Ridicule And Criticism Comes to Nehemiah
May 2, 2021
Commentary
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 Walls broken and gates burnedFalse accusation of the workersRidicule of the workersResponses Grief and prayer (1:4), and (1:2-3)Confidence that God would give (2:19)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 (NET)
1 (3:33) Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he became angry and was quite upset. He derided the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his colleagues and the army of Samaria he said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they be left to themselves? Will they again offer sacrifice? Will they finish this in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones to life again from piles of dust?”
3 Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”
4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Return their reproach on their own head. Reduce them to plunder in a land of exile! 5 Do not cover their iniquity, and do not wipe out their sin from your sight, for they have bitterly offended the builders.
6 So we rebuilt the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height. The people were enthusiastic in their work.
7 (4:1) When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem had moved ahead and that the breaches had begun to be closed, they were very angry. 8 All of them conspired together to move with armed forces against Jerusalem and to create a disturbance in it. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard to protect against them both day and night.
Illustration: Four Kinds of Bones in The World
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; The BACK BONES who shoulder the load and do the work. (Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).