This Week with the Word

The Uniform Lesson for May 18
Background & Commentary by Sam E. Stone

Someone observed, “If you never encounter any opposition, it may mean you’re headed in the wrong direction!” Nehemiah certainly did face opposition, from the start of his time in the land of Judah and right on through all of his efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Last week we watched him provide visionary leadership to the remnant of the nation now living there. Even though he came with the blessing of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Sanballat and Tobiah (two leaders in the region) opposed his efforts (Nehemiah 2:19, 20). Despite this, the builders of the wall made significant progress (3:1-32). This did not stop Nehemiah’s detractors, however, as we learn in today’s study.

Anger and Ridicule/Nehemiah 4:1-3

Verses 1, 2. When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are these feeble Jews doing?” Nothing enrages a critic like the success of the people he is criticizing. Sanballat’s “army” may have been a group of irregulars, or some of his bodyguards. They continued to make fun of the Jews, hoping to break their spirits. They asked the Jews four sarcastic, rhetorical questions, concluding with, “Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” When the temple was destroyed, the attackers set fire to the limestone blocks, leaving them calcified and weakened. “Can you make them as good as new?” their enemies taunted.

Verse 3. Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!” Tobiah used this familiar image to make fun of them (see Lamentations 5:18).

Prayer and Action/Nehemiah 4:6-9

Verse 6. Nehemiah’s immediate response, not surprisingly, was to pray (Nehemiah 4:4, 5). As we have seen in this month’s previous lessons, Nehemiah had the wonderful habit of being prayerful in every situation (compare Philippians 4:6). After this, he declared, “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.”

Verses 7, 8. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s wall had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. Sanballat and his cronies did not think the Jews were capable of carrying out the project, nor did he believe that God had the power to help them. The Jews were now virtually surrounded by enemies—Samaritans on the north, Ammonites on the east, Arabs on the south, and Ashdodites on the west. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. The devil is eager to put obstacles in the path of any good work. He does not hold ultimate power though!

Verse 9. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Two young boys were walking to school together when the warning bell rang. “I’m afraid we’ll be late,” said one. The other replied, “Let’s stop and pray!” His friend shook his head, hurrying on. “Not me! I’m going to run and pray!” Nehemiah and his followers were like that. They not only prayed, but they also acted, posting a guard for protection.

Confidence and Completion/Nehemiah 4:13-15; 6:15

Verse 13. Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. Like a strategic military tactician, Nehemiah posted a guard. The low points in the wall—the most vulnerable areas—would now be protected. The enemies could see the guards from a distance and would be hesitant to attack, knowing that the people were prepared to defend themselves.

Verse 14. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to . . . the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” He reminded them of the family members they were protecting and of the powerful God whom they served.

Verses 15 and 6:15. When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work. The Lord’s hand was seen and acknowledged in this turn of events. The workers continued to rebuild the wall. Nehemiah also helped the poor (5:1-13). More opposition arose, but the work went forward (6:1-14). The wall was completed . . . in fifty-two days (6:15). In this amazingly short time, the wall around Jerusalem (some 2,860 yards in length) had been restored.

This was accomplished because the people were faithful in their duties—“each to his own work” (4:15). A similar expression is used in the New Testament to describe the responsibility Christians have to minister in the Lord’s kingdom. Jesus told a story about a man who left his house in the care of various servants, assigning “to each one his work” (Mark 13:34, New American Standard Bible). He warned that no one knew when the master would return. The moral is clear: be watchful and work faithfully for the Lord. Finish the task. |L

Sam E. Stone is the former editor of Christian Standard. He continues his writing and speaking ministry from his home in Cincinnati, Ohio.