Rebuild Those Walls (Sunrise, Sunset)

One Year Bible (Aug. 12)

Nehemiah: 3:15-5:13 Rebuild Those Walls (Part 2)

Sunrise Sunset

“Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset. Swiftly fly the years. One season following another. Laden with happiness and tears.”

(Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof).

From Sunrise to Sunset there will be as much drama in the rebuilding of the walls as any staged musical could portray…

At the Sunrise of this story, we read about the walls that were there to protect the city from its enemies. There were ten gates mentioned in this passage and also the Gate of Ephraim and the Prison Gate mentioned elsewhere. So, there were TWELVE gates altogether, just as we are told there will be TWELVE gates in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12)

This is a reminder of the original TWELVE TRIBES of Israel. Numbers convey important symbolic connections for us in God’s Realm. It is interesting that God keeps a careful record of all who labor for him…

The priests led the work on the walls and men and women, artisans, and laborers, princes, and commoners, all labored side by side. Nehemiah was not intimidated by those that “came against them” and promised success. The people were united in purpose and in heart as they worked from Sunrise to Sunset to accomplish the purposes of God.

Remember the words of Ezra? “Get up… Be Strong and TAKE ACTION.” (Ezra 10:4)

The people had followed these very words. They were UP. They were on “HIGH ALERT against the enemy from Sunrise to Sunset and they were TAKING ACTION! They were THE BUILDERS.

There is NEVER a GREAT ENDEAVOR without GREAT ADVERSITY!

We should take note from today’s lesson that the enemy will “DO HIS DARNDEST!”

But…When “Sanballat The Sandbagger” and “Tobiah the Troublemaker” heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.”

Why? The enemy doesn’t care if you just “do nothing”. He cares if you HELP God’s building of the Kingdom!

Yesterday we first met “Sanballat the Sandbagger” and “Tobiah the Troublemaker”. Today there is another foe to add to our list of alliterations…” Geshem the Grinding”. He would just get on your last nerve like chalk on the board or meat in a grinder.

This ungodly trio is known as Antagonists, and today we will look at some of their tactics. There are THREE MEN representing THREE TACTICS:

THE BELITTLERS: “Sanballat the Sandbagger” was VERY ANGRY when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a RAGE and MOCKED the Jews, SAYING IN FRONT of his friends and the Samarian army officers, ‘What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap--and charred ones at that?” (4:1)

Can you hear the sneer in the voice here? “This poor, feeble Jews”, “Do they actually”... For people that think it can’t be done, they are getting pretty aggressive in the words!

Tobiah the Troublemaker”, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” These three are the ENEMIES who have come into their midst to cause DISSENSION and DISUNITY and are DISGUISED. They are definitely pulling out the VERBAL ARTILLERY!

THE BELLYACHERS: Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will ever be able to build the wall by ourselves.”

What does the word, “Bellyacher” mean? Some synonyms are crybaby, whiner, moaner, wimp, grumbler, and complainer. You get the idea… “Oh, this won’t work. We’ve tried it before!” “The music was too loud”, “the sermon too long”, “someone in the church had a hat on”... and on and on.

It is not about the Kingdom’s work. Rather it is a self-focus on OUR COMFORT rather than OUR CALLING.

The BUSHWHACKERS: “Before they know what’s happening, we will SWOOP DOWN on them and KILL them and END their WORK.” (4:12) “Before they know what’s happening, we will SWOOP DOWN on them and KILL them and END their WORK.” (4:12) And now, we know their END GAME!

So, what is a “BUSHWHACKER? Well, there is a drink called that, but I don’t drink. So, that’s not it. This term refers to a type of guerrilla warfare that is outside of the official chain of command. They don’t bear allegiance to any team. They serve THEMSELVES!

The goal of the BELITTLER, the BELLYACHER, and the BUSHWHACKER is to “SWOOP DOWN” and END the important WORK of God’s KINGDOM!

From Sunrise to Sunset there is kingdom work to accomplish.

The enemy is coming after those that serve; are we on guard, prepared, and armed for battle?

“We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard.” (4:21)