Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Nehemiah
Book: Nehemiah
Chapter: 4
Overview:
Opposition of
Sanballat and others.
(1-6) The designs of the
adversaries.
(7-15) Nehemiah's precautions.
(16-23)
1-6 Many a good work has been looked upon with contempt
By
proud and haughty scorners. Those who disagree in almost every
thing, will unite in
Persecution.
Nehemiah did not answer these
fools according to their folly, but looked up to
God By Prayer.
God's people have often been a despised people, but he hears all
the slights that are
Put upon them, and it is their comfort that
he does
So.
Nehemiah had reason to think that the hearts of
those sinners were desperately hardened, else he would not have
prayed that their sins might never be blotted out. Good work
goes
On Well, when people have a mind to it. The reproaches of
enemies should quicken us to our duty, not drive us from it.
7-15 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.
God has many ways of bringing to
Light, and
So
of bringing to nought, the devices and designs of his
Church's
enemies. If our enemies cannot frighten us from duty, or deceive
us into
Sin, they cannot hurt us.
Nehemiah Put himself and his
cause under the Divine protection. It was the way of this good
Man, and should be our way. All his cares, all his griefs, all
his fears, he spread before
God. Before he used any means, he
made his
Prayer to
God. Having prayed, he set a watch against
the enemy. If we think to secure ourselves
By Prayer, without
watchfulness, we are slothful, and tempt
God; if
By
watchfulness, without
Prayer, we are proud, and slight
God:
either way, we forfeit his protection.
God's care of our safety,
should engage and encourage us to go
On with vigour in our duty.
As soon as a danger is over, let us return to our work, and
trust
God another time.
16-23 We must watch always against spiritual enemies, and not
expect that our warfare will be over till our work is ended. The
Word of God is the
Sword of the
Spirit, which we ought to have
always at
Hand, and never to have to seek for it, either in our
labours, or in our conflicts, as Christians. Every true
Christian is both a labourer and a soldier, working with one
Hand, and fighting with the other. Good work is likely to go
On
with success, when those who labour in it, make a business of
it. And
Satan fears to assault the watchful
Christian; or, if
attacked, the
Lord fights for him. Thus must we wait to the
close of
Life, never putting off our
Armour till our work and
warfare are ended; then we shall be welcomed to the
Rest and joy
of our
Lord.