From Got Questions website – “Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem were three enemies of the Jews who made several attempts to stop Nehemiah from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Sanballat and Tobiah are first mentioned in Nehemiah 2:10 as upset about Nehemiah’s work: “When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.” In verse 19, they, along with Geshem the Arab, mock Nehemiah, saying, “What is this you are doing? . . . Are you rebelling against the king?” When the construction was taking place, their anger grew: “When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews” (Nehemiah 4:1; cf. verse 7).”
From Got Questions website – Sennacherib’s Assyrian army had (destroyed the northern kingdom) captured all the fortified cities in Judah. Second Kings 18:12 says that “this happened because they [Judah] had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.” Sennacherib was poised to capture Jerusalem, so he sent the Rabshakeh with a great army to issue a challenge to Hezekiah. Using the Hebrew language, the Rabshakeh said, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours? You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?” (Isaiah 36:4–5). The Rabshakeh used the native language of the Jews in order to be heard by the Jewish guards on the wall. He may have been hoping his words would terrify them into pressuring Hezekiah to surrender.
In war, often one side or the other attempt Psyops or Psychological Operations. This is done via written or spoken statements designed to instill crippling fear in order to discourage and distract and destroy the will of the soldiers and the people in their nation to fight.
In the context of this day and age and the role of the Christian – we see much to discourage and distract the would-be praying warrior. It is all over the news and social media. Now is a time when we must be in fervent prayer for revival for our nation and world. Yet there is so much to discourage us that many Christians have given up the struggle – assuming that there is no hope.
The solution for Hezekiah was to humbly bow his knee to God almighty and ask for help. The people of Judah and their little ones assembled and prayed that the merciless Assyrians would not be allowed to ravage them in the brutal manner they normally utilized. Their prayer was answered and the angel of the Lord slew 185,000 Assyrians while they slept. Judah was saved for many more years, before finally succumbing to Babylon due to their persistent disobedience.
Nehemiah’s approach was to ignore Sanballat, Tobiah and their friends and to diligently persist in building the wall which would protect Jerusalem. He instructed the workers to keep their swords with them at all times as they worked and to always keep a remnant on guard duty to warn of coming trouble. He knew he was called by God and that he must accomplish his purpose. Nehemiah successfully completed the wall in less than 2 months vowing he would not be intimidated.
The message to us? Are you about to give up because of the constant barrage of bad news, fear, loss and trouble in our world? Are you ready to stop doing the right things and praying for God to move? Do your words indicate you expect coming doom and defeat? Do not quit. It is a tactic of the enemy to discourage you into not participating in the spiritual battle we face. Continue to pray and to do the “next right thing”. If Gods people continue on in faith, we will prevail and He will move on our behalf. God is more than able and he expects us to do our part – praying in the victory.
