Trusting God in Work and Trials Nehemiah 4:1-14

I. The Opposition Grows - 4:1-5

• Sanballat and Tobiah initially questioned the legitimacy of Nehemiah's plan to rebuild the wall. As the work progresses, they move from defiant questioning (2:19) to taunting [4:1-2) to violence (4:7-8,11).
• In opposing the work, they are not setting themselves against Nehemiah, but against God who had sent Nehemiah to rebuild the wall. (2:8, 20)
• Verses 4-5: instead of retaliating, Nehemiah calls on God to bring justice. A defining mark of Nehemiah's life - he continually acknowledges his dependence on God through prayer (1:4-11, 2:4, 4:9, 6:9, 6:14, etc.)

II. The People Work - 4:6

• As we saw in chapter 3, the people faithfully labor to restore the wall.
• The task was not easy - it was exhausting (v. 10), but the builders did not give up
• This was more than just dutiful labor, "the people had a mind to work"
  literally: "it was in the peoples' hearts to do the work"

III. The Situation Turns Desperate - 4:7-12

• Those opposed to the building concocted a plan to attack the builders and destroy the work (v. 7-8,11)
• The strength of the builders was failing; discouragement was growing (v. 10)
• The Jews living nearby pleaded with the builders to come and defend them, which would have left the work vulnerable to attack (v. 12)

IV. Nehemiah Demonstrates Godly Leadership - 4:13-14

• Nehemiah demonstrates the relationship of faith and works, (v. 9, 13-14)
• He encourages the people to not be afraid and to fight, not because of their ability but because of the character and promises of God.

Principles and Application

1. We are called to work- but it should not be a joyless duty. - Psalm 100:2; 2 Cor. 9:7
2. Opposition and trials will come as we seek to build God's kingdom.

• Nehemiah's response (4-5) was to commit the problem to God in prayer, which is commendable, for he thereby recognized that the insults were directed as much against God as against himself and that vindication should come from his Lord rather than his own efforts. Nevertheless, the sentiments he expressed have been superseded for the Christian (cf. e.g. Mt 5:43-48; 18:21-22; Rom. 12:14-21), for whom the work of Christ has provided an assurance of the final victory of love which Nehemiah could not possibly have known.
  - DA Carson, et al - New Bible Commentary

3. Both in work and in trials: "Remember the Lord"-Matt. 5:11-12;
Matt 28:20;John 15:18, 20; John 6:33; 2 Timothy 3:12;
Hebrews 13:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:10