Adversary of the Wall (Nehemiah 4)
1. LESSON: Adversary of the Wall (Nehemiah 4)
- REVISE: Briefly run through the 10 gates of Jerusalem and what they mean (Nehemiah 3).
(can be a matching game)
- READ: Nehemiah 4:1-23
- The building project was underway — halfway through. What was the problem that emerged?
- Trouble-makers Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites were angry and conspired to attack Jerusalem and create confusion.
- Created doubts on their identity (“feeble Jews”) and ability (“Will they …?”)
- What was Nehemiah’s response?
- Prayed — “Do not be afraid. Remember the Lord!”
- We can rest because “our God will fight for us” (vs 20b)
- Rom 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
- Prayed — “Do not be afraid. Remember the Lord!”
- Set watch — positioned armed men behind openings of lower parts of the walls — half the men worked; half held spears/shields and bows; builders worked with one hand and held a weapon with another.
- We can put on the whole armour of God to stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph 6:11)
- What happened when the people looked to God?
- God brought the enemies’ plot to nothing (vs 15)
- SHARE: What is one challenge or opposition you are facing now? What lessons from Nehemiah can you learn and apply in your situation? Pray for one another.
