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. 

 

Nehemiah 3:23

Nehemiah 3:23 says, After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.  This verse lists two different groups repairing two different sections of the wall which were stated as building against their houses, which meant they were permanent residents of Jerusalem.  We will never be permanent residents of this world, but we are still to do our best to maintain it in the best order possible. 

Verse twenty-four adds, After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.  The ones repairing this section repaired it to the turning wall or corner.  This would have completed one side of the wall, and the corner will always be an important part of any structure since it ties two sections together.  I believe the corner between our faith and the way we live will always be a very important point. 

Verse twenty-five continues, Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.  This I believe would have been the start of another side of the wall, which was said to be by the king’s high house and the court of the prison.  These two things don’t seem like they would be in the same area, just as sometimes it may seem odd that we are called to work with someone who seems to be the opposite of what we are like. 

Verse twenty-six states, Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.  This section held the water gate and a tower. 

Verse twenty-seven adds, After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.  Matthew Henry points out that the Tekoites  had evidently finished the repair of their section mentioned in verse five and came to help in another section.  We should not just finish one area of work for God and declare ourselves finished but should always be ready to help others if they need help. 

Verse twenty-eight continues, From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.  This section was repaired by the priests, and it is said they all repaired by their house.  As a part of the priesthood of believers, we should always keep our own house in good spiritual shape.   

Verse twenty-nine says, After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.  We are not told anything about these men, except their names and the area they repaired.  People may know very little about the work we do for God, but He will, and that is all that matters. 

Verse thirty adds, After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.  Matthew Henry says that since this says his chamber and not his house that this man was likely not a permanent resident of Jerusalem, but someone who was just there temporarily, but he still took part in the repair.  As stated before, we are not permanent residents of this world, but we are charged with doing our best to take care of it. 

Verse thirty-one continues, After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner. 

Verse thirty-two concludes, And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.  Once more we have craftsmen and merchants involved in the repair and they came to another corner.  No matter what our occupation may be as followers of Christ, we are all equal in following His will