TEXT: Nehemiah 4:1-6:19

SUBJECT: Studies in Nehemiah #4: Opposition

Today brings us to the fourth sermon in our study of Nehemiah. As the builder of God's city, he anticipates our Lord Jesus who came to construct a kingdom that knows no end. What do the chapters teach us of Christ? Two lessons come to mind.

In the first place, God's work provokes opposition. Nehemiah was not an obnoxious man looking for a fight. But the moment he began work on the walls of Jerusalem, he found one. Several, in fact.

Some of the enemies were foreign. The Horonites, the Ammonites, the Arabs, and the Ashdodites nursed long and bitter grudges against the people of God. Nehemiah must have expected their leaders to oppose his work.

His other foes came from his own people. The lazy noblemen of Tekoa, the greedy exploiters, and especially the traitors. Shemaiah, for example, was on Tobiah's payroll. So were other leading men, including the prophets and members of the priesthood!

In short, "Those who hated [Nehemiah] without a cause were more than the hairs of [his] head; they were mighty who would destroy [him]".

The adversaries employed a wide range of tactics. In ascending order, they tried:

The enemies were relentless in their opposition to God's work. If one tactic failed, they tried another; if it failed, they went to a third; and then back again. Distraction, mockery, slander, threat. On and on it went. Fifty two days without a moment's rest. Not even time to change clothes! Intense and ceaseless pressure was applied to Nehemiah and his workers.

The enemies were not monolithic. Their goals and motives differed. The lazy men of Tekoa, obviously, were not as sinister as the paid spies of Sanballat. But the effect was the same: God's work was impeded.

The opposition to Nehemiah foreshadowed another attack on God's work, the attack on Christ. Was anyone more hated than He? Anyone more maligned? Anyone more persecuted? Anyone subjected to a more shameful death? He was uniquely "a man of sorrows". The sorrows were not of His own making, but were inflicted from without.

He was opposed, of course, by fallen angels and evil men. Satan tempted Him sorely in the wilderness. The Lord's crucifixion was his "hour and power of darkness". The demons raged against Him. The Rulers envied Him. Judas betrayed Him. Herod brutalized Him. Pilate scourged Him. The fickle mob preferred Barabbas. The Romans crucified Him. Even the thief cursed Him with his dying breath.

"Many hands were raised to wound Him,

None would interpose to save".

Better people hurt Him too. His mother scolded Him for "being about [His] Father's business". His brothers called him a madman. The disciples jockeyed for position in His kingdom. Peter, James, and John fell asleep on Him in His hour of need. Peter denied Him with oaths. To a man, all His friends forsook Him.

The tactics used against our Lord were no different than those which so upset Nehemiah.

The motives and goals differed, of course. Peter was foolish at times, but never evil, like a Judas or an Annas was. Yet even he was "An offense to [Christ] because [he] did not savor the things of God, but the things of man".

The similarities between Nehemiah's opposition and our Lord's are not coincidental. Nor did I impose them on the text. For the work of God in a fallen world inevitably produces conflict. The world needs this work, desperately, but doesn't want it--and abhors it. Paul put it this way: "All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution".

"Must I be carried to the skies

on flowery beds of ease,

When others fought to win the prize

and sailed through bloody seas?"

If our Savior reaches glory by way of the cross, dare we seek it by another way? We cannot. The work of God provokes opposition.

The work of God overcomes opposition.

Nehemiah's enemies were real, many, clever, powerful, and deadly earnest. They were not, successful. They did their level best to defeat his purpose, but utterly failed. Why? Because God was with Nehemiah in the work, of course. But that's not all. Nehemiah fought them tooth and nail!

His chief tactics were three: watchfulness, prayer, and fortitude. He armed his work force, organized a security detail, and devised a strategy to repel the invaders.

But he did not trust himself, his plans, or his workers for victory. That he placed in God. Thus, in his every crisis, we find Nehemiah praying for the defense of his people.

Fortitude played a vital role in his triumph. The enemies never gave up. But Nehemiah outlasted them all. He simply did not surrender to his fears or to weariness or to frustration. He put his hand to the plow, and didn't look back.

What animated him in his work? He ruminated on its importance. "I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down". Nothing could deter him because rebuilding the wall was his priority. Unlike so many others, Nehemiah had a single eye.

In this way too, he foreshadows our Savior.

His enemies were like "the bulls of Bashan surrounding Him". They took on the qualities of wild and vicious beasts. They would have terrified a lesser man, cowed him into silence. But not our Lord! He stood up to His enemies--and to His fears--and beat them all.

In the Garden He "watched and prayed" as no man ever has. And not in the Garden only. Watching and praying were his habits. And fortitude? No one had more of it. "He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem". "I must work the work of Him who sent Me while it is called day". "Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be done". "What shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this hour I came! Father, glorify Your Name".

What gave Him the courage and patience to endure such hardship? The completion of God's work. "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is not sat down at the Right Hand of God".

In other words, He did not set His mind on Himself--how badly He was treated or how much he hurt--but upon completing His mission in life. Which He did, to His eternal glory and our eternal life.

If the Head of the Church must face deadly enemies, so must we, the Body of Christ. Some are external and obvious. Others are within and subtle. But they must be identified, fought, and beaten. And beaten they can be, for

"We are more than conquerors

through Him who loved us".