Obstacle of Enemies
Notes
Transcript
Obstacle of Enemies
Nehemiah 4:1-14
INTRODUCTION
The Jews have had innumerable opponents over the centuries. A few include:
Egyptians,
Amalekites,
the Canaanite Tribes,
the Philistines,
the Assyrians,
the Babylonians,
the Macedonian Greeks,
the Syrian Greeks,
the Ptolemaic Greeks,
the Romans,
nearly every major government in Europe from 400 CE until 1700 CE,
Nazi Germany,
a number of Modern Islamic States, and the list goes on.
Many of these enemies existed because of their closeness to Israel or Judah. Haman hated the Jews because he was an Agagite. Agag was a former King of the Amalekites.
These same territorial enemies show up again here in Nehemiah.
1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.
2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?”
3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”
4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.
5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.
6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry.
8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.
9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”
11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”
12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.”
13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
4 Weapons of the Enemy
4 Weapons of the Enemy
1- Alliances (1-2, 7-8)
1- Alliances (1-2, 7-8)
1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.
2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?”
Out of his anger he stirred up others ready to follow.
1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
Enemies become friends when they have a common enemy.
1985 Reagan and Gorbachev were at a nuclear summit. Reagan asked Gorbachev if we were attacked by aliens if he would come to the rescue. He said that it could possibly warm up the cold war a little.
Nehemiah 4:7-8
They were completely surrounded on every side.
They outnumbered them and had superior equipment.
They could make up a story about their rebellion and stay out of the vengeance of the king. They did it before.
19 And I made a decree, and search has been made, and it has been found that this city from of old has risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.
20 And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid.
21 Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me.
22 And take care not to be slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?”
There are times when we are serving God and people begin to team up against us.
ILL- Vamoosa - One family thought I was taking away their control. Threatened to get all their family together and show up in business meeting.
Alliances do not always have as much power as they think they have or want you to think they have.
2- Mockery (1-3)
2- Mockery (1-3)
1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.
2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?”
3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”
Attempt to hurt morale. Make them Doubt
“Feeble Jews” = hit a nerve. They believed this to be true of what they were doing.
Mockery works when we do not when the war in our mind.
Jeer= Lit- speaking a language no one understands.
Make fun of, insulting.
Psychological warfare is all they had. Nehemiah had the permission from their King.
This works when you do not have confidence in God.
Their minds would easily agree with the mockery of their enemies.
Truths, half truths, and lies.
"bring stones back to life”- too burned? Rocks were fine.
3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”
Nehemiah’s walls were 9’ thick.
Satan is an accuser.
He mocks you and tries to take away your confidence.
The voice in your head accepts Satan’s accusations over God’s forgiveness.
He has no power because your sin has already been paid.
God can use you and wants to use you. Stop disqualifying yourself.
3- Confusion (8)
3- Confusion (8)
8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.
Confusion is easy when you do not know the purpose and goals.
Confusion comes when there is a choice and you do not know which way to go.
ILL- David with me to Walmart
We needed to go get milk.
We ended up looking at BB guns.
We get off course and waste time when we do not have clear direction.
4- Intimidation (10-11)
4- Intimidation (10-11)
10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”
11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”
These two verses are actually poetry that may have been a song.
There is a problem when we agree with the enemy.
Intimidation comes with repetition. Even other Jews were repeating it.
12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.”
Intimidation can only happen when we see ourselves as smaller than our enemies.
We have God on our side.
17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 Reaction of God’s People
3 Reaction of God’s People
1- Pray (4-5, 9)
1- Pray (4-5, 9)
4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.
5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.
Prayer was Nehemiah’s primary weapon.
Prayed for divine judgment against sin. Divine Justice. Not against their salvation but for them not to get away with their sin.
Prayer for God to act- not for them to take personal vengeance.
Nehemiah knew that the opposition to the wall was an opposition to God.
N.T. - Pray for those who persecute you. Love your enemy. Jesus calls on us to turn the other cheek.
However, God is still opposed to injustice and it is not wrong for God’s people to call upon God for justice.
Leave vengeance in the hands of God.
The martyred saints are crying out before the throne in Revelation for judgment to come.
9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
2- Persevere (6, 9-10, 13)
2- Persevere (6, 9-10, 13)
Pray and Work. He didn’t stop the work and wait for a miracle.
6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
We rebuilt the wall= They were faithful and God was faithful.
Faith, unity and energy of a small group will succeed against an enemy.
9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”
Even when they are tired.
They were told to run and hide.
They kept on working.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
They did not stop the work. They grabbed their weapons and kept on working.
13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
3- Remember (14)
3- Remember (14)
14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
“Remember the Lord”=
Remember whose side you are on.
Remember what he has done in the past.
Our faith is strengthened as we remember what he has already done and what he is capable of doing.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
That verse comes right after chapter 11 and all the great examples of faith throughout Scripture.
Remember the Who!
“Why” and “How” are not as important as “Who”.
Who are you serving?
CONCLUSION
How are you reacting to the battle waging in your life?
How are you reacting to the battle waging in your life?