1 THE WAY PEOPLE TALK Nehemiah 4:10-15

2 People are going to talk. People are going to have their say about things, right or wrong. What is said is an indication of what is in the heart. For it is out of the “abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). It behooves us to be sure of what we say in spite of what others say.

3 The importance of speaking right things is stressed in the book of Nehemiah (Cp. 4). We find what “Judah said.” That which the “adversaries said.” We learn what “Nehemiah said.” People were talking on at least three occasions, but a great deal is learned from the “way people talk.”

4 Understanding the setting. Nehemiah had returned from captivity and had undertaken the repair of the walls of Jerusalem for such were “broken down” (1:3). Different groups were given assignments. One group would be working in one place, and the “next unto them” would be another.

5 The location of the groups can be found in Neh. 3:2,4,5,7,8,9,10,12. In the midst of all this activity, one will hear people talking. What sort of voices will you hear? There Is A Voice Of Doubt “The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubble; so that we are not able to build the wall” (4:10).

6 This is equal to saying “we can’t”. They would reach a point where they would stop and not try. They would fail to put forth the effort required for them to move through the rubbish. They would view the situation as being insurmountable. These were the words of the people of Judah.

7 How often have we heard, or said, “it cannot be done.” When looking around, you can see someone doing what they said could not be done. It is not uncommon to hear people talk about those things that cannot be done, when it can actually be done and they are capable of it.

8 There Is A Voice Of Defiance These were the warnings and sarcasm of their adversaries. “And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease” (4:11). Came from avowed enemies of cause.

9 They refused to stand aside and let the work continue. They opposed it with all their might. This is nothing new, for the Devil has always opposed what God would have done. He varies his method of opposition. He will oppose good works one way or another.

10 There Is A Voice Of Determination After hearing the negatives, it is now time to hear from Nehemiah. It is time for the work to have a boost. Somebody ought to be able to do something good.

11 This is where the leadership of Nehemiah surfaces: “And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord which is great and terrible, and fright for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses” (4:14).

12 Nehemiah refused to stand back and let this good work be destroyed. He disallowed those within or without to stop such an effort. It would have been a sad day for the cause had he not risen to encourage them. What would have happened had he chosen to bash their work?

13 You would never find good men involved in any such talk as this! It is to Nehemiah’s credit, that in spite of what others would say or do, the work would go on and succeed. SO WILL IT EVER BE!

14 The way the people talk is an indication of what is in their heart about the work. The way the people talk is an indication of what is in their heart about the work. What is in your heart? What is in your heart?