Chapter 4 Sanballat and his buddies come to poke fun maliciously at the efforts of the Jews to rebuild the

wall. The enemies mocked them but that didn't stop them; the Jews continue to rebuild despite the taunting from the enemy. The hindering good work is what bad men aim at, and promise themselves success in; but good work is God's work, and it shall prosper. They just work right on through it. They did pray AGAINST Sanballat and Tobiah. Ever been discouraged? Does Satan use other people to get you down? They won't work if they feel that their lives are at risk!" Satan must have conjectured. But he was wrong! Sanballat and Tobiah declared war on these construction workers. That's going to slow us down, especially considering that they intend to "slay" (verse 11) these Jewish workers if that's what it takes to halt the work on the wall. However, those scrappy Jews strapped their weapons to their sides, posted guards around the work areas and kept working on that wall. They worked from sun up to nightfall every day and slept in Jerusalem at night to guard their work. Another Satanic tactic...FAILED! However, Satan won't be giving up quite this easily - too much at stake! Chapter 5 Some of the Jews begin poor mouthing against their Jewish brethren about how tough the times are because of their wallbuilding effort. Attack from outsiders is one thing, but what about when your own relatives are giving you fits about your service to God? It was REALLY a struggle between the rich and the poor among the Jews. It appears that the financially-challenged Jews were

losing their property (and kids) to the more financially astute Jews. There was also an issue of interest being paid to fellow Jews not to mention the cost of taxes paid back to the Persians. Bottom line - it was about the money. An internal struggle within the community of God's people . When Nehemiah recognizes this problem, he had motivated the people right through and past this period of selfishness. They all make some financial concessions so that the work of God can continue. In these last six verses, Nehemiah reveals a little more about his passion for the wall-rebuilding project. He made his own significant financial sacrifices as governor over these Jews. He did not take his governor's wages from them and even put his own servants to work on the wall. Moreover, he personally fed many of the workers from his own table during this time. He concludes his explanation in verse 19 by saying, "Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people."

Chapter 6 The word is out; the wall around the city is rebuilt with only the setting of the gates remaining to be done. Sanballat sends an open letter to Nehemiah after Nehemiah refuses four requests for a meeting about this Jerusalem-rebuilding project. Nehemiah is the governor over the region. The letter accuses Nehemiah of preparing to rebel against the King of Persia. But Nehemiah didn't fall for that ploy. Then Shemaiah encouraged Nehemiah to hide out in the temple for fear of life. Look at Nehemiah's reply to him in verse 11, "And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I

will not go in." Nehemiah deducts that Sanballat had put Shemaiah up to that also, and the prophecy was fake (verse 12). Sanballat and his evil buddies conjecture, "If we scare him, he'll stop and run. He'll abandon his principles." But he didn't - kept working until the wall was complete. Despite Satan's use of evil people to stop the work and kill the beginning of the Messianic countdown, the wall is rebuilt in just 52 days .God had empowered them. This wasn't JUST about building a wall.This rebuilding project was a testimony to God before the heathen.