Nehemiah 4:7 - Meaning and Application

Here we see the plot the Jews’ enemies formed to stop the building by killing the workers. The main conspirators were Sanballat and Tobiah, along with other nearby people they had pulled into the scheme. They had hoped the work would stall on its own, but when they heard it was moving ahead, they were furious. They were angry at the Jews for working so quickly, and angry at themselves for opposing it too slowly, so they were very angry indeed (Neh 4:7).

Their anger was cruel, and their hatred had no good reason. They had no real quarrel with the Jews, and the Jews had done them no harm. They had lived peaceably beside them, but envy and malice drove them. They hated the Jews’ devotion to God, and because of that they resented their success and wanted to destroy them. Their plan was unanimous, since all of them joined together, even though they had different interests among themselves. Yet they were united in resisting God’s work.

They were also secretive and harsh. They said the Jews would not know or see anything until the attackers were already in control. In other words, they planned in craft and tried to hide their scheme from everyone, even from God. They also meant to be brutal: “We will come and kill them.” If murder was what it took to stop the work, they were ready to do it. Their aim was to make the work stop, and they were confident they would succeed. That is always the goal of wicked people, to hinder good work, but God’s work will continue and prosper.

At the same time, the builders themselves were under pressure and fear. While the enemies were saying, “Let us stop the work,” Judah was saying, “Let us give up, for we cannot go on” (Neh 4:10). They pictured the workers as worn out, and even the first task, clearing away the rubble, seemed too hard to finish. So they thought it would be wiser to stop for now. It is striking that Judah, the strong and brave tribe, could sink into such fear. Leaders often find that they must deal with the fears of their own friends as much as with the threats of their enemies.

Then Nehemiah received warning about the enemy’s plans (Neh 4:12). Some Jews lived out in the countryside near the enemies. They had not had enough zeal to come help their brothers in Jerusalem, but they were close enough to see what the enemies were doing. They were honest and concerned enough to bring news of it, and they repeated it many times, as people who were deeply troubled and earnest. The report itself is given very briefly, as if they were speaking in haste and confusion, but the meaning is clear enough. Wherever the Jews turned, danger was near. God has many ways of exposing the plans of his enemies, and even people who are weak and fearful can end up serving as witnesses against those enemies.

When Nehemiah heard this, he responded with wisdom and faith. First, he looked up to God and committed the matter to him. “We prayed to our God” was his first step (Neh 4:9). That should be our first step too. He laid all his cares, griefs, and fears before God, and that brought him peace. Before using any other means, he prayed, because we must always begin there.

Then he looked around and set a guard against the danger. Jesus gives the same pattern for spiritual struggle, “Watch and pray” (Mat 26:41). Prayer without watchfulness is lazy and tests God. Watchfulness without prayer is proud and ignores God. Either way, we lose the protection we need. Nehemiah did both.

He also posted the guards wisely (Neh 4:13). In the lower places, he stationed them behind the wall, so they could attack from cover. In the higher places, where the wall was already raised, he set them on top of it, so they could strike down stones or spears on the attackers. He placed them by families, so close family ties would help them stand together and help one another.

Nehemiah also encouraged the people, especially because the nobles and rulers were frightened too (Neh 4:14). Their fear had weakened their hands for both work and defense, so he spoke to calm them. “Do not be afraid of them,” he said. “Be brave. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.” Their enemies seemed great and terrible to them, but compared with God, they were small. God is above them and can control them. He will also be terrible to them when he judges them. When people truly see by faith that the God of the church is great and awesome, the church’s enemies look weak and small. A strong fear of God is the best cure for a crippling fear of people. Whoever fears a mortal man forgets the Lord who made him (Isa 51:12, Isa 51:13).

Nehemiah also reminded them who they were fighting for. They were not only defending a wall. They were fighting for their brothers, their sons, and their daughters, all that was dear to them in life (Psa 122:8). That gave them a good cause, and a good cause should make people brave.

In the end, the enemies were disappointed (Neh 4:15). When they found out their plan had been discovered, and saw that the Jews were on guard, they realized their attack would fail. They knew they could only succeed by surprise. Once the plot was known, it was ruined, and they understood that God had brought their counsel to nothing.

The Jews then went back to their work, and they did it with even greater cheer, because they could clearly see that God was supporting both the work and the workers. This reminds us that God’s care for our safety should stir us up and strengthen us to keep doing our duty with energy. As soon as a danger has passed, we should return to our work and trust God again the next time.