Sermon Tone Analysis

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Anger
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We read in that the Jews began building the walls of Jerusalem;
when we turn to chapter 4
we discover that this project was carried out in the face of ruthless and unrelenting opposition.
The instigators of this unprovoked attack were two of the evil trio whom we met in : Sanballat (4:1) and Tobiah (4:3).
They were assisted in their vicious assault on God’s people by ‘the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod’ (4:7),
who lived in the land once occupied by the Philistines,
long-standing enemies of the Jews.
The builders were encircled, with
Sanballat in the north,
Tobiah in the east,
the Arabs in the south and
the Ashdodites posing a threat in the west.
However, God does not desert His people
but gave them strength and courage
to come through their various trials.
He supported His people not only because of His
special love for them,
but also because he had His eye on the future of the Jewish race.
The survival of the Jews was tied in with the salvation of the elect drawn from all nations.
The leadership of Nehemiah and the faith of the Jews were tested to the limits.
Nehemiah’s handling of harassment, and the subsequent temptation to discouragement,
is full of instruction for those feeling the pressure of the Lord’s work.
The way that we deal with frustrations in Christian service and in our personal lives shows what kind of people we are.
I’ll give you a verse of truth that has to sink deep into the fabric of our lives
— ...“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
Those are the words of the apostle Paul after his first missionary journey!
Knowing the reality of spiritual opposition beforehand as we “run … the race that is set before us” ()
will help us avoid becoming too discouraged or drawing false conclusions—
thinking that opposition signals God’s disapproval of us and that we should change course immediately.
We often, in a less-than-subtle way, draw the conclusion that lack of opposition
means God’s favor,
when in fact the opposite can be the case.
With the work of rebuilding begun, one of Nehemiah’s tasks was to reassure his brothers and sisters
that the opposition they immediately faced, particularly its severity,
was nothing more than what they should expect.
Indeed, they should take comfort from it,
knowing that it was evidence that what they were doing was a good thing—
and Satan hates a good thing and will always endeavor to destroy it.
The title of this message is in the form of a question: Where is your confidence?
There are many things that cause us to lose our confidence in the work of God.
Like them we might be
discouraged — Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.”
fearful — And our adversaries said, “They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease.”
vulnerable 12 — So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, “From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.”
So being discouraged, fearful, and vulnerable might cause our confidence in God to be shaken a bit.
So in v1-9 speaks about the opposition outside the ranks and discouragement and doubt within in v10-23.
So Nehemiah realizes that the Lord’s people and the mission of God are in serious trouble.
And like Paul, Nehemiah would discover that trials and tribulations enables discerning Christian to unearth hidden treasure
In Paul put it Paul speaks about the Father of mercies and God of all comfort
comforting believers who are in trouble and
Paul speaks about the Father of mercies and God of all comfort comforting believers who are in trouble and that in Christ Jesus comfort abounds in the midst of our sufferings.
that in Christ Jesus comfort abounds in the midst of our sufferings.
As we look at the text together, let’s see a few things:
CONFLICT IS INEVITABLE
Nehemiah 4:1–3 — 1 But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing?
Will they fortify themselves?
Will they offer sacrifices?
Will they complete it in a day?
Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?” 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”
— 1 But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing?
Will they fortify themselves?
Will they offer sacrifices?
Will they complete it in a day?
Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?” 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”
Initially, trouble comes from outside the ranks; that menacing duo resume the opposition.
Sanballat, angry and greatly incensed about the excellent start made on Jerusalem’s walls, ridiculed the workers (1) and,
before long, his friend Tobiah was at his side with further undermining taunts and destructive sneering (3).
The verbal onslaughts are followed by menacing plots to fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it (8).
These men know that if they are to wreck the project, damaging words must be supplemented with dangerous weapons.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”
has sometimes been taught to our children, but the statement carries little or no truth.
Words do hurt, and mental intimidation has often sapped the energy from the most powerful and brave.
The success of the building program was in large measure dependent on the harmonious work of the forty-one different sections.
Their united front was therefore something at which Sanballat aimed his verbal missiles,
hoping that the collapse of one or two groups would lead to a domino effect,
as one after another the builders succumbed to collapsed morale under the strain of fear.
Attacking their competence, ability, resolve, and tactics, Sanballat lobbed word missiles in their direction.
This kind of ridicule and intimidation has always been something that the church has had to face.
When Jesus told the professional mourners in Jairus’s house that his daughter was not dead but asleep
(though physically, she certainly was dead), they laughed him to scorn ().
When Paul spoke to Governor Festus about Jesus Christ, the response was: “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind” ().
So conflict is INEVITABLE.
Did the mental intimidation work?
To the extent that Nehemiah took it seriously, the answer seems to be yes!
This is where we see that 2. PRAYER IS CRUCIAL.
This prayer is broken into two sections: Nehemiah prays on behalf of the people and the sections ends with corporate prayer by the people.
Nehemiah’s prayer is found in — 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!
5 Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.
Notice Nehemiah’s response to the enemy’s assaults is to turn to God.
I want you to see some of the things that the Holy Spirit records for us concerning this prayer.
He prays Urgently.
His response is to hurry into the presence of God, to the audience chamber of God.
Remember in 2:20 in the presence of these same men, he had declared his conviction that the God of heaven would give success to the builders.
Which has to be more that inspiring rally cry, we learn that heaven’s Lord must be sought for earth’s needs.
Our God isn’t just the source of ultimate victory but also the Giver of immediate help!
In turning to the Lord, Nehemiah knew that there was nowhere else he could go.
This created an urgency in prayer.
He also prayed honestly.
Nehemiah was angry about their ridicule.
They had despised the workers and poured insults on their heads.
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