2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
Sanballat has nothing else to do but stir up trouble. Anyone who listens to Sanballat is behaving foolishly. He attacks the Jews by calling them weak, can they make themselves safer? do the Jews think that an offering given to God will suffice their safety? Will they make the stones come alive out of ashes? All in all, Sanballat is questioning God's authority. It was God who said build. If God started the project, then those that work for God have no problems.
3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
Birds of a feather fly in the same area. Tobiah thinks it is funny by saying the work was weak. These are grown men talking. When people are miserable, they cannot understand peace.
4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
Nehemiah hears what his enemy is saying. Nehemiah prays and asks God to listen. He further tells God they are being bullied. He asks God to return the words spoken to them back to the speaker.
5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
Nehemiah is saying do not let these men who speak against your Word be left unpunished. These guys are causing people to become discouraged and that angers you, Lord.
6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
Nehemiah believed God. He prayed about his concerns and continued to do what he had to do. God gave the people a mind to work. That is what we need, a change of mind. A good leader prays for the people. The leader prayed and God responded by motivating the followers.
7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
Sanballat saw the work moving forward. That made him even more upset. What causes people to respond to Sanballat? I do not know. However, seeing people prosper should stir you up to want to do better. But, some people think they are called to arouse trouble in other people's lives.
8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
Sanballat called others to come along with him to fight against Jerusalem. In other words, Sanballat said it is time for us to fight against God.
9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
Sanballat harrasses again. Nehemiah prays and adds additional support to bring comfort to the men and women who were working.
10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
Judah is becoming discouraged. The strength of God is diminishing. Huh? When we sound like this, the ways of the world are speaking through us. Some saw that much work needed to be done, they forgot God already knew it and has a plan to keep things moving.
11 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.
The adversaries heard and saw the progress. They wanted to ambush God.
12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.
10 times the enemy breathed threats. There is a limit to the work of the adversary. Because they said what they would do, is not the same as saying what they did.
13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
Nehemiah was determined to complete what he started. When he heard of the enemy's plot, he put things in place.
14 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 fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
Nehemiah continues to encourage all the people. When God starts the assignment, He will finish.
15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
The enemies found out that Nehemiah knew of their plot, but, God focused on the work of the people. Everyone continued to work.
16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
Nehemiah continued the work. He strategized a plan that allowed one half to work and the other half stood guard.
17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
The people had a mind to work and they prepared a way to protect themselves so that they could finish the job.
18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.
20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.
Nehemiah was a good leader
He had a job to do for God
He let nothing get in his way
He had to finish what he started
The enemy showed up in a rage
Because he had nothing else to do
He made his threats and insulted God
But nothing he said came true.
God was there and saw it all
He gave the people a mind to work
If you ever want to see God get mad
Try and stop the work of His Church
The people of God had weapons
And a whole lot of work to do
1/2 worked and 1/2 watched
And God is there to see them through
So don’t ever be discouraged
When God is your boss
If the enemy tries to play his games
Game over! he’s already lost.
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