Lesson 4 - Nehemiah 4

Studies in NEHEMIAH

Build and Guard

Whenever the people of God start doing the work of God, there will be opposition. A worker of weak faith and purpose will quit, but a person of resolution and confidence will overcome the opposition and finish the job. Nehemiah was such a person. Notice in this chapter the opposition that he faced (from both within and without the city) and the victories that he won.

I. RIDICULE (4:1-6)

God’s people always have enemies. In this case, they were Sanballat, a government official in Samaria; Tobiah, the Ammonite; and Geshem, an Arabian, who is also called Gashmu (6:1, 6). These three wicked men were outside the nation of Israel; in fact, the Ammonites were definite enemies of the Jews (Deut. 23:3-4). Their first weapon was ridicule; they mocked the “feeble Jews” openly before the leaders of Samaria. Satan is a mocker (Luke 22:63; 23:35-37). Ridicule is a device used by ignorant people who are filled with jealousy. They mocked the people (“feeble Jews”), the plan (“will they finish in a day?”), and the materials (“stones and rubbish”). How did Nehemiah answer them? He prayed to his God! His concern was only for the glory of God and the testimony of the nation, so do not read personal revenge into his prayer (see Ps. 139:19-24). Note that the people still worked as they prayed, for prayer is no substitute for work. Satan would have loved to see Nehemiah leave the wall and get involved in a dispute with Sanballat, but Nehemiah did not fall into Satan’s trap. Never allow ridicule to stop your ministry; “take it to the Lord in prayer” and keep on working. He kept on building, watching, and praying.

II. FORCE (4:7-9)

What Satan cannot accomplish by deceit he attempts to do by force. What a confederation of people we have in v. 7! And all of them conspired against the Jews. It is amazing how the devil seems to have no manpower shortage. We have two enemies in 2:10, three in 2:19, and a whole multitude in 4:7. But “if God be for us, who can be against us?” How did Nehemiah face this new attack? He prayed and set a watch. “Watch and pray!” is a repeated admonition in the NT; see Mark 13:33 (the world), Mark 14:38 (the flesh), and Eph. 6:18 (the devil). Note that Nehemiah did not depend on prayer alone; he also set a watch. He kept on building, watching, and praying.

III. DISCOURAGEMENT (4:10)

The battle moves now from outside the city to inside. Satan followed this same tactic in Acts 5-6 when he used Ananias and Sapphira and the complaining widows inside the fellowship of the church. He also used Judas inside the ranks of the apostles. How discouraged the workers were, with all that rubbish on the inside of the city and the danger lurking on the outside. Why did the tribe of Judah complain? Perhaps it was because they were secretly in league with Sanballat (6:17). Note in 13:15 Judah’s disobedience to the Law of God. When they said, “We are not able!” (v. 10), they were actually agreeing with the enemy (4:2). Discouragement and complaining spread rapidly and hinder God’s work. We do not read that Nehemiah paid much attention to their complaint. He kept on building, watching, and praying. Page 2 IV. FEAR (4:11-23)

Fear and faith can never abide in the same heart. In v. 11, we have a rumor the enemy started that their armies would suddenly invade Jerusalem. The Jews living outside the city heard this report and carried it to Nehemiah ten times. How persistent Satan’s workers can be. Finally, Nehemiah set the guard on the walls and encouraged the people not to fear. Note that the work stopped from v. 13 to v. 15—exactly what the enemy wanted. Nehemiah saw the folly of this plan, so he put the workers back on the job, a weapon in one hand and a tool in the other. He also set a special watch with trumpets (vv. 19-20), but he did not allow the work to stop. These Jews are wonderful examples of what a Christian worker ought to be: they had a mind to work (4:6), a heart to pray (4:9), an eye to watch (4:9), and an ear to hear (4:20). He kept on building, watching, and praying.

Remember to pray for God's guidance and direction as you study each day. Write out your own answers for each question; don't merely copy down a passage or rely on other resource books for your answers.

Day One

Thought for the Day

This is the fundamental thing, the most serious thing of all that we are always in the presence of God.

Lord, I am both grateful and fearful that I am always in Your presence. Bring this thought to the front of my mind whenever I am tempted to satisfy desires that do not come from You.

Read Nehemiah 4:1-6 and answer the following questions.

In the last chapter, Nehemiah gave us an overview of how the work was organized and accomplished. He now returns to describing the work, and the opposition that began to arise during the building process.

1. What was Sanballat's emotional state when he learned about the accomplishments made on the wall (verse 1)? How did Tobiah's "joke" (verse 3) simply encourage him all the more?

2. Sanballat's "anger" literally could have been translated from the Hebrew as "his nose became hot." It was an emotional term describing the heat of anger just after it has been ignited, or exasperation after something being stirred up to a heated condition.

A. What are some wrong ways of handling angry emotions when they are stirred up in us?

Proverbs 14:17

Proverbs 29:11 Page 3 B. What are better ways to handle these emotions?

Psalm 37:4-8

Ephesians 4:22-24

3. What were some of the things the enemy said to try to discredit the work? How could statements such as these discourage us today in our efforts to accomplish some task for the Lord?

4. In what two ways did Nehemiah respond to these attacks (verses 4-6)?

5. Nehemiah's prayer may seem harsh at first glance, but remember, he was praying for God's justice to be done rather than for revenge. How should we as Christians handle our "enemies?"

Matthew 5:43-45

Romans 12:18-21

6. They didn't give up, but kept building with their hearts being all the more committed to the work. To have a mind for the work that God would have us to do, we must have the mind of Christ. How does Philippians 2:5-8 describe this?

7. Scripture Memory: This week's verse is Ephesians 6:10. Repeat it several times each day, and you'll be surprised how well you will have it memorized by the end of the week. Don't forget to review the other verses you've been learning! Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Ephesians 6:10 Use the rest of today's time learning this memory verse.

Day Two

Thought for the Day If you bemoan a wasted past, make up for it in the present, give yourself entirely to living at this present moment. Page 4 Lord, help me to realize that the bad decision I made yesterday does not obligate me to make another one today. Give me the courage to break the cycle of bad decisions even though I may have to admit to others that I have been wrong.

1. When the opposition's plan didn't work, and they saw the wall being built up and its gaps repaired (Hebrew for healing or health being restored to soundness), how did they respond (verse 7-8)? What type of discouragement were they now trying to use?

2. What was the Israelites' two-fold response again (verse 9)?

3. The half-way point of any project is most dangerous. Many people give up at this point, just prior to when they would see God really work a change despite the difficult circumstances they were in. How did Judah begin to crumble under these circumstances (verse 10)?

4. How did this begin to affect the other workers (verse 11)?

5. We are often sidelined by circumstances when we lose sight of the eternal perspective, or the vision that God has given us. These people felt incapable of completing the work because of the amount of rubble and broken stones to be removed, and the Hebrew implies that they were being "led away" from the work. How can we regain the eternal focus when under attack of the enemy?

John 15:18-21

Colossians 3:1-10

II Corinthians 1:3-6 Hebrews 12:1-3

6. Scripture Memory: Insert the missing word/phrases (by memory if possible) below. Review the verse several times today. Ephesians 6:10: “Finally, my Page 5 ______, be strong in______, and in the ______of His might." Ephesians 6:10

Day Three

Thought for the Day

The really great periods in Protestantism have been characterized by the realization of the need for discipline.

Lord, teach me to discipline my thoughts as well as my behavior. Help me focus my thinking on You so that when I am faced with a decision I know immediately what choice You would make.

1. How did Nehemiah organize the people in view of these threats (verse 13)? What important strategy did he use?

2. Nehemiah then challenged the people. What two-fold challenge did he give them (verse 14)?

3. The Hebrew word for "remember" means to impress and pierce onto the memory, declare, and bring to mind. Without this proper focus on the Lord, they would have faced defeat and abandonment of the work. In the following passages, what are some things you can "pierce onto the memory" of your heart to better stand when the enemy attacks?

II Chronicles 20:5-12

Psalm 119:9-11

Isaiah 26:3-4

II Corinthians 10:3-5

Hebrews 2:18 Page 6 Hebrews 13:5b-6

4. Which of the above passages helps you the most in the situations you find yourself in today?

5. Scripture Memory: Insert the missing words/phrases below (by memory if possible). You should have this memorized soon! Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, ______, be ______in the ______, and in the ______of ______." Ephesians 6:10

Day Four

Thought for the Day

Our view of the doctrine of grace is such that we scarcely ever take the plain teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ seriously

Lord, You said that no one but You is righteous, and sometimes I use that as an excuse for my own unrighteousness. Help me to realize that I am to pursue Your righteousness, not my own.

1. What was the result of the people's response to the enemy's attack (verse 15)?

2. How did they continue to stand strong against the enemy's threats (verses 16-17)?

3. What further instructions and provisions did Nehemiah make for the people in case of attack (verses 18-20)?

4. How else were the people constantly ready and alert against the enemy's schemes (verses 21-23)?

5. They worked all day, six days a week, even until it was too dark to see to work anymore, and kept a guard alert at all times. What a picture this is of our Christian service: Serving with our whole hearts until that day we go to be with Him, all the while being on guard against the enemy (Satan). What else can we learn about this from the following passages?

John 9:4 Page 7

Romans 13:11-14

I Peter 5:8-9

6. Scripture Memory: Insert these missing words and phrases. You should be able to do so by memory now. Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, ______, be ______in______, and in the______of ______." Ephesians 6:10

Day Five

Thought for the Day

The gospel of Jesus Christ openly and uncompromisingly announces itself as being something that starts with a narrow entrance.

Lord, thank You for showing me the narrow way. Give me the courage to follow it and the determination to stay on it to the end.

Spotlight: Our Spiritual Weaponry

Our memory verse this week has been urging us to be continually strengthened by the active power that is available to us from the Lord. Also, earlier this week we read II Corinthians 10:3- 5, which told us that our warfare is not something of this world, but it is spiritual in nature. Our own natural abilities will never achieve the victory won already for us at the Cross of Christ. We must follow Paul's urging in Ephesians 6:11 to clothe ourselves with the full armor of God, or else we will be spiritual victims rather than victors. It is through God's intervention, using His equipment for both attack and defense, that we will see spiritual victory. Let's study through some of that weaponry available to us listed in Ephesians 6:13-18.

A. According to Ephesians 6:12, who do we actually wrestle against? What does I John 2:15-16 add to our list of enemies?

Note: The example of wrestling against our opponent shouldn't be taken lightly. In Greek wrestling contests, the loser had his eyes gouged out! We're fighting for our families, our lives, our churches, and the work God has called us to do.

B. How extensive of a warfare should we be waging (Ephesians 6:13)? How much effort does God expect from us in our fight? Page 8

C. List here what each piece of armor symbolizes, and why you think it is spiritually important:

Breastplate:

Footwear:

Shield:

Helmet:

D. What are your two offensive weapons listed in Ephesians 6:17-18?

E. How can prayer be used as an offensive weapon? Can you share how prayer has helped you or others in spiritual battle? Also see Mark 14:38.

F. God's Word is our mightiest weapon. How do the following passages emphasize the use of His Word in spiritual battle?

Matthew 4:1-11

Ephesians 6:17b

Hebrews 4:12

Scripture Memory: Write out this week's verse, completely by memory if possible: Ephesians 6:10, “ .” Ephesians 6:10 Page 9

Day Six

Thought for the Day

The one urgent question confronting every man is the question, what of yourself? Do you possess your soul?

Lord, give me the courage today to say no to the pleasures of sin and the will to say yes to You. Help me to find myself by losing myself in You.

Practical Applications

1. How are you handling the threats and discouragements the enemy brings your way? Based on the lessons we've learned this week, what new tactics can you now apply to these times of trial and distraction?

2. How can you help a fellow Christian that is facing discouraging times?

3. Are there any areas of your thought life that need to be made more like Christ? How can you focus your thoughts more along the lines He would have you think?

4. List several specific ways you can "pierce into memory" the Lord and His working, perhaps recalling His faithfulness in the past in your life, so that you can better stand against the enemy's attacks and accusations.

5. How can you more effectively use the spiritual weapons and armor that God has given us? Are there any particular pieces of armor that you have been neglecting? How can you begin to better see victory over sin by their use?

6. The Israelites had a rallying trumpet. When blown, they would all gather together for the fight. One day, we all will be gathered together at that last great trumpet blast, forever to be with the Lord. For now, however, He still wants us to have a more rallying place to gather together for fellowship, so we can more effectively go back out for service.

A. How can you better be taking advantage of opportunities to gather together for such crucial encouragement and preparation for the battle at hand? Page 10 7. Scripture Memory: By now you should be able to write out this week's verse by memory. Ephesians 6:10: " ______." Ephesians 6:10

Weekly Challenge (Optional)

What "rubbish" is there in your life that is slowing you down from victorious living and service? Why not take some time to pray, and then write these things out on a sheet of paper. After you are done, confess each of these to the Lord, and ask Him to enable and equip you to overcome these areas so that you are running the race without the constraints of this unnecessary baggage. Finally, destroy the list! God has removed from you all that separates us from Him. Get rid of that rubble once and for all! Remember Gayle Erwin’s story about the garbage truck? The Lord comes by and picks up the trash in our lives leaving us white as snow. “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103: 11-12)

"The greatest difficulty in the Christian life is to get to the place where one is prepared to admit that the whole thing is too big for him, and if his Jericho is to fall, then, somehow, God must bring it about... Before God entrusts any of His people with a real measure of spiritual power, victory, and blessing, He brings them to a place from where they have surveyed Jericho so long that they have come to see that its conquest is absolutely hopeless. God expects nothing more from us than failure, yet we spend years trying to make ourselves something other than a failure." --Alan Redpath Victorious Christian Living, p. 105