Covenant Reformed News – October 2024 • Volume XX, Issue 6
This article provides an expositional study of Nehemiah 2, examining how God's covenant people faced opposition from three external enemies during the reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls. The author demonstrates God's sovereign providence in protecting His church and interpreting the enemies' hostility as evidence of God's work, offering encouragement to believers facing opposition to faithful ministry.
Opposition From Jehovah’s Enemies Any and all true works of God always face opposition from His enemies. In Nehemiah 2, there is a reference to evil forces even before Nehemiah reached Jerusalem. On his journey from the east, Governor Nehemiah was granted a military escort for his own protection, plus letters of safe conduct (9). However, the most serious enmity spoken of in Nehemiah 2:9-10 came not from bandits (9) but from two nasty individuals (10): Sanballat, the governor of Samaria (to...