Neemia 4:1 - 6:14

Observații

1. Sanballat becomes angry and ridicules the Jews rebuilding the wall, and Tobiah mocks the wall(vv. 4:1-3)
2. Nehemiah prays that God would hear their reproach and not cover the enemies’ guilt(vv. 4:4-5)
3. The people rebuild the wall until it reaches half its height because the people worked with all their heart(v. 4:6)
4. Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod plot together to fight Jerusalem and stir up trouble(vv. 4:7-8)
5. The people pray to God and post a guard day and night(v. 4:9)
6. The people of Judah say the workers’ strength is failing because of the rubble, the enemies plan to kill them and stop the work, and the nearby Jews warn them ten times about attacks(vv. 4:10-12)
7. Nehemiah stations people by families with swords, spears, and bows at exposed places and tells them to remember the Lord and fight for their families(vv. 4:13-14)
8. When the enemies hear their plot is known and that God frustrated it, the people return to the work(v. 4:15)
9. From that day half the men work while the other half stand guard with weapons, and the builders work with a weapon at their side(vv. 4:16-18)
10. Nehemiah tells the people to gather at the trumpet because God will fight for them(vv. 4:19-20)
11. The people continue working from dawn until the stars appear and stay in Jerusalem at night as guards and workers(vv. 4:21-23)

Aplicații

• What opposition or discouragement am I facing, and how can I respond with prayer and perseverance?

Observații

1. The people raise a great outcry about famine, mortgages, taxes, and their children being enslaved(vv. 5:1-5)
2. Nehemiah rebukes the nobles for charging interest and requires them to restore the people’s property and interest(vv. 5:6-13)
3. As governor, Nehemiah does not take the governor’s food allowance and provides food for many people at his table(vv. 5:14-19)

Aplicații

• Where can I practice greater integrity and justice in how I treat people?

Observații

1. Four times Sanballat and Geshem send messages asking Nehemiah to meet them, but he refuses to leave the work(vv. 6:1-4)
2. Sanballat sends an open letter accusing Nehemiah of planning rebellion, and Nehemiah denies it and prays for strength(vv. 6:5-9)
3. Shemaiah urges Nehemiah to hide in the temple, but Nehemiah refuses and recognizes the plot against him.(vv. 6:10-13)
4. Nehemiah prays that God would remember Tobiah, Sanballat, and the prophets who tried to frighten him.(v. 6:14)

Aplicații

• What kinds of traps or distractions tend to pull me away from God’s work?