Laying the Foundation
Tonight, we examine the second stage of opposition that Nehemiah and the wall builders encountered from the hands of their opponents. When intimidation did not work, they tried sneak attacks… Wonder if Nehemiah will call the National Guard?
Round Two: A Conspiracy Theory ________________________________
7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night. 10 In Judah, it was said: The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall. 11 And our enemies said, "They won't know or see anything until we're among them and can kill them and stop the work." 12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, "Everywhere you turn, they attack us."
13 So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes." 15 When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. [Nehemiah 4:7-15]
Biblical Foundation_________________________________________________
Since Sanballat’s psychological warfare campaign against the Jews failed miserably, the enemies of the Jews realized they needed a fresh approach to stopping the wall construction…and they needed it NOW! Given the pace of the construction, there was no time to lose. Sanballat and his partners came up with a plan which they thought would turn the tide of the events to their favor.
Principles to Live By_______________________________________________
The Jews were definitely ahead at half-time as they went into the locker room. Nehemiah was clearly a better quarterback. Sanballat, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to get his team across the line of scrimmage, let alone in the end zone. When the second half came, things were different. Nehemiah’s team had worked their hearts out in the first half. They were physically and emotionally exhausted. That is when Sanballat brought in fresh recruits and a completely new set of plays.
Principle 1
Persevere
Nehemiah and the Jewish workers were energized and excited about what they were doing. They had attacked the project with a spirit of unity and zeal to serve the Lord. But once they reached the halfway point in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem they faced a normal motivational problem. Even in the best of times, it’s easy to let down when you’re halfway there. Furthermore, in the face of Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s mockery, they had used up an incredible amount of emotional and physical energy.
Principle 2
Hope
When Nehemiah and the Jews heard of the secret plot to attack Jerusalem, they met this “corporate threat” with “corporate prayer.” Nehemiah’s personal prayer model was paying-off. He reported, “we prayed to our God”. They had all learned that prayer and hard work go hand-in hand. However, their strategy did not yield immediate results. Word kept pouring in of an impending attack. Guards were posted at night. Predictably, the task before the children of Israel began to look bigger than it really was. The piles of rubbish seemed to be getting bigger!
Principle 3
Example
Nehemiah had modeled for the Jews both how to pray and how to work hard. However, anxiety and fear spawned by daily rumors grew in the hearts of the people. Nehemiah knew he had to keep hope alive. He called both leaders and people together and challenged them to reject fear and trust God. In addition to guards, whole families were put in harm’s way to protect the project. In view of the threat of annihilation, Nehemiah challenged them to fight for their country, their families, and their homes. He would not let a deteriorating situation alter his objectives and his motivation. He would not give up!
Tonight, we examine the second stage of opposition that Nehemiah and the wall builders encountered from the hands of their opponents. When intimidation did not work, they tried sneak attacks… Wonder if Nehemiah will call the National Guard?
Round Two: A Conspiracy Theory ________________________________
7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night. 10 In Judah, it was said: The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall. 11 And our enemies said, "They won't know or see anything until we're among them and can kill them and stop the work." 12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, "Everywhere you turn, they attack us."
13 So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes." 15 When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. [Nehemiah 4:7-15]
Biblical Foundation_________________________________________________
Since Sanballat’s psychological warfare campaign against the Jews failed miserably, the enemies of the Jews realized they needed a fresh approach to stopping the wall construction…and they needed it NOW! Given the pace of the construction, there was no time to lose. Sanballat and his partners came up with a plan which they thought would turn the tide of the events to their favor.
Principles to Live By_______________________________________________
The Jews were definitely ahead at half-time as they went into the locker room. Nehemiah was clearly a better quarterback. Sanballat, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to get his team across the line of scrimmage, let alone in the end zone. When the second half came, things were different. Nehemiah’s team had worked their hearts out in the first half. They were physically and emotionally exhausted. That is when Sanballat brought in fresh recruits and a completely new set of plays.
Principle 1
Persevere
Nehemiah and the Jewish workers were energized and excited about what they were doing. They had attacked the project with a spirit of unity and zeal to serve the Lord. But once they reached the halfway point in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem they faced a normal motivational problem. Even in the best of times, it’s easy to let down when you’re halfway there. Furthermore, in the face of Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s mockery, they had used up an incredible amount of emotional and physical energy.
Principle 2
Hope
When Nehemiah and the Jews heard of the secret plot to attack Jerusalem, they met this “corporate threat” with “corporate prayer.” Nehemiah’s personal prayer model was paying-off. He reported, “we prayed to our God”. They had all learned that prayer and hard work go hand-in hand. However, their strategy did not yield immediate results. Word kept pouring in of an impending attack. Guards were posted at night. Predictably, the task before the children of Israel began to look bigger than it really was. The piles of rubbish seemed to be getting bigger!
Principle 3
Example
Nehemiah had modeled for the Jews both how to pray and how to work hard. However, anxiety and fear spawned by daily rumors grew in the hearts of the people. Nehemiah knew he had to keep hope alive. He called both leaders and people together and challenged them to reject fear and trust God. In addition to guards, whole families were put in harm’s way to protect the project. In view of the threat of annihilation, Nehemiah challenged them to fight for their country, their families, and their homes. He would not let a deteriorating situation alter his objectives and his motivation. He would not give up!
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