Episodes
Monday Jun 26, 2017
Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community: The Problem. Nehemiah 4:1-23
Monday Jun 26, 2017
Monday Jun 26, 2017
Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community
The Problem
Nehemiah 4:1-23
The Naysayers Return (v. 1-6)
- Sanballat: Leading political official of Samaria residing at Beth-horon in Ephraim
- His anger at the rebuilding of the wall was because he saw it as a threat to his influence in the area
- Anger is often the world’s response to God’s work because it threatens the powerful and the status quo
- He even questions the builders’ commitment to God (v. 2b)
- His anger at the rebuilding of the wall was because he saw it as a threat to his influence in the area
- Tobiah: An Ammonite official whose family claimed to Jewish roots to Jerusalem
- He tries to undermine the quality of their work (v. 3)
- Even though archaeological excavations found Nehemiah’s wall to be about 9 feet thick
- Nehemiah’s response:
- Prayer (v. 4-5): Trusting God to deal with these accusers
- Determination (v. 6): The work continued
The Plot (v. 7-14)
- The naysayers’ anger turns to plots of violence to stop the work (v. 7-8)
- Again, Nehemiah and the people turn to God in prayer (v. 9)
- And they set guards where the wall was the weakest/shortest
- The work in these areas was overwhelming for those who lived closest (v. 11)
- So they asked for help! (v. 12)
- Their neighbors stepped up to help defend the gaps (v. 13)
- Being encouraged by Nehemiah to trust God (v. 14)
The Plan (v. 15-23)
- They continued working despite the opposition
- Keeping defenses close at hand throughout the work
- If an attack came, they had a plan to rally to where they were needed (v. 20)
- Nehemiah encouraged those from outside the city to stay in the city while the work took place (v. 22)
- Which meant people opened their homes to one another
- They stayed ready for battle at all times (v. 23)
So What?
- As we seek to do God’s work in our community, we will face opposition
- Because it means a change to the status quo
- We must trust God to fight for us
- As we continue with diligence and prayer
- The Church must model love and support
Meditation Verse: Neh. 4:
Version: 20230822
Comments (0)
To leave or reply to comments, please download free Podbean or
No Comments
To leave or reply to comments,
please download free Podbean App.