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Nehemiah Builds The Walls Biblical Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Ezra Teaches The Law Nehemiah Builds The Walls A Renewed Remnant Biblical Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Once again, the remnant’s enemies show anger re: the wall’s progress vv. 1-3 Sanballat mocks the Jews in the presence of other Samaritans He calls the Jews “feeble” and questions their ability & resolve to finish the wall Tobiah also “chimes in” with ridicule

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 The Scripture reveals this is a familiar “tactic” of God’s enemies when His people do His work 1 Pet 3:13-16 4:3-4 2 Pet 3:3-4 Jude 17-23 The intention is to break the human will… if successful, nothing gets accomplished

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Nehemiah did not respond in kind…he didn’t get into a “mud slinging contest” Rom 12:17-21 This would have been easy to do It takes faith in God and spiritual character to not verbally retaliate 1 Pet 2:23

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Once again, Nehemiah prays vv. 4-5 Like he did before 1:5-11a 2:4 He asked God to deal justly with those who were opposing him Technically, a “Prayer of Imprecation” Psa 35, 58, 59, 69, 83, 109, 137, 140 Gal 1:8-9 2 Tim 4:14

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Once again, Nehemiah prays vv. 4-5 His prayer also illustrates the attitude Paul encourages for N.T. Christians Phil 4:6-7 Whatever anxieties we have, God wants us to bring them to Him in prayer Only then will we be able to enjoy “peace”

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 The remnant showed their resolve v. 6 Under-estimated by Sanballat & Tobiah Earlier, they had quit Ezra 4:4 Not this time…all this mocking served to motivate the remnant They “…had a mind to work”

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 The remnant showed their resolve v. 6 Applications for present-day N.T. disciples “A mind” to know the Lord’s will Jn 7:17 “A mind” to be involved in the Lord’s collective work 2 Cor 8:12, 5 With this mind, we can do anything… without it, we can do nothing

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 The enemies’ next step vv. 7-8 Their mocking was unsuccessful Now, they’ll try brute force…they aligned themselves for an attack on Jerusalem to cause disturbance

Sanballat (Samaritans) The remnant is surrounded !! Neh 4:7-8 Sanballat (Samaritans) Tobiah (Ammonites) Ashdodites Arabs The remnant is surrounded !!

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Response TO the threat vv. 9-14 Nehemiah didn’t panic or give up He prayed (...again) v. 9a 1:5-11a 2:4 4:4-5 He also set up a guard to stand watch day & night v. 9b

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Response TO the threat vv. 9-14 Proper first step = prayer to God Yet, we still must do all we can to help ourselves Consider Eph 6:10-18 as a N.T. parallel Be strong in His might & pray vv. 10, 18 We still must put on the armor vv. 11-17

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Response TO the threat vv. 9-14 A saying was circulating in Judea… “The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet, there is much rubbish; And we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall.”

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Response TO the threat vv. 9-14 A saying was circulating in Judea… Different than the slander from the enemies Slander & mockings from the outside can be dismissed or ignored easily Doubts & fears expressed on the inside can undermine the Lord’s work

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Response TO the threat vv. 9-14 The enemies’ plan v. 11 Overwhelm the remnant…they wouldn’t know what hit them or from where until it’s too late They didn’t just want to stop the efforts at rebuilding the wall…they wanted to kill the remnant

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Response TO the threat vv. 9-14 The enemies’ plan was thwarted vv. 12-14 Those living outside Jerusalem told the remnant in the city 10 times…the “element of surprise” was lost Nehemiah stationed men in “exposed places” and armed entire families for battle

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Response TO the threat vv. 9-14 The enemies’ plan was thwarted vv. 12-14 Nehemiah also exhorted the remnant re: their fear “Do not be afraid…remember the great & awesome God…fight for your brothers, sons, daughters, wives, homes”

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Response AFTER the threat vv. 15-23 The enemies saw they had been thwarted... (that God had frustrated their efforts) They apparently gave up…the remnant returned to their work v. 15 Nehemiah divided up the remnant…half stood watch while half worked v. 16

Work On The Wall Continues Neh 4 Response AFTER the threat vv. 15-23 Even those who worked held a weapon in one hand v. 17 A bugler was ready to sound an alarm in case of an attack vv. 18-20a Our God will fight for us !! v. 20b A constant state of readiness vv. 21-23

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