Face to the resistance force

May 12, 2010
尼希米 4:1-14
反對重建
4:1 參巴拉聽見我們猶太人已經開始重建城牆，就非常生氣，並且嘲笑我們。4:2 他在同僚和撒馬利亞軍隊面前說：「這些虛弱的猶太人在做甚麼呢？他們想要重新建造這城嗎？他們以為藉著獻祭就能在 一天之內完工嗎？他們竟想從燒毀的碎瓦堆中找石塊來建造呢！」4:3 亞捫人多比雅站在他旁邊，也附和說：「他們能 造出怎樣的牆呢？恐怕一隻狐狸都能踩倒它吧！」4:4 我禱告說：「我們的上帝啊，聽他們在譏笑我們！叫他們的譏笑 落在他們自己的頭上吧！讓他們的財物都被搶走；讓他們像囚犯一樣被擄到外國去。4:5 求你不要赦免他們所做的壞事， 不要忘了他們的罪惡，因為他們侮辱了我們這些正在修建的人。」4:6 於是我們繼續重建城牆，不久就建到一半高度 了，因為人民都熱心工作。4:7 參巴拉和多比雅，以及阿拉伯、亞捫、亞實突的居民聽到我們重建耶路撒冷城牆的工作進行得 很快，並且城牆的缺口都修補好了，就非常氣憤。4:8 他們一同陰謀，要來攻擊耶路撒冷，製造混亂。4:9 但是我們向我們的上帝禱告，並且派人日夜守衛，防備他們。4:10 猶大的居民有一首歌說：工人的力 氣越來越衰弱；有那麼多的碎瓦要搬！我們今天怎能修完城牆？4:11 我們的敵人以為我們看不到他們，不會知道發 生了甚麼事，要等他們到了這裏、殺害我們、阻止我們工作的時候，我們才知道。4:12 可是，住在敵人當 中的猶太人已經一次又一次地來警告我們、敵人要攻擊我們的陰謀。4:13 所以，我叫民眾武裝起來，佩帶刀矛弓箭，以 宗族為單位，分派他們守在還沒修完的城牆後面的低窪處。4:14 我巡視後，就對民眾和他們的首領、官長說： 「不要怕敵人！要記住主是至大可畏的。要為你們的同胞、你們的妻子、你們的兒女，和你們的家園爭戰。」
Nehemiah 4:1~14
Opposition to the Rebuilding
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?" 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!" 4 Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. 6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. 7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. 10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall." 11 Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work." 12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us." 13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." 


一、中心內容：Core message
內容：Content
1>參巴拉等人的嗤笑。（v1-3）Sanballat and his associates ridicule the Jews
2>尼希米的禱告。（v4-5） Nehemiah’s prayer
3>城牆修建工程的進展。（v6）The construction process of the wall
4>參巴拉等人使城內擾亂。（v7-8）The city’s trouble caused by Sanballat and his associates
5>尼希米及猶太人再度禱告。（v9）Nehemiah and the Jews’ prayer
6>猶太人的防備工作。（v10-14）The Jews’ preparedness

主題：面對抵擋勢力。Theme: Face to the resistance force

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？Who is God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit?
1>垂聽禱告的上帝。（v4、v9）God listens to our prayers
2>掌管人類歷史、國度政權、生死禍福的上帝。（v4）God is in charge of human history, political authority and life and death.

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？What lessons (command, covenant, role modeling, rebuking and warning) is God teaching us? 


1>面對多方的攻擊 Facing attacks from all sides
參巴拉聽見我們猶太人已經開始重建城牆，就非常生氣，並且嘲笑我們。他 在同僚和撒馬利亞軍隊面前說：「這些虛弱的猶太人在做甚麼呢？他們想要重新建造這城嗎？他們以為藉著獻祭就能在一天之內完工嗎？他 們竟想從燒毀的碎瓦堆中找石塊來建造呢！」亞捫人多比雅站在他旁邊，也附和說：「他們能造出怎樣的牆呢？恐怕一隻狐狸都能踩倒它吧！ （v1-3）
參巴拉和多比雅，以及阿拉伯、亞捫、亞實突的居民聽到我們重建耶路撒冷 城牆的工作進行得很快，並且城牆的缺口都修補好了，就非常氣憤。（v7）
當尼希米將團隊建立起來，而且士氣正高昂，正準備動工時，抵擋勢力也開 始出現。首先是參巴拉，他因聽見猶太人已經開始重建城牆，所以就非常生氣，並且嘲笑他們。
接著是亞捫人多比雅，他站在參巴拉的旁邊，聽完參巴拉的取笑之後，也跟 著附和起來。
另外，在隨後又有阿拉伯、亞捫、亞實突的居民，也跟著一起起鬨。顯然， 敵對勢力往往不是單一，而是來自各方面。
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?" 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!" (v1-3)
7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. (v7)
When Nehemiah set up the team, their morale was high. When they were about to start working, the opposing forces started to emerge as well. First there was Sanballat, when he heard that the Jewish were rebuilding the wall, he was angry and mocked them. Then came the Ammonite, he stood next to Sanballat. After hearing Sanballat, he followed and mocked the Jews. In addition, there were the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod that followed the stir. It is not one hostile force, but an attack from all sides.
反省：有關面對敵檔的勢力，我有哪些特別的經歷？是否經常感受到接二連 三的到來？
Reflection: Do I have any special experiences facing attacks from the opposers? How often have I felt that the attacks came one after the other?

2>以取笑擊垮信心 Confidence knocked down by mocking
參巴拉聽見我們猶太人已經開始重建城牆，就非常生氣，並且嘲笑我們。他 在同僚和撒馬利亞軍隊面前說：「這些虛弱的猶太人在做甚麼呢？他們想要重新建造這城嗎？他們以為藉著獻祭就能在一天之內完工嗎？他 們竟想從燒毀的碎瓦堆中找石塊來建造呢！」亞捫人多比雅站在他旁邊，也附和說：「他們能造出怎樣的牆呢？恐怕一隻狐狸都能踩倒它吧！ （v1-3）
不管參巴拉也好，或是亞捫人多比雅也罷，在第一波的攻擊當中，他們還沒 有動用武力，乃是以話語來譏笑。首先，參巴拉在同僚和撒馬利亞軍隊面前譏笑說：這些虛弱的猶太人在做甚麼呢？他們想要重新建造這城 嗎？他們以為藉著獻祭就能在一天之內完工嗎？他們竟想從燒毀的碎瓦堆中找石塊來建造呢！
接著是亞捫人多比雅，他站在參巴拉的旁邊，聽完參巴拉的取笑之後，也附 和說：「他們能造出怎樣的牆呢？恐怕一隻狐狸都能踩倒它吧！
取笑，是撒旦的伎倆之一，取笑就是為了擾亂士氣，擊垮信心。大衛曾經被 歌利亞取笑；耶穌基督也曾經被祭司，以及羅馬兵丁取笑；歷世、歷代以來，有許多的牧師、宣教師、福音的勇士，也常常遭周圍的人取笑！
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?" 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!" (v1-3)
Whether it is Sanballat, the Ammonites or Tobiah in the first wave of attack, they did not use force. They only mocked the Jews. First of all, Sanballat said “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?" in front of all his associates and the Samarian army.
After listening to Sanballat’s taunt, Tobiah the Ammonite who was standing next to him agreed and said "What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!”. Mocking is one of Satan’s tricks. Mocking is to disrupt morale and to knock down one’s confidence. Goliath had mocked David. Jesus was taunted by priests and Roman soldiers. In our world’s history, there have been many pastors, preachers and gospel warriors that have been mocked by people.
反省：我是否曾經因為他人的冷言冷語或譏笑，導致灰心喪志，裹足不前， 甚至放棄任務！
Reflection: Have I ever hesitated, became discouraged or even given up on a task because of sarcastic comments or the taunting of others?

3>不斷禱告的領袖 The leader that keeps praying
我禱告說：「我們的上帝啊，聽他們在譏笑我們！叫他們的譏笑落在他們自 己的頭上吧！讓他們的財物都被搶走；讓他們像囚犯一樣被擄到外國去。求你不要赦免他們所做的壞事，不要忘了他們的罪惡，因為他們侮辱 了我們這些正在修建的人。」（v4-5）
但是我們向我們的上帝禱告，並且派人日夜守衛，防備他們。（v9）
尼希米真不愧是一個屬靈的領袖，因為從他身上所流露出來的，就是「隨時 禱告、隨事禱告」的生命。因為當他們面對敵對勢力的譏笑時，他立刻轉而向上帝禱告說：我們的上帝啊，聽他們在譏笑我們！叫 他們的譏笑落在他們自己的頭上吧！----
後來，情勢更進一步的演變，就是參巴拉和多比雅，以及阿拉伯、亞捫、亞 實突的居民，因為聽到他們「重建耶路撒冷城牆的工作」進行得很快，並且城牆的缺口都修補好了，就非常氣憤。就一同陰謀，要來攻擊耶路 撒冷，製造混亂。
就在這個時候，尼希米再度向上帝禱告，同時派人日夜守衛，以防備他們的 侵犯。顯然，尼希米確是一個「隨時禱告、隨事禱告」的屬靈人。
Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. (v4-5)
But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.(v9)
Nehemiah was truly a spiritual leader, because he through him we learn to always pray, pray about everything. When the hostile forces laughed at the Jews, he would immediately turn to the Lord and say “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads.”
Later, the situation further developed, Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashodod, because they heard that the work of rebuilding the walls was proceeding very quickly. The gaps in the walls were repaired very well. They were very angry and they plotted together to come against Jerusalem and create confusion. At that moment, Nehemiah prayed to God again while the 24 hour guards patrolled to prevent invasion. We can see that Nehemiah truly is a spiritual man that can always pray, whenever and wherever.
反省：我是否如同尼希米一樣，養成隨時禱告、隨事禱告的好習慣？
Reflection: Am I like Nehemiah, do I have the good habit of praying at any time about everything?

4>彰顯公義的禱告 Justice through prayer
我禱告說：「我們的上帝啊，聽他們在譏笑我們！叫他們的譏笑落在他們自 己的頭上吧！
讓他們的財物都被搶走；讓他們像囚犯一樣被擄到外國去。求你不要赦免他 們所做的壞事，不要忘了他們的罪惡，因為他們侮辱了我們這些正在修建的人。」（v4-5）
尼希米在上帝面前禱告說：我們的上帝啊，聽他們在譏笑我們！叫他們的譏 笑落在他們自己的頭上吧！讓他們的財物都被搶走；讓他們像囚犯一樣被擄到外國去。求你不要赦免他們所做的壞事，不要忘了他們的罪惡， 因為他們侮辱了我們這些正在修建的人。
尼希米這樣的禱告，絕對不是為了報復，而是為了彰顯上帝的公義！
Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. (v4-5)
Nehemiah prayed to God saying “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.” Nehemiah’s prayer is definitely not for revenge, but it is to demonstrate God’s justice!
反省：我的禱告通常都如何？是否包括：讚美、感謝、認罪、祈求、代禱？ 在我的禱告中，是否能彰顯上帝（如：慈愛、信實、公義---）的屬性？
Reflection: Usually, how are my prayers? Do they have: praise, thanks, confession, petition, intercession? Do my prayers demonstrate God’s love, faith, justice, etc?
5>百姓信心受動搖 The people’s wavering confidence
猶大的居民有一首歌說：工人的力氣越來越衰弱；有那麼多的碎瓦要搬！我 們今天怎能修完城牆？（v10）
雖然在尼希米的領導之下，信心是那樣的堅定、士氣是那樣的高昂，但是依 然禁不起長期的騷擾，就是來自敵對勢力的譏笑。結果，士氣開始受影響了，信心也開始動搖了。原來認為可能的事，如今卻轉為不可能。
因為在百姓當中，開始流行起一首歌來，說：工人的力氣越來越衰弱；有那 麼多的碎瓦要搬！我們今天怎能修完城牆？非常明顯，消極、悲觀的思想，已經開始萌芽並擴散開來。原本高昂的士氣漸漸消失了！原 本堅定的信心，也開始動搖了！
所謂「哀莫大於心死」！當一個人，信心動搖，士氣消失之後，其他什麼都 不用談了。
10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall." (v10)
Under the leadership of Nehemiah, the Jew’s morale was high and their confidence was strong. But, it still could not withstand the long-term mocking of the hostile forces. Their morale was affected and their confidence began to waver. The things that seemed possible became impossible, because the people had begun to sing a song “There are so many stones to move! How can we complete the wall?” Pessimistic had begun to spread. The high morale had disappeared. Their strong confidence began to shake. When a person’s confidence and morale is gone, it is hopeless. There is nothing left to say.
反省：我是一個怎麼樣的人呢？是積極、正向、陽光，充滿信心與鬥志的 人？還是消極、悲觀、負面、陰暗、絕望型的人？我帶給身邊的人是建立信心，還是消磨耗損？
What kind of person am I? Positive, optimistic, confident or pessimistic, negative, gloomy and desperate? Do I build up people’s confidence or do I wear down others’ confidence?
6>來自領袖的激勵 Courage from the leader
我巡視後，就對民眾和他們的首領、官長說：「不要怕敵人！要記住主是至 大可畏的。要為你們的同胞、你們的妻子、你們的兒女，和你們的家園爭戰。」（v14）
尼希米真不愧是一個「上帝所重用」的領袖，因為當百姓灰心失望之際，他 能夠幫助百姓重新認識上帝的大能。同時以簡單幾句話語，再次堅定他們的信心，挑旺他們的士氣。因此，他對民眾和他們的首領、官長說： 「不要怕敵人！要記住主是至大可畏的。要為你們的同胞、你們的妻子、你們的兒女，和你們的家園爭戰。
眾人的信心，重新被建立；百姓的士氣，再度被激勵！
After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." (v14)
Nehemiah was truly a leader sent by God, because when the people became discouraged and disappointed, he was able to help people renew their faith and lead them back to God. He encouraged them and lifted their morale. "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." 


反省：我是否經常保持積極、正向、樂觀、進取的態度？是否經常藉著上帝 的話語，重新堅固已經絕望的心？我是一個會鼓勵人、會挽回人的好領袖嗎？
Do I always maintain a positive, optimistic and progressive attitude? Do I often use the Word of God to restore my faith when I am discouraged? Am I a person who encourages people? Do I lead people back to God? 
 


Translated into English by Jessie Chen