Ridicule And Criticism Comes to Nehemiah

Someone has written that there are four kinds of bones in the world. The WISH BONES who spend their time wishing someone else would do the work; The JAW BONES who do all the talking, but very little else; The KNUCKLE BONES who knock everything that anyone else is trying to do; Th … More

Work

Whenever someone sets out to accomplish a work for God there will be those who oppose it. The Bible Knowledge Commentary lists three of Nehemiah’s problems and responses up to this point:

Problems
  1. Walls broken and gates burned
  2. False accusation of the workers
  3. Ridicule of the workers
Responses
  1. Grief and prayer (1:4), and (1:2-3)
  2. Confidence that God would give (2:19)
  3. Prayer (4:4-5) and greater diligence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Sanballet hears what Nehemiah has done he becomes very angry (v. 1). He uses the means of criticism and mockery to discourage the Jews. He even speaks to the army of Samaria and suggests that Nehemiah’s workers are incapable of completing the project (v. 2).

A possible reason for him speaking to the Samaritan soldiers is that the rebuilding of Jerusalem could have a big impact on their economy. Tobiah joins Sanballet in opposing the work as he criticizes the quality of the work (v. 3).  Opposition always brings God’s people to their knees. We can see how prayer was a consistent part of Nehemiah’s approach to problem-solving.  He asks that God will take these enemies into captivity and that they will be judged for their sins (vv 4-6). As a result of this kind of praying we see the people had a unified purpose and a compelling desire to finish the work.

Application

I need to be determined to finish the work God has called me to do even in the face of opposition and discouragement: just like Nehemiah and the people were in his day.

Nehemiah 4:1-9 (English Standard Version)


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