Rebuilding with burnt stones

Preaching Outline on Nehemiah 4:1-2 – “And it came to pass, when Sanballat heard that we were building up the wall, that he burned with anger, and was very wroth; and he mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren, and before the army of Samaria, and said, What do these weak Jews? Will you allow them to do this? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish it in one day? Will they revive the stones that were burned from the heaps of dust?”

Introduction

Nehemiah was a contemporary of Ezra. Both lived at a difficult time in Israel’s history, when the people had been taken captive to Babylon and those who remained in the city of Jerusalem were living with a disastrous scenario. The city was destroyed. Houses and walls had collapsed, stone buildings were shattered by the fire and fury of their enemies.

“The survivors in the province who escaped the captivity are in great difficulty and shame, the wall of Jerusalem is divided, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.” Neh 1:3

Development

King Artaxexes’ cupbearer, considered a trusted court official, Nehemiah served in the capital of Shushan, 150 miles from the Tigris River, which is now Iran. He acquired permission and favor from the king to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and its fortifications. The year is approximately 432 B.C. What do we learn from Nehemiah?

This is another empowering, restorative Bible story! Nehemiah was a man of faith and fear of God, living in a luxurious palace, lacking nothing, but his heart was breaking for his fellow Jews. He left the palace and went on a mission to Jerusalem. A man who reveals the greatness of intercession, of humble, sincere prayer full of love for others. In addition, Nehemiah’s capacity for discernment is something we should strive for in order not to give in to the enemy’s snares.

“In the evening I got up, and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do in Jerusalem.

Then he said to them, “You see how miserable we are, Jerusalem is desolate and its gates are burned; come now, let us build up the walls of Jerusalem and let us no longer be a disgrace.” Nehemiah 2:12 and 17.

Rebuild

Rebuilding the city of Jerusalem also meant restoring the inhabitants’ spirits, their joy of spirit, their spiritual communion with God. Jerusalem was naked, unprotected. Without borders, the enemies freely entered the city, plundering what was left, including lives. Jesus said: “Behold, I come as a thief.

Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and his nakedness be seen.” Rev 16:15. This situation is so identical to fallen man, given over to sin. His soul is held hostage, evil has free access to the gates of his heart. Nehemiah comes to tell us that the fortresses of stone, destroyed and burned to the ground by enemies, can be raised up again, hallelujah!

And it came to pass, when Sanballat heard that we were building up the wall, that he burned with anger, and was very wroth; and he mocked the Jews. And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria and said, “What are these weak Jews doing? Will you allow this? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish it in one day? Will they revive the stones that were burned from the heaps of dust? Nehemiah 4:1-2

The image of Satan

Sanballat is the image of Satan, the one who accuses us and despises us in an attempt to make us give up. His desire is like a big mouth that is always open to devour, saying words of defeat: “poor, weak Jews, all you have are heaps of burnt stones that are only good for garbage, even a fox would break down these walls that you are thinking of rebuilding”. Dear ones, this is the mission of evil.

Just as he did with Nehemiah, he does with us. He says we’re not capable, that we’re sinners, “burnt stones”. His pleasure is to see walls torn down, territories plundered, naked in cold and hunger.

When we hear these voices, which often come in the form of thoughts or “Sambalates”, let’s know where they’re coming from. Let’s try, as Nehemiah did, to pray, trust and not give up on acting according to the Word.

Burnt stones

The figure of the burnt stones is noteworthy. For Sanballat, they were useless heaps. For Nehemiah, they had the same value as the original stones. Those burnt stones could be you and me. Wounded, disappointed, experiencing adversity. It could be anyone who once felt strong and happy enough to be a wall without gaps.

It can be what rises up after repeated defeats. Burnt stones speak of lives “passed through the fire” and which in the eyes of many may have no value, but for God, as for Nehemiah, they can be rebuilt with the same strength and usefulness as new stones. Burnt stones in Jerusalem speak of spiritual life.

People who once lived their faith vigorously and no longer do. I believe that there are many burnt stones scattered around, needing to be gathered together and valued in order to build (or rebuild) fortresses.

Nehemiah 4:7 And it came to pass, when Sanballat and Tobiah, and the Arabs, and the children of Ammon, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem was increasing, and that the breaches were beginning to be covered, that they were very angry.

Rebuilding the walls

Nehemiah didn’t discard the burnt stones and saw that they could be just as useful as the others, and he was right. Sanballat was furious because the walls were being rebuilt, the gaps were closing, but God was with the builders and the work didn’t stop. Nehemiah 4:14 “Do not fear them! Remember the Lord, who is great and to be feared, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”

Rebuilding the walls also meant rebuilding the family lives of many of those involved in the work.

What a great, magnificent lesson the book of Nehemiah brings us! For every life restored spiritually, for every burnt stone laid, many other lives benefit! We must not give up seeking God because of the harshness of the world, the wickedness of people. On the contrary. If we become discouraged in battle, we will be the useless stone that “Sanballat” will rejoice in kicking and smashing to dust.

Our strength is not in ourselves, but in the Lord, great and fearsome, the same who went with Nehemiah to overcome.

“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.” Nehemiah 6:15

“And he said to them, ‘Go, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared for themselves; for this day is consecrated to our Lord; therefore do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

The Lord of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will guard it and deliver it, and in passing he will save it. Is 31:5

Destruction

Destruction happens so quickly that it’s sometimes hard to believe how in such a short space of time things have become so big! The fire that consumes a forest, cars that crash on the road, armed wars, everything destroys in seconds and sometimes takes years to rebuild. Criticizing like Sanballat is easier than acting like Ezra, which is why the world conspires against God’s children.

The walls of the city of Jerusalem were rebuilt under Nehemiah’s leadership in 52 days. They were destroyed in no more than a week. If we are today like the burnt stones of Jerusalem, let us know that we are precious to God. The strength to rise again is in the Lord, who will be happy to place us as a foundation in our homes, workplaces and wherever we go.

Sanballat set many traps to get Nehemiah killed and stop the work, but he didn’t succeed because not for a minute did Nehemiah doubt that God was with him for good: “The good hand of my God was with me” Neh 2:8.

Conclusion

This is the lesson of the burning stones erected on the walls of the city of Jerusalem.

Preaching Outline on Nehemiah 4:1-2 “And it came to pass, when Sanballat heard that we were building up the wall, that he burned with anger, and was very wroth; and he mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren, and before the army of Samaria, and said, What do these weak Jews? Will you allow them to do this? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish it in one day? Will they revive the stones that were burned from the heaps of dust?”

Rebuilding with burnt stones – Nehemiah 4:1-2