Nehemiah Chapter 4

Enemies Try to Stop the Work
A. Sanballat and Tobiah ridicule the work of God.

1. (Nehemiah 4:1–3) The attempt to discourage the workers.

“But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.” (Nehemiah 4:1–3, KJV)

a. When Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation: The progression of opposition is important to observe. When Sanballat and Tobiah first heard that someone had come to seek the welfare of Jerusalem, they were grieved. When the work was proposed, they mocked and attempted intimidation. Now that the work was actually underway, their response escalated to fury and indignation. Opposition often intensifies when God’s work moves from planning into action.

b. And mocked the Jews: Their primary weapon was discouragement through ridicule. Sanballat spoke publicly, surrounding himself with allies and military presence, attempting to amplify the effect of his words. His questions were not sincere inquiries but sarcastic attacks designed to humiliate and weaken morale. He referred to them as feeble Jews, questioned their ability, their methods, their timeline, and even their materials.

i. Will they sacrifice: This implies mockery of faith, as if seeking God through worship and prayer were foolish substitutes for real strength. The suggestion was that prayer was impractical and ineffective.

ii. Will they make an end in a day: This was ridicule of the scope of the project, implying that the Jews were naive and unrealistic. The work was indeed large, and humanly speaking, beyond their natural strength.

iii. Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned: This mocked the poor condition of the materials. The stones had been charred and broken from the Babylonian destruction, and the enemy highlighted this weakness.

iv. Like most discouraging attacks, there was a measure of observable truth. The people were not strong builders. The materials were damaged. The task was enormous. However, the attack ignored the most important truth of all, that God was with them and had called them to the work. Discouragement often mixes truth with unbelief, presenting facts without faith.

v. Discouragement is powerful because it is the opposite of faith. Faith looks to God, His promises, and His power. Discouragement looks at circumstances, limitations, and obstacles, and forgets who God is.

c. If a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall: Tobiah’s comment added mockery upon mockery. In calling it their stone wall, Tobiah revealed his fundamental error. This was not their wall. It was God’s work, God’s city, and God’s purpose. To ridicule the wall was to ridicule what God was doing.

i. Those who constantly criticize God’s work often fail to recognize it as God’s work at all. Because they dislike the method or the people involved, they conclude that God cannot be in it. The same danger exists when speaking of the church. The church belongs to Christ, and He loves His bride. Careless criticism of God’s people is ultimately criticism directed toward God Himself.

d. They had no authority to stop the work: Nehemiah possessed legal authority from the king, as documented earlier by official letters. Sanballat and Tobiah could not lawfully halt the construction. Therefore, discouragement was their only weapon.

i. This pattern repeats in the life of the believer. The Christian has been legally set free by the King. Satan cannot revoke salvation or nullify God’s calling, but he can attempt to discourage believers into withdrawing from obedience.

ii. Believers pray differently, work differently, and hear God’s Word differently when operating under discouragement rather than faith. This explains why the enemy labors so hard to cultivate discouragement.

iii. “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:38–39, KJV)

2. (Nehemiah 4:4–5) Nehemiah comes against the discouraging attack with prayer.

“Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.” (Nehemiah 4:4–5, KJV)

a. Hear, O our God: Nehemiah’s response reveals his spiritual maturity. He did not engage in verbal warfare, public debate, or retaliation. He immediately took the matter to God in prayer. Prayer for Nehemiah was not a last resort but the first response.

i. Prayer is the clearest expression of dependence upon God. When opposition arises, God desires His people to look upward rather than outward.

b. For we are despised: Nehemiah acknowledged their condition honestly before God. He did not exaggerate nor minimize the attack. He appealed to God’s care and covenant relationship, asking God to see, to hear, and to act.

c. Turn their reproach upon their own head: Nehemiah asked God to take responsibility for dealing with the enemies. He did not seek personal vengeance. Instead, he entrusted justice entirely to God.

i. This kind of prayer may sound severe, but Scripture contains many such prayers.
“Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.” (Psalm 58:6, KJV)
“Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.” (Psalm 69:25, KJV)

ii. Such prayers are not expressions of uncontrolled hatred. They are acts of surrender. The believer places the matter into God’s hands, trusting Him to act righteously and wisely.

d. They have provoked thee to anger: Nehemiah’s final appeal rests on the fact that this was God’s work, not his own. The opposition was ultimately against God’s purpose. By framing the issue this way, Nehemiah aligned himself fully with God’s cause and removed personal offense from the center of the conflict.

3. (Nehemiah 4:6) The result after the attack and Nehemiah’s defense in prayer, the work continues on with greater and greater strength.

“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” (Nehemiah 4:6, KJV)

a. So built we the wall: The outcome is simple, direct, and powerful. In spite of ridicule, intimidation, and discouragement, the work continued. Nehemiah’s prayer was answered not by the removal of opposition, but by the strengthening of the workers. God responded by giving His people perseverance and resolve.

i. A mind to work is a gift from God. No great work, whether spiritual or practical, is accomplished until God unites His people with willingness, focus, and determination. Skill alone is not enough. Resources alone are not enough. Without a mind to work, progress stops.

ii. This is precisely what the enemy seeks to destroy. Satan rarely needs to stop the work outright. If he can drain motivation, sow discouragement, or redirect focus toward self, the work will stall on its own. Discouragement is one of his most effective tools because it attacks the will rather than the hands.

iii. As observed, critics demoralize, but godly leadership restores resolve. When discouraging voices dominate, workers lose heart. When faithful leadership redirects attention to God’s purposes, the people regain strength and return to the work.

b. For the people had a mind to work: The most significant answer to Nehemiah’s prayer was internal, not external. The enemies were unchanged, but the people of God were strengthened. God dealt with the opposition by fortifying the hearts of those doing the work.

i. This reveals a common pattern in prayer. Often we ask God to change others or remove opposition, and instead He changes us. When we resist that inward work, we may fail to recognize that God has already answered.

ii. God’s answers frequently come in the form of renewed obedience, renewed energy, and renewed faith. When believers accept that work of God within them, progress resumes despite outward resistance.

c. All the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: The work reached a significant milestone. Half the wall stood completed, unified and functional. This was a moment of encouragement, but also a moment of danger.

i. Progress can invite new challenges. When a work is half finished, fatigue sets in and the novelty fades. Discouragement can become stronger precisely because the work is no longer new, yet not complete.

ii. Nehemiah understood that momentum had to be guarded. The people needed continued vigilance, encouragement, and dependence upon God to finish what they had begun.

B. Sanballat and Tobiah plan to lead a violent attack against the work.

1. (Nehemiah 4:7–8) The conspiracy to attack the work.

“But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.” (Nehemiah 4:7–8, KJV)

a. The breaches began to be stopped: The wall was not yet complete in height, but it was becoming continuous. The gaps were closing. This is what triggered the escalation of hostility. As long as the work appeared weak or unfinished, the enemies mocked. Once real progress became undeniable, they became very angry.

i. This reveals a consistent spiritual principle. The genuine progress of God’s work provokes opposition. Satan is far less concerned with intentions than he is with results. Talk does not alarm him, but obedience and progress do. It is not a failure to make the enemy angry. In fact, faithful service often does exactly that.

b. They conspired all of them together to come and to fight: The opposition broadened and intensified. No longer were Sanballat and Tobiah acting alone. Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites joined in. As the work grew stronger, the resistance became more unified and more serious.

i. From a human perspective, this was alarming. The wall was being built to defend against attack, and now the very act of building seemed to provoke the attack. Fear would have been a natural response. The people could easily have concluded that their obedience had made matters worse.

ii. Yet the threat was largely verbal. Scripture records planning and conspiring, but no actual attack at this stage. The enemy hoped fear would accomplish what force could not. Satan often works the same way. If fear can paralyze God’s people, he does not need to strike. A threat believed is often as effective as an attack carried out.

c. And to hinder it: Another stated goal was confusion and disruption. Satan’s strategy is often to distract, divide, and confuse. A confused people will not advance. When believers take their eyes off God’s promises and focus instead on enemy threats, progress slows or stops entirely.

2. (Nehemiah 4:9) The attack defended by prayer and watching.

“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” (Nehemiah 4:9, KJV)

a. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God: The word nevertheless is crucial. The threat did not alter Nehemiah’s dependence upon God. He did not interpret continued opposition as evidence that prayer had failed. Instead, opposition drove him deeper into prayer.

i. God could have removed the threat instantly, yet He allowed it to continue. Through this, God was strengthening His people, drawing them into greater trust, greater dependence, and greater maturity. God was building more than walls. He was building faith.

b. And set a watch: Nehemiah understood that prayer and action are not opposites. Trusting God does not excuse passivity. Prayer prepares the heart, and obedience prepares the ground.

i. Some might have argued that setting guards showed a lack of faith. Nehemiah understood the opposite. True faith obeys God while using wisdom. God works through means, and He often protects His people while they are faithfully doing their duty.

ii. This principle applies directly to the Christian life. When a believer recognizes an area of vulnerability, prayer alone is not enough. There must also be watchfulness, discipline, and accountability until consistent victory is established.

iii. Prayer does not replace action. Prayer empowers action. It makes obedience effective rather than self-reliant.

c. Day and night: This phrase reveals determination and resolve. Nehemiah did not rely on favorable conditions. He guarded the work in daylight and darkness, through energy and fatigue.

i. This sent a message to the people of God. It said, “We are committed. God is with us, and this work will not fail.”

ii. It sent a message to the enemies. It declared that intimidation would not succeed. God’s people were prepared to endure weary days and sleepless nights to complete the work.

iii. It also sent a message to God. It demonstrated living faith. Faith that acts. Faith that trusts. Faith that obeys. Nehemiah’s faith was not merely spoken. It was expressed through vigilance, perseverance, and obedience.

C. Challenges from the inside and the outside.

1. (Nehemiah 4:10) The challenge from the inside, discouragement among the people because the work seemed too big.

“And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.” (Nehemiah 4:10, KJV)

a. Then Judah said: This is striking and troubling. Judah was expected to be the strongest and most resolute tribe. It was the tribe of Davidic kingship and the tribe from which the Messiah would come. When discouragement arises from Judah, it signals a deep internal problem. The discouragement was no longer external pressure only, it had entered the hearts of the people.

i. The timing is critical. The work had reached the halfway point. The wall was nearly continuous, and visible progress had been made. Yet this is precisely when morale began to falter. Early enthusiasm had given way to exhaustion, and sustained obedience was proving more difficult than initial obedience.

b. The strength of the laborers is failing: This statement reveals physical fatigue and emotional depletion. The halfway point is often the most dangerous stage of any work. There is still much left to do, but the energy that carried the beginning has been spent.

i. It is not enough to begin well. Many works fail not because they never started, but because they did not endure. The work of God requires perseverance, not just enthusiasm. Victory is not secured until the work is finished.

c. There is so much rubbish: Rebuilding Jerusalem was not simply a matter of stacking stones. It required clearing away generations of rubble. For nearly a century, the ruins of the city had accumulated debris, broken stone, ash, and refuse.

i. Clearing the rubbish was unavoidable. The walls could not be rebuilt on unstable foundations. The debris had to be removed or the structure would never stand.

ii. Spiritually, this is a profound lesson. God cannot build lasting strength on unaddressed sin, compromise, or spiritual neglect. Rubbish must be cleared away before God’s work can rise in strength. This work is often discouraging and exhausting, but it is necessary.

d. So that we are not able to build the wall: The people concluded that the task was beyond them. This was not entirely false from a human perspective. The work was too great for them in their own strength.

i. Before the wall could go up, the rubble had to come down. There had to be demolition before construction. This made the city feel more exposed than before, increasing fear. Some may have thought it safer to leave the rubbish in place rather than clear it away.

ii. There are always those who grow attached to rubbish. Old habits, old traditions, and old sins are sometimes defended simply because they are familiar. Yet God calls His people to clear away what is useless so that He may build upon what is true.

iii. This internal discouragement would have weighed heavily upon Nehemiah. Leadership is easiest when followers are eager and confident. It becomes far more difficult when their hearts are tired and their faith is wavering.

2. (Nehemiah 4:11) The challenge from the outside, the enemies plan a surprise attack.

“And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.” (Nehemiah 4:11, KJV)

a. And our adversaries said: As discouragement reached a low point among the builders, the enemy intensified its plans. The timing is not accidental. When God’s people are weary and discouraged, they are most vulnerable.

i. Human adversaries may not have fully understood the depth of Judah’s discouragement, but the forces of spiritual darkness did. The enemy is skilled at recognizing moments of weakness and pressing the attack at precisely the right time.

b. They shall not know, neither see: The plan depended on surprise. An unexpected attack could produce fear, chaos, and paralysis.

i. Spiritual attacks often succeed only when believers are unwatchful. When God’s people are alert, grounded in faith, and walking in obedience, the enemy gains little ground.

ii. The enemy knows when believers are tired, discouraged, angry, or overconfident. Attacks are rarely random. They are calculated and opportunistic.

c. Till we come in the midst among them: The goal was infiltration. The enemy wanted to get inside the work, into the midst of the people, where damage would be most severe.

i. This reflects a common tactic. The enemy seeks not only to oppose from the outside, but to penetrate from within, sowing fear, division, and confusion.

d. And slay them, and cause the work to cease: The ultimate objective was to stop the work of God entirely.

i. This is an unintended testimony to the faithfulness of the workers. The enemies recognized that discouragement alone might not be enough. To stop these people permanently, they believed they would have to destroy them.

ii. Sadly, this cannot be said of many servants of God today. Often the enemy does not need violence. Compromise, distraction, comfort, fear, money, broken relationships, or discouragement are enough to cause many to abandon God’s work.

3. (Nehemiah 4:12) God allows the Jews to be warned about the coming attack.

“And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times from all places, Whence ye shall return unto us, they will be upon you.” (Nehemiah 4:12, KJV)

a. The Jews which dwelt by them came: This verse displays the quiet sovereignty and kindness of God. While the enemies plotted in secret, God already had His people positioned to hear and to warn. Sanballat and Tobiah believed their plans were hidden, yet God ensured that faithful Jews living among or near the enemy overheard their intentions.

i. This reminds us that no plan against God’s work ever escapes His knowledge. God often allows threats to develop fully, not to harm His people, but to prepare them and to demonstrate His protection at precisely the right moment.

b. They said unto us ten times: The repetition emphasizes urgency and fear. These informants were alarmed and overwhelmed. They repeatedly warned Nehemiah and the people, perhaps expecting panic or immediate retreat.

i. Their message was sincere, but it lacked wisdom and faith. They knew danger was coming, but they did not know how God would handle it. Their anxiety likely increased because Nehemiah did not react emotionally or impulsively.

ii. This shows that not every warning comes with spiritual clarity. God can use fearful messengers to convey real danger, even when those messengers themselves lack peace or discernment.

4. (Nehemiah 4:13–14) Nehemiah organizes the defense.

“Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” (Nehemiah 4:13–14, KJV)

a. Therefore: This word signals decisive leadership. Nehemiah did not ignore the warning, nor did he overreact. He responded with calm, faith filled action.

i. He could have done nothing and cloaked passivity in spirituality, claiming to trust God while refusing to act.

ii. He could have panicked, assuming that everything depended solely upon him.

iii. Instead, he trusted God fully and acted wisely. Faith and action worked together. This is biblical courage.

b. I set the people after their families: Nehemiah organized the defense strategically. He placed people at vulnerable points, behind lower sections of the wall and at exposed openings. He stationed them by families.

i. This was both practical and motivational. Men fight harder when defending those they love. Family proximity turned fear into resolve.

ii. It also created accountability. No one wanted to abandon his post when his own household stood behind him.

c. With their swords, their spears, and their bows: Nehemiah ordered the people to arm themselves. This was not symbolic language. The threat was real, and preparation was necessary.

i. God’s people are not called to pretend danger does not exist. They are called to prepare faithfully while trusting God completely.

ii. This mirrors the spiritual principle that believers must take up the full armor, using every resource God provides, while remaining dependent upon Him.

d. Be not ye afraid of them: Nehemiah addressed fear directly. He did not deny the threat, but he refused to allow fear to rule.

i. Fear magnifies the enemy and minimizes God. Nehemiah corrected their perspective immediately.

e. Remember the Lord, which is great and terrible: This was the central command. Their strength did not lie in weapons or numbers, but in remembering who God is.

i. God is great, greater than any enemy or threat.

ii. God is terrible, meaning awe inspiring and mighty in judgment. The enemies should fear Him more than the people feared the enemies.

f. Fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses: Nehemiah grounded courage in purpose. He reminded them what was at stake.

i. Abstract causes rarely sustain courage. Personal responsibility does. They were not merely building walls. They were protecting lives, families, futures, and the covenant community of God.

ii. Believers fight best when they remember what obedience preserves and what failure would cost.

5. (Nehemiah 4:15) The enemies shrink back.

“And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.” (Nehemiah 4:15, KJV)

a. When our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought: Once the enemies realized their plan was exposed and that the people of God were alert, organized, and ready to defend themselves, their courage failed. They had no interest in a real fight. Their strategy depended on surprise, fear, and unprepared victims. When those elements were removed, the threat collapsed.

i. This reveals an important truth about spiritual opposition. The enemy prefers intimidation over confrontation. When God’s people are watchful, united, and trusting in Him, many threats dissolve without a battle ever being fought.

ii. Scripture clearly attributes this outcome to God. It was God who brought their plot to nothing. Human vigilance mattered, but divine sovereignty determined the result.

b. That we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work: This statement defines victory. The victory was not merely that an attack was avoided. The true victory was that the work resumed without interruption.

i. It is easy to mistake survival for success. Enduring opposition is not the goal. Continuing obedience is the goal. The enemy’s purpose was to stop the work. When the people returned to building, the enemy lost.

ii. In spiritual life, victory is not simply making it through difficulty. Victory is continuing to obey God and advance His work despite difficulty.

6. (Nehemiah 4:16–18) The sword and the trowel.

“And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.” (Nehemiah 4:16–18, KJV)

a. Half wrought in the work, and the other half held the weapons: Nehemiah reorganized the labor force. Some focused on building while others stood ready for defense. Leadership remained positioned behind Judah, providing oversight and stability.

i. This shows that spiritual work often requires a balance between building and defending. God’s work must advance, but vigilance must remain constant.

b. With one hand wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon: This image captures the essence of faithful service in a hostile world. The builders did not choose between construction and protection. They did both simultaneously.

i. The kingdom of God is advanced with a trowel and defended with a sword. God’s people must build up truth, faith, and obedience, while also resisting spiritual opposition.

ii. There is no season where believers can afford to stop building, and no season where they can afford to stop watching.

c. Every one had his sword girded by his side: Readiness was constant. Even while engaged in constructive labor, each man remained prepared for immediate defense.

i. This teaches that spiritual readiness is not limited to moments of crisis. God’s people are to remain prepared at all times.

d. He that sounded the trumpet was by me: Nehemiah ensured centralized communication. If danger arose anywhere along the wall, the alarm could be sounded and reinforcements gathered immediately.

i. God’s work requires coordination and responsiveness. Isolation invites vulnerability, but unity brings strength.

7. (Nehemiah 4:19–23) Plans are made to keep a ready defense.

“And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day. So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.” (Nehemiah 4:19–23, KJV)

a. The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall: Nehemiah recognized the challenge. The wall stretched long distances, and workers were spread thin. Without communication, a localized attack could succeed.

i. This honest assessment did not weaken faith. It informed strategy. Faith does not ignore reality, it confronts it with wisdom.

b. Wherever ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: The trumpet became the means of unity and response. At the first sign of danger, the people would rally together.

i. God’s people must remain sensitive to warning signals and ready to respond together. Delayed response gives the enemy opportunity.

c. Our God shall fight for us: This statement anchors everything. Vigilance, weapons, organization, and effort mattered, but ultimate victory belonged to God.

i. Nehemiah never allowed preparation to replace dependence. He prepared thoroughly, but trusted completely.

d. From the rising of the morning till the stars appeared: The people increased their dedication. Workdays were long. Nights were guarded. Comfort was sacrificed for obedience.

i. Faithful service often requires sustained effort beyond convenience.

e. None of us put off our clothes: This illustrates constant readiness. They slept clothed, prepared to respond immediately.

i. Spiritually, God’s people are called to the same posture. Always ready. Always clothed. Always alert.

ii. Believers must remain clothed in righteousness, armed with truth, and prepared for the call of God at any moment.