THE RETURN FROM EXILE. Nehemiah 2:9-4:9 Opposition Begins

Transcription

1 THE RETURN FROM EXILE Nehemiah 2:9-4:9 Opposition Begins

2 Class Outline 1 I. Return #1: Under Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6) II. III. The Prophecy of Haggai The Prophecy of Zechariah IV. Return #2: Under Ezra (Ezra 7-10) V. Return #3: Under Nehemiah VI. The Prophecy of Malachi

3 Nehemiah Outline 2 I. The Cupbearer in Susa (1:1 2:8) II. The Governor in Jerusalem, 1 st Term A. The Rebuilding of the Wall (2:9 7:72) B. The Revival of the Nation (7:73 12:47) III. The Governor in Jerusalem, 2 nd Term (13:1-31)

4 Nehemiah Outline 3 I. The Cupbearer in Susa (1:1 2:8) II. The Governor in Jerusalem, 1 st Term A. The Rebuilding of the Wall (2:9 7:72) B. The Revival of the Nation (7:73 12:47) III. The Governor in Jerusalem, 2 nd Term (13:1-31)

5 The Rebuilding of the Wall Outline (2:9 7:72) 4 1. Nehemiah s Preparation to Build (2:9-18) 2. Opposition (2:19-20) 3. The Repairs Begin (3) 4. Opposition (4:1-9) 5. The Work Continues under Guard (4:10-23) 6. Internal Oppression Confronted (5) 7. Opposition (6:1-14) 8. The Wall Completed (6:15 7:72)

6 Nehemiah 2:9 5 Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.

7 The Persian Empire (444 BC) 6 450? 460

8 Nehemiah 2:10 7 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.

9 Nehemiah 2: So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding.

10 Nehemiah 2: So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon s Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King s Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass. So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.

11 Nehemiah 2: Then I said to them, You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach. I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, Let us arise and build. So they put their hands to the good work.

12 The Rebuilding of the Wall Outline (2:9 7:72) Nehemiah s Preparation to Build (2:9-18) 2. Opposition (2:19-20) 3. The Repairs Begin (3) 4. Opposition (4:1-9) 5. The Work Continues under Guard (4:10-23) 6. Internal Oppression Confronted (5) 7. Opposition (6:1-14) 8. The Wall Completed (6:15 7:72)

13 Nehemiah 2:19 12 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?

14 Nehemiah 2:20 13 So I answered them and said to them, The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.

15 The Rebuilding of the Wall Outline (2:9 7:72) Nehemiah s Preparation to Build (2:9-18) 2. Opposition (2:19-20) 3. The Repairs Begin (3) 4. Opposition (4:1-9) 5. The Work Continues under Guard (4:10-23) 6. Internal Oppression Confronted (5) 7. Opposition (6:1-14) 8. The Wall Completed (6:15 7:72)

16 15 The Repairs Begin (Chapter 3)

17 Nehemiah 3:5 16 Moreover, next to [Zadok] the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of their masters.

18 Nehemiah 3:12 17 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs, he and his daughters.

19 18 The Repairs Begin (Chapter 3)

20 The Rebuilding of the Wall Outline (2:9 7:72) Nehemiah s Preparation to Build (2:9-18) 2. Opposition (2:19-20) 3. The Repairs Begin (3) 4. Opposition (4:1-9) 5. The Work Continues under Guard (4:10-23) 6. Internal Oppression Confronted (5) 7. Opposition (6:1-14) 8. The Wall Completed (6:15 7:72)

21 Nehemiah 4:1 20 Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews.

22 Nehemiah 4:2 21 He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?

23 Nehemiah 4:3 22 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, Even what they are building if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!

24 Nehemiah 4: Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders.

25 Matthew 5:44 24 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

26 1 Timothy 2: First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

27 Nehemiah 4: Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders.

28 Nehemiah 4:6 27 So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

29 Nehemiah 4:7 28 Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry.

30 29 SAMAR- ITANS

31 30 SAMAR- ITANS

32 31 SAMAR- ITANS GESHEM & ARABS

33 32 SAMAR- ITANS GESHEM & ARABS

34 Nehemiah 4:7 33 Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry.

35 Nehemiah 4:8 34 All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it.

36 Nehemiah 4:9 35 But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night.

37 Conclusions 36 We will face opposition world, flesh, devil. Opposition should be confronted prayerfully. Opposition should be confronted Biblically. The World 1 John 5:4-5 The Flesh Romans 6:13, 8:5-8, 12:1-2, Philippians 4:8 The Devil James 4:7, Ephesians 6:10-20