The larger second half of Nehemiah 4 contains a second form of opposition to the governor’s work, the threat of physical violence. Nehemiah introduces the problem in verses 7 and 8 and describes how he met it in verses 9-23. The introductory verses say, “But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.”
The larger second half of Nehemiah 4 contains a second form of opposition to the governor’s work, the threat of physical violence. Nehemiah introduces the problem in verses 7 and 8 and describes how he met it in verses 9-23. The introductory verses say, “But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.”
We are now going to see the forms such opposition takes. In this and the next two chapters (chapters 4-6) we will see how opposition came to Nehemiah and how he successfully contended with many different forms of opposition and overcame it.
In yesterday’s study, we looked at two reasons why people do not like when someone else succeeds. Today we consider some other reasons.
Opposition is almost always caused by success and not failure. So the first thing we should know, if we are trying to do something worthwhile and are being opposed, is that it is because we are achieving something. We should be encouraged by it.
Not only did Nehemiah coordinate the work so that no gaps were left and all worked closely to another. He seems to have arranged the work in part also for the convenience and motivation of the workers. Many were assigned to (or chose) portions of the wall in front of or directly adjacent to their houses. This would be convenient for all, since no time would be lost in commuting back and forth or in going home for lunch. And it would ensure good work. A person would be certain to build strong walls where his own house needed to be protected.
Yesterday, we considered some of the different types of workers Nehemiah used to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Today we look at some others who were also involved.
The second striking but also obvious thing about Nehemiah’s approach to the work of rebuilding the walls is that he assigned different teams of people to each part. First, he divided the project into sections. Second, he made his assignments. This is what the chapter is primarily about. It is a list of those who rebuilt the gates and each adjoining section of the walls. I want you to see two important things about this today.
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