The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.”- Chesterton

As long as the people in Jerusalem were content with their sad lot, the enemy left them alone; but, when the Jews began to serve the Lord and bring glory to God’s name, the enemy became active. Satan wanted to use problems as weapons to destroy the work, but God used them as tools to build His people.
Referring to Satan, Paul wrote, “For we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11). This chapter presents four of Satan’s devices for opposing the Lord’s work, and it also tells us how God’s people can be steadfast and defeat the enemy. If you start building, you will soon be battling; so, be prepared!

TAUNTS: 4:1-6 Think about the taunts and Nehemiah’s response. How do they attempt to undermine their resolve? Where have you faced mockery in your life as you tried to live for Jesus? Who mocked you? Why where they angry? What emotions do you struggle with during?

4:1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. 6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

PLOT 4:7-10 Here we see that the response of the people to trust God and continue work on the wall continues to anger the enemies of Gods work. Consider the response to the rumors of their enemies plotting to attack. Where have you felt rumors and plotting against the church or in your personal life? How do these rumors affect your resolve?

7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. 10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”

THREATS 4:11-14: At this point there are actual threats against the people of Judah. Now those friends and family who didn’t volunteer to help are urging to stop the work out of real concern for their safety. Have you ever felt threatened for your faith? Where have you experienced the pressure from friends or family? Does remembering God and his attributes give you courage for living a life in Christ against opposition?

11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” 13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

On Guard: 4:15-18 Consider what it must have felt like to work under the threat of war at any moment. How do you think it would feel to work under that kind of pressure? How does a heightened sense of danger help in building the wall? What dangers do YOU face when you put down your sword to work, your protection to pray?

15 When our enemies hear that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

Rally Cry: 4:19-20 (read Gal 6:1-10) What’s the purpose of the trumpet? How does this correlate with you belonging to a church body? Do we practically rally to thwarts of attacks on the church? When we rally for one another where does our courage and strength come from? How does this affect your understanding of community? How does that excite or discourage you from being a part of community?

19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

Be Prepared: 4:21-23 Are you prepared for spiritual battle? Why were the workers sleeping on the wall? How do you live out these principles in your call to build the kingdom of God? When have you not been prepared? What did it look like? What was the consequence?

21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.

TROWL: What has God burdened you to build?
1. A Spiritual Life?
2. A Marriage?
3. Children?
4. Business?
5. Ministry?

SWORD: How can you best defend what you are building?
1. A Spiritual Life?
a. Defending against apathy with a vision to glorify God in all things
b. Defending against false teaching with study
c. Defending against demonic attack with prayer
d. Defending against isolation with meaningful Christian friendships
2. A Marriage?
a. Defending against division with a unified theology
b. Defending against temptation with accountability and regular intimacy
c. Defending against folly with wise friendships
d. Defending against bitterness with forgiving grace
3. Children?
a. Defending against danger by carefully choosing who has access to you children
b. Defending your daughters by fighting for their purity
c. Defending your sons by fighting for their masculine dignity
d. Defending against financial ruin by saving, investing, and insuring.
4. Business?
a. Defending against law suits with good bookkeeping and records
b. Defending against employee turnover and theft with adequate hiring, fair compensation, and respect.
c. Defending against purposelessness by connecting your business to a meaningful kingdom purpose
5. Ministry?
a. Defending against sin by modeling and proclaiming repentance
b. Defending against false teachers by fighting for the truth
c. Defending against insufficient funds with generous tithing.
d. Defending against distractions and competing agendas with a clear focus on Jesus.