UNROLL
Last light on Jerusalem’s half-built wall, its top flat and level: in the lower third a lone builder stands on the scaffold, seen from behind, a basket on one shoulder and a spear in his other hand, a sword at his side, looking out over the darkening valley; above, a calm, empty sky of deep rose fading to blue, with the first star.

The Book of

Nehemiah 4

Mocked, plotted against and worn out, they prayed, posted a guard, and kept building.

23 verses≈ 5 min2 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–2The callA cupbearer prays and is sent
  2. 3–6The wallBuilt under fire in 52 daysChapter 4
  3. 7The peopleThe families remembered
  4. 8–10The WordRead, confessed, sworn
  5. 11–12The citySettled and dedicated
  6. 13The endingPromises broken, reforms again

The Work Ridiculed

Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation.

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Sanballat

He ridiculed the Jews before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”

Tobiah

Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders.

So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious, and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance.

SamariaAmmonTo ArabiaJerusalemAshdod

Stylised map · locations approximate

Where it happened

On every side

Samaria to the north, Ammon to the east, Ashdod to the west, Arabs to the south: when they joined together, Jerusalem had enemies on all sides.

Reflect

When they laugh

The mockers asked whether feeble people could really do this. The builders answered by laying the next stone. Who or what is telling you it can’t be done? What is your next stone?

Discouragement Overcome

So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.

Nehemiah 4:9

The Israelites
The Israelites

Meanwhile, the people of Judah said:

“The strength of the laborer fails,

and there is so much rubble

that we will never be able

to rebuild the wall.”

Their enemies

And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”

Jews from nearby

At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

Nehemiah
Nehemiah

So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.

Evening on a rubble mound inside Jerusalem’s rising wall: Nehemiah, in a dark-green mantle with a short sword at his belt, stands in the lower third with one hand raised, speaking to nobles and men holding spears and tools, seen from behind them; lamps being lit below; above, a calm, empty evening sky.

After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

0:14

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall.

Pray

For those who build

Pray for those who build while others threaten them: believers who work under pressure, and those near you who are worn out. Ask God to show them His greatness, and to fight for them.

And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah

who were rebuilding the wall.

The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side.

Nehemiah
Nehemiah

But the trumpeter stayed beside me.

Nehemiah
Nehemiah

Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”

Nehemiah

Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome

Nehemiah 4:14

Question

Quick question

Half the men stood guard while the others built.

How did the laborers who carried materials work?

You’ve experienced

Nehemiah 4

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A verse to carry with you

After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Nehemiah 4:14

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