Today’s passage: Nehemiah 4
Helpful thoughts:
- In today’s chapter, we see the methods of the adversaries to slow down or stop the building process.
- When the people had a mind to work they guarded the builders and continued working on building the wall, not arguing and defending their decision to build it against those who mocked and threatened.
- Some might be tempted to apply this passage in a way that motivates them to push forward in spite of any criticism no matter what. But, if the criticism is correct and founded upon truth, repentance is necessary.
- Nehemiah and the Jews were doing the right thing. Therefore it was right to reject these criticisms.
- King Ahab (for example) was often very wrong. It was wrong for him to reject the criticisms/rebukes of the prophets of the Lord.
Questions to consider:
- Ultimately, who are we to fear and seek to please? If the whole world disagrees with us but we are pleasing the Lord, what must we do? If only one speaks the truth in loving rebuke and the rest of the whole world agrees with us, but the Word of God says we should repent, what must we do?
- To whom did Nehemiah turn in the face of opposition and mockery? He had the approval and authority of the Persian king against any army that Samaria could assemble, but who was truly watching over the people of God? How can you be confident in walking and resting under the Lord’s will?
- What would be some key components to the command in 1 Peter 3:15? What would be the subject matter of that kind of conversation? Were Sanballat and Tobiah interested in asking those kinds of questions? When we are asked and when we do answer, how does the Word of God instruct us to proceed?