Don't Despair - Nehemiah 2:19-20; 4:1-23 - March 15, 2009

Sunday School Lesson – Don’t Despair – March 15, 2009

This is lesson three (3) in our bible study series entitled “Stepping Up to Serve.”

Our scripture is Nehemiah 2:19-20; 4:1-23.

Serving our LORD is, often, no easy task. This is why believers must be prepared both spiritually and physically when they seek to serve HIM. In our earlier study, we discovered that Nehemiah prayed to determine his role in what GOD had placed upon his heart. When GOD confirmed his role, then he prepared for the physical things he needed for the project. He waited and looked for the opportunity GOD had provided for him to speak to the king. GOD opened the door in a mighty way and HE granted Nehemiah “success for the day.” This must have been a moment of rejoicing when the king responded in such a generous manner. It confirmed that GOD was leading the effort and not him.

When believers know for certain they are doing the will of GOD and it has been confirmed, these anchors, mile-stones or physical assurances become important when opposition and despair arise.

There is a small congregation of 110 people in Poland who are restoring their church. The church is over 150 years old and is located in a city of over 400,000 people and 7 Universities. It is the only Baptist church in the city of Szczecin. It is located across the street from a prison. The prison houses those charged with a crime until their cases have been resolved. Those visiting loved ones in prison, line up and have to wait in line for 45 or more minutes. The church has a ministry to the prisoners and they want to open a coffee shop in the church to minister to those waiting in line.

Their building is a multi-story structure which was converted to an apartment building during the communist rule after World War II. When Poland chose not to be communist in 1989, the new government wanted to return the building back to its original owners, the Baptist.

It would have been less expensive for the Baptist to demolish the building and rebuild than to renovate the structure but the Polish government declared the building a historical site, therefore, it could not be torn down. So they are faithfully seeking resources from wherever they can to renovate the building. They began gathering resources years ago but they did not begin the restoration until they had enough resources to begin. They have begun the restoration. I have visited their church and to me it was a mammoth job. It has been a joy to watch how the LORD has provided. As we have been studying Nehemiah, my thoughts shift to the huge job these believers have in renovating their church.

They still have a long way to go but with the help and guidance of the LORD they will make it. We have a fund at our church called the Poland Partnership to help them with funds for the renovation effort. Please pray for this church as they are preparing the main structure of the church. This has to be done by certified contractors. Then pray that funds will come in for them to purchase materials to have on site and that the LORD will lead Carpenters for Christ from South Carolina to go to Szczecin in February/March, 2010 to do the interior work.

Carpenters for Christ is an amazing group of skilled workers who donate at least one week per year to work for Christ in construction projects. They have strict guidelines that must be followed. They arrive at a destination ready to work long hard hours to get a job done in a week. Everything must be in place for them to begin – all permits in order, all materials needed to complete the project on site, etc. They mean business.

Nehemiah means business and he is doing the will of GOD but he has to deal with opposition. So what does he do?

Let’s read Nehemiah 2:19-20:

19 When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard [about this]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , they mocked and despised us, and said, “What is this you’re doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 I gave them this reply, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”

Sanballat (san BAL uht), Tobiah (toh BIGH uh) and Geshem (GESH ehm) were leaders in the Persian Empire. Earlier, we read that Sanballat and Tobiah did not like the fact that Nehemiah was en-route to help the Israelites. But Nehemiah had a letter from the king authorizing him to go to Jerusalem. They likely thought that Nehemiah would get to Jerusalem, see the deplorable conditions and decide helping them would be a waste of time and effort. However, news got back to these government leaders that the Israelites agreed to rebuild the walls and gates of the city.

There had been bickering among these groups for years. Sanballat was governor of Samaria. Samaria had been the capitol of the former northern kingdom of Israel until they had been conquered by Assyria. Jerusalem had been the capitol of the southern kingdom until it had been conquered by the Babylonians. Tobiah was an Ammonite. Ammon was east of the Jordan River. The Israelites and the Ammonites fought over the land between them.

These government leaders were charged with the responsibility to prevent any group, in their area of jurisdiction, from becoming a problem and threaten Persian rule in that area. They were using their position, coupled with their prejudice, to prevent the Israelites from becoming a viable entity in that area. However, Nehemiah knew he was on solid ground both spiritually and physically.

These government leaders raised questions regarding the motives of the Israelites to rebuild, such as - surely they were planning to rebel against the king. Fortunately, the king and Nehemiah had a good relationship and the king had sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem with his blessings, provisions and a military escort.

Nehemiah’s reply was that “The GOD of Heaven is the ONE Who will grant success.” The GOD of the Israelites would be the ONE to grant success. Nehemiah wanted those potentially opposing them to know they would be opposing the true GOD of Israel and not some man-made god. It is easy at the end of a project to give the credit to GOD. But it takes faith and assurance to take a stand before a project has been completed, especially when conditions look near impossible, to give the credit to GOD.

Notice that Nehemiah used the words “we” and “HIS servants” in verse 20 in his communication to the government leaders. This had to be a testimony to these leaders once the walls and gates were restored.

These government leaders’ desire was to defeat the project before it began. Satan’s desire is to defeat every believer who desires to serve the LORD. He will throw up every road block he can to discourage and defeat. But know it is the will of the FATHER for every believer to have a loving, intimate relationship with HIM. But the choice is ours. We have a free will to choose. How do you choose?

Let’s read Nehemiah 4:1-6:

Progress in Spite of Opposition

1 [1] Neh 3:33 in Hb When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews 2 before his colleagues and the powerful men[2] Or the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore [it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” 3 Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!” 4 Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from Your sight, because they have provoked[3] Or provoked [You] in front of the builders. 6 So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its [height]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , for the people had the will to keep working.

Ridicule and mockery are powerful tools for people to use when they want to discourage others; especially when they come from people of influence. Tobiah said that the walls were so weak that if a fox climbed up on them they would collapse.

Nehemiah knew what he was doing. Excavations of the wall built during this period reveal that the walls were about nine (9) feet thick. But none-the-less statements from those of influence carry weight to others.

The leaders tried to raise doubts about the building materials they were using. I understand that when limestone is subjected to fire, it becomes soft and can crumble.

So the government leaders attacked their ability and the materials they had to use to restore the walls.

Nehemiah simply went to GOD in prayer and requested that those making those remarks would have their remarks returned to them. The Bible tells us that vengeance is mine says the LORD. In GOD’S timing and according to HIS plan and purpose, the day would come when those making these remarks would be punished.

This was not Nehemiah’s project but GOD’S project. Believers need to stay focused and pray as they do the will of THE FATHER.

Let’s read Nehemiah 4:7-14:

7 [4] Neh 4:1 in Hb When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night. 10 In Judah, it was said:[5] Lit Judah said The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall. 11 And our enemies said, “They won’t know or see anything until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” 12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again,[6] Lit us 10 times “Everywhere you turn, [they]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. attack[7] Or again from every place, “You must return to us.” 13 So I stationed [people]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”

So when ridicule did not discourage the people, the government leaders plotted to take military action. So they planned a surprise attack to throw the Israelites into confusion and to change their focus on completing the task to defending themselves and their family.

Intelligence is a good thing. Nehemiah learned of their plan for a surprise attack. He did not panic, he prepared. He placed people by families at the low point or weakest point of the wall. This was the more likely place for the enemy to try to launch a surprise attack. He reminded the people that the LORD was on their side because this was HIS project and they were serving HIM.

Placing people equipped to defend themselves at every low place in the wall, where they could be seen, served its purpose. Those guarding the wall could be seen by the enemy. Appearance of being prepared is 90% of the game plan.

Again, he had confidence in GOD. He did not say we will leave it to GOD but he took action. Nehemiah encouraged the people to be willing to fight for a national cause blessed by GOD. GOD was their strength and they knew that GOD had been the strength of their forefathers. They could physically see that GOD had provided for them to be able to begin rebuilding the wall. They had hope for the first time in many years. The future of their family depended upon them taking a stand.

As we face these uncertain economic times look to our LORD for hope.

Let’s read Nehemiah 4:15-23:

15 When our enemies realized that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16 From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah, 17 who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. 18 Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the trumpeter was beside me. 19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated far from one another along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the trumpet sound, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!” 21 So we continued the work, while half of the men were holding spears from daybreak until the stars came out. 22 At that time, I also said to the people, “Let everyone and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.” 23 And I, my brothers,[8] Neh 1:2 my men, and the guards with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing.[9] Lit Each his weapon the water; Hb obscure

When the government leaders realized that the Israelites were aware of their plan to attack and they were prepared to fight, they changed their minds and retreated. Never-the-less, Nehemiah did not lower the guard of the city. They continued the work while staying ready to fight.

The Christian life is the same way. Believers are under the constant threat of the enemy attacking while they serve the LORD. Believers must remain on alert as they work. It is a big mistake for believers to think when they are serving the LORD that they do not need to stay prepared to do battle. Believers are in a spiritual battle 24/7. If they drop their guard or become complacent then opportunity for trouble is ready to take place. Ask GOD, through the HOLY SPIRIT, to reveal the weak places in your lives and be extra cautious as HE helps you fortify them. Even when you feel strong in the LORD never become complacent or think you are beyond being vulnerable.

Any believer is capable of falling and Satan is ready to pounce on any believer the instant he/she drops his/her guard.

Nehemiah was faced with an overwhelming task. He continued to pray and maintain his dependence upon GOD to guide him and give the Israelites confidence to be willing to risk their lives and continue the work.

Despair, discouragement and ridicule are very powerful tools Satan uses to defeat believers from serving our LORD. During these days of economic uncertainty, life can be very unsettling. Believers must rely upon the LORD. Pray and seek HIS guidance as you continue to work as HE leads you.

We need to pray for those who can pass or change laws that will influence our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren. Fortunately, we have the right to elect those who represent us in our nation, state and local governments. Believers must exercise that right and voice their concerns.