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June 23, 2023

Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.

Reading along with us in Nehemiah? Here’s today’s reading:

Nehemiah 4 (NIV)

Opposition to the Rebuilding
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?..…..Continue Reading

Next: Nehemiah 5

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This Post Has 12 Comments
  1. The faith of the Jews knows no bounds. Their determination and faith is amazing. They are amazing role models in their words and actions. I pray that my faith in God grows as well.

  2. Seems like a good model to follow during adversity: First – pray for the Lord’s help, then organize and protect yourselves. Trust on the Lord to thwart the plans of the enemy.

  3. Nehemiah’. Man of great faith in the face of resistance. Even going before the king go ask for safe passage and lumber to complete his mission. All starts with a deep desire to see Gods desires completed on earth. And you know to bathe all things in prayer. Then step out with great faith. Great picture of someone using their God given gifts to complete an impossible task. To bring order to building the Jerusalem wall in. 52 days. Yikes. Impossible. But a great leader motivates many. The opposition threatens the Jews. Nehemiah knows to pray and ask God for protection. But has the wisdom to arm his country men along with prayer

  4. The enemy was very angry that the walls were being built. They tried to stop the walls from being built calling the workers names but this wasn`t working so they threatened to fight against those who were building the walls. Every time Nehemiah went to pray before God with certain requests. Verse 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.] Verse 5a [ And cover not their iniquity—–] Even while praying to God, Nehemiah did what he could do and put his prayers into action. Not just him praying but the people also. So he set a watch against the enemy day and night. While half the men worked the other half had the watch. Also while the workers worked they also carried a weapon to be ready to fight. Also if the enemy came for battle the men would gather where Nehemiah would be. For the man who would sound the trumpet would be with Nehemiah. He was very organized. This would allow the men to fight as one where ever the danger appeared. This is what we should be as Christians. Always ready to defend the faith not with physical means but spiritual means. We need the whole armour of God. [ Ephesians 6;10-18 ] Of course if our families are in physical danger we should protect them. We should be standing in the gap. May the Lord richly bless us as we seek the lost to win and go on to make disciples of all nations. It starts at home and then through the local churches. Are we the people that God wants us to be/ God bless us and work in us.

  5. This chapter reminded me of 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
    When we face adversity we must be faithful that God is with us and will protect us. We also must use the good sense He gives us and make provisions. They trusted God and they prayed for His protection and then took practical steps with weapons and guards to help keep people safe.

  6. Nehemiah 4:6 So built we the wall, and the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. Old memory verse.

    Good reason for it. Difficult work must start somewhere, and progress will be measurable. In the midst of toil, not half done, Israel had a common mind to do the work, and see it done.

    I must have the mind to work too, in whatever is set before me. Gordy

  7. What a great chapter of courage in the face of opposition and wise planning by Nehemiah. Wherever the work of God is and whatever form it takes, it should be no surprise that opposition will rear its head. First they start with belittling and then with threatening. Things we may have and/or will face, and yet Nehemiah turns to prayer and does what we can do as well to ask God to thwart our enemy’s plans. And even though they may be all talk and no action, Nehemiah sets plans in motion to keep the work on the wall going as well as providing protection. How important it is not to stop the work at the first sign of opposition. And what a great picture of people carrying material for the wall and having a sword in hand as well. It is good to see that trusting God is not contrary to putting things in place to play our part. But even with sword in hand, the battle belongs to the Lord and we can trust Him to work on our behalf even as we work on His, dealing with our enemies and helping us get the work done.

  8. Great testimony of persevering in the face of adversity. Also a good balance of God’s provision and man’s responsibility and obedience. God could have physically built a wall, God could have killed off their enemies or physically deterred them. The people’s will to build the wall, serve the Lord, and persevere demonstrated their faith in action.

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