Call on Me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor Me."

Luke 6:11-12 (KJV) - “11 and they were filled with madness; and communed one with another that they might do to Jesus. 12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

Pessimistic Reports During the Rebuilding (4:11-12) - “11 And our enemies said, "They won't know or see anything until we're among them and can kill them and stop the work." 12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, "Everywhere you turn, [they] attack us."

Psalm 56:4-7 (NIV) - “4 In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 5 All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin. 6 They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life. 7 Because of their wickedness do not let them escape; in your anger, God, bring the nations down.”

Numbers 14:22 (HCSB) - “22 none of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tested Me these 10 times and did not obey Me,”

Protection for Rebuilding (4:13-23)

Strong Leadership Offered Protection in Rebuilding (4:13-14) - “13 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. 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.”

Ephesians 6:11-20 (HCSB) - “11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word. 18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.”

Matthew 26:40-41 (HCSB) - “40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter,What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Supportive Protection In Rebuilding (4:15-17) - “15 When our enemies realized that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16 From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah, 17 who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.”

Note (4:16): Half of the workers stood watch, while half worked, and they did this in shifts, supporting one another. This is a beautiful picture of how cooperation and working together can help us accomplish our work. We are to support one another and protect each other in the Spirit and bond of peace. They carefully protecting their hearts and minds, as well as their physical persons during the work. It would have been easy for the seeds of negativity and doubt planted by the enemies to take root in the builders hearts’; however, they remained focused on the task and faithful to each other.

Psalm 101:6 (NLT) - “I will search for faithful people to be my companions. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (HCSB) - “9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if somebody overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.”

Steadfast Protection in Rebuilding (4:18-23) - “18 Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the trumpeter was beside me. 19 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. 20 Wherever you hear the trumpet sound, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!" 21 So we continued the work, while half of the men were holding spears from daybreak until the stars came out. 22 At that time, I also said to the people, "Let everyone and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day." 23 And I, my brothers, my men, and the guards with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing.”

Philippians 2:4 (KJV) - “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Galatians 6:2 (KJV) - “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”