Nehemiah 2:9-20: A Despised Plan

Jeremy Heikkinen

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Intro:

Outline:

Oppostion: “It Displeased them Greatly” (vs. 9-10)

Observation: “I Told No one” (vs. 11-16)

Oppotunity: “Let us Rise up and Build” (vs. 17-20)

Summary: Opposition seeks to distract us from observing our opportunities to participate in God’s plan.

Prayer:

Opposition: “It Displeased them Greatly” (vs. 9-10)

The Trip

Then I came

to the governors of the province “Beyond the River”- region in the Transjordan

This probably took around 2 months to do, Ezra’s trip 14 years earlier took 4-5 months.

and gave

The king’s letters

Now the king had sent me with

officers of the army

Horsemen

The Test

But when Sanballat the Horonite- court official, possibly from Beth-Horon about 15 miles N/E of Jerusalem, possibly wanting control of Judah as 37 years after this he was refer to as the “governor of Samaria” in the Elephantine papyri written in 407 B.C. Sanballat is not going anywhere, he stays around this whole time.

Tobiah the Ammonite servant- Sanballet’s associate, Ammonite history… born in the incestuous relationship of Lot and his daughters: Moabites and Ammonites (Gen. 19). They are constantly fighting with Israel

Heard this

It displeased them greatly

That someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel- opposition is not always a personal attack or dislike. Often times it is directed at a person but it is fuelled by competing desires

Application

When was the last time in your life that you spent months planning something only for it to be met with opposition when you tried to implement?

Maybe this has even happened at the Church House with our church family. You were wanting to see some changes and they did not go they way that you wanted them to. or you were met with opposition.

God often uses opposition, hardship, or suffering to expose our true motives for what we would like to see happen.

Eg. My plan was to re-gather last Easter. I wanted that to be the big return to ministry and attendance here at the church house.

How would you respond if I told you that the person, or people, that are providing the most opposition in your life are going to be around for the next 37 years. How would your heart respond?

What is it about opposition that gets you the most upset? Have you ever been upset with someone because they sought the welfare of a group of people or you knew that their plans would take those people in a different direction than you wanted them to go?

Observation: “I Told No One” (vs. 11-16)

The Game Plan

So I went to Jerusalem- the displeasure of these men did not stop Nehemiah from doing what he wanted to do, “what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusaelm”

Was there 3 days- time to meet people, look around, come up with a plan

The I arose in the night

A few men with me

I told no one

What my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem

This can be a scary statement because it is hard to verify- many people say that “God wants me to do this, or God is telling me to...” But don’t forget, this is the fulfillment of prophecy written by Daniel (9:25) in the timeline of the coming Messiah. It is verifyable. This is not just Nehemiah’s brain child or pet ministry.

There was no animal with me but the one one which i rode

The Gates

I went out by night by the Valley Gate- SLIDE

Jerusalem in the Time of Nehemiah The Valley Gate (Neh. 3:13)

The Valley Gate is another element of Nehemiah’s wall for which we have archaeological evidence. In 1927, J. W. Crowfoot discovered in this area a stretch of wall into which was built a 20-foot (6-m) high gate of very large stones which gave access to the City of David from the west.

To the Dragon Spring

Dung Gate

I inspected the walls of Jerusalem

that were broken down

And it gates that had been destroyed by fire

Section 2

Then I went on to the Fountain Gate

and to the King’s Pool

But there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass- The rubble is so bad that he cannot get through, so he detours to the Kidron Valley

Section 3

Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall

I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate

and so returned

And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing

And I had not yet told the

Jews

The Priests

The Nobles

The Officials

The rest who were to do the work

Application

How often do you spend time in silence and solitude before you proceed with your plans? Nehemiahs spent some time observing before he jumped right in. Now remember this is only 3 days! It is not 3 years.

Observations are made the best in person, on location. Sometimes in construction you can have the plans that come from the architect or the designer, but putting them into action might look different on the ground than in the office. Plans on paper are good, but plans in place are better. how many of us have been told something by a superior at work and our thoughts are, “well that is not going to work”.

Before we critique or offer suggestions, maybe it would be good to go and observe for a couple of days.

Opportunity: “Let us Rise and Build” (vs. 17-20)

Nehemiah Presents

I said to them

You see the trouble we are in

How Jerusaelm lies in ruins

with its gates burned- honest about the true state of thing

Come

Let us build the wall of Jerusalem

That we may no longer suffer derision- dispare turns into hope

And I told them

of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good

also of the words that the king had spoken to me

The People Promise

They said

Let us rise up and build

So they strengthend their hands for the good work

The Opposition Plagues

But when Sanballat the Horonite

Tobiah the ammonite servant

Geshem the Arab heart of it

They jeered at us

and Despised us-”buz” to despise with contempt.

Said

What is this thing that you are doing?

Are you rebelling against the king?

They add to their numbers- “There are a lot of people that share my view, I was talking with some friends the other day and we are not the only ones that feel this way...”

They question the plan

They try to cause doubt

The Plan will Prosper

Then I replied to them

The God of heaven will make us prosper

We his servants will arise and build

but you have no potion (past)

or right (present)

or claim in Jerusalem (future)

Application

Those who oppose God past, present, and future can not thwart His plans. He will always prosper. Don’t you want to be on that team?

be aware, opposition or those who oppose will do their best to buzz around and:

Add to their numbers

Question the plan

Try to cause doubt in those that are involved.

Just like bees can have a tendency to distract us, cause us to make violent swats in the air, and make us move away from what we are working on, so do those who gossip

What is it that God has called us to rise up and build here at Central in Brantford? How can we be faithful in re-building the gospel ministry here?

Summary: Opposition seeks to distract us from observing our opportunities to participate in God’s plan.

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