Neh 4:2 | KingComments | STEP | The opposition has different forms and comes from all sides. There is mockery by the enemy and later also threats of violence and trickery. We will see later that besides the opposition from the outside, there also appears to be opposition from the inside ( ; ) in the form of discouragement. Opposition from the outside first manifests itself in mockery. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews calls mockery a trial of faith: “And others underwent [the] trial of mockery” ( ). The (unfounded) accusation that the building is proof of rebellion against the king, is attached to the first mockery ( ). Here it is mockery for the second time. This mockery manifests itself in the firing of five questions. All questions are meant to ridicule the work. The questions are not asked to the builders. The enemies ask the questions of each other. The questions have a dual purpose. On the one hand, the enemies encourage each other through these challenging questions. On the other hand, the questions are meant to discourage the Jews who hear this talk. The first question is about strength. According to the opponents, the Jews are completely lacking in strength. They are called “weak Jews”. The enemy wants to tell himself and the Jews that the Jews are ‘miserable’, ‘withered’, ‘powerless’, ‘brittle’, all meanings that are locked up in the word ‘weak’. To be portrayed in this way is directly a disincentive to continue a work. What do these weak Christians do? What do they propose in comparison to mass gatherings around them? Are they able to remove the rubble? If such criticism applies to us, we feel that it does not leave us unmoved. The second question involves a threat. The enemy is suggesting that this work must be stopped. They will not stand idly by as the city continues to escape their grasp with the progress of the rebuilding of the wall. The third question has to do with the sacrificial service of the Jews. It is a thorn in the side of the enemy that God is honored. Partly for this reason he will focus all his efforts on keeping the city open, accessible to their pernicious influence. This middle of the five questions strikes God in the heart. The sacrifice, the image of God’s Son Who died on the cross, by which God is honored, is also included in the mockery. The fourth question focuses on their perseverance. There is still so much work to be done. It really isn’t finished tonight. It will be a long time before it is. The limit of endurance has been reached. The enemy senses that the people are running out of energy( ) and responds. Pointing out to someone the long distance he still has to travel while he is at the end of his strength is an effective way to paralyze him completely. A young believer who wants to live for the Lord can be blocked by constantly telling him that he is not going to be able to persevere. The fifth question is about the soundness of the material. Even if they were to finish the work, it will turn out that all effort has been in vain. The stones they worked with will not give the protection they expected. Such a remark is of course completely frustrating, well suited to throw in the towel.

‏ Nehemiah 4:2

Mocking Questions

The opposition has different forms and comes from all sides. There is mockery by the enemy and later also threats of violence and trickery. We will see later that besides the opposition from the outside, there also appears to be opposition from the inside (Neh 4:10; Neh 5:1-15) in the form of discouragement.

Opposition from the outside first manifests itself in mockery. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews calls mockery a trial of faith: “And others underwent [the] trial of mockery” (Heb 11:36). The (unfounded) accusation that the building is proof of rebellion against the king, is attached to the first mockery (Neh 2:19). Here it is mockery for the second time. This mockery manifests itself in the firing of five questions. All questions are meant to ridicule the work. The questions are not asked to the builders. The enemies ask the questions of each other. The questions have a dual purpose. On the one hand, the enemies encourage each other through these challenging questions. On the other hand, the questions are meant to discourage the Jews who hear this talk.

The first question is about strength. According to the opponents, the Jews are completely lacking in strength. They are called “weak Jews”. The enemy wants to tell himself and the Jews that the Jews are ‘miserable’, ‘withered’, ‘powerless’, ‘brittle’, all meanings that are locked up in the word ‘weak’. To be portrayed in this way is directly a disincentive to continue a work. What do these weak Christians do? What do they propose in comparison to mass gatherings around them? Are they able to remove the rubble? If such criticism applies to us, we feel that it does not leave us unmoved.

The second question involves a threat. The enemy is suggesting that this work must be stopped. They will not stand idly by as the city continues to escape their grasp with the progress of the rebuilding of the wall.

The third question has to do with the sacrificial service of the Jews. It is a thorn in the side of the enemy that God is honored. Partly for this reason he will focus all his efforts on keeping the city open, accessible to their pernicious influence. This middle of the five questions strikes God in the heart. The sacrifice, the image of God’s Son Who died on the cross, by which God is honored, is also included in the mockery.

The fourth question focuses on their perseverance. There is still so much work to be done. It really isn’t finished tonight. It will be a long time before it is. The limit of endurance has been reached. The enemy senses that the people are running out of energy(Neh 4:10) and responds. Pointing out to someone the long distance he still has to travel while he is at the end of his strength is an effective way to paralyze him completely. A young believer who wants to live for the Lord can be blocked by constantly telling him that he is not going to be able to persevere.

The fifth question is about the soundness of the material. Even if they were to finish the work, it will turn out that all effort has been in vain. The stones they worked with will not give the protection they expected. Such a remark is of course completely frustrating, well suited to throw in the towel.