Nehemiah 4:1

Nehemiah 4:1 says, But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.  Sanballat. a Samaritan leader, heard that the Jews were rebuilding the wall and became very angry and began to mock the Jews.   If we as followers of Christ begin to do a great work in the world today, many of those in power in the world are going to oppose and mock us.  We even see Christians mocked in the entertainment industry, often being presented as somewhat deranged for believing in God or religious zealots who are attempting to destroy other people in the name of God and being looked down on or laughed at.  We cannot allow this to keep us from worshipping and serving God. 

Verse two adds, 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 asked his fellow Samaritans what the feeble Jews were doing.  He also asked if they would fortify Jerusalem and offer sacrifices to God once more.  People may mock Christians as feeble people today and look on our worship services as a waste of time accomplishing nothing, but just like the people rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, if we are sincerely worshipping God, the opinion of the people of the world should not really matter to us.  Only God’s opinion is important. 

Verse three continues, 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.  Tobiah, an Ammonite, joined Sanballat in mocking the work that the Jews were doing, saying the wall was so weak that a fox could knock it down, but he forgot that God was behind the rebuilding.  We may be viewed as weak and our work as inconsequential as we follow God’s will today, but if He is behind what we are doing, spiritually it will always be more powerful than what the world may throw at us. 

Verse four states, 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, having heard of their scorn, prayed to God about the situation. He asked that God turn their reproach upon themselves and that they be taken away captive.  I don’t believe that we should pray that God will take our enemies away captive, but as followers of Christ we should pray for their redemption instead.  I don’t believe that we should ever rejoice that anyone, even our worst enemy, dies to suffer everlasting punishment. 

Verse five adds, 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 then asked that those who were scoffing at the rebuilding project not have their sins forgiven, because they had provoked God to anger.  I will state once more that we should not pray that the sins of our enemies not be forgiven, but instead we should pray that they will repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and have all their sins forgiven.  Nehemiah said he asked this because these scoffers had provoked God to anger.  I don’t believe that we should try to tell God how He feels about a situation but must simply bring our concerns to Him and trust Him to resolve the situation the way He wants to. 

Verse six continues, So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.  Still, the people rebuilding the wall continued to work until it was completely rebuilt.  We don’t need to be concerned about what the people of the world may think of our work for God today but must continue to do what He has called us to do, no matter what the people of the world may think.