The building of the wall of Jerusalem was now, in spite of the difficulties and dangers encountered by Nehemiah and his band of helpers, almost completed; only the setting of the doors remained to be done,
What an illustration of the opposition of Satan to everything of God, is seen in the actions of Sanballat; Tobiah and Geshem and those in sympathy with them!
A feeble remnant had been enabled, through divine intervention, to set up again the wall of separation, completing the chain of three things linked in the Scriptures
The wall (as to which see 2 Cor. 6:14- 1814Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14‑18) and 2 Tim. 2:2121If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)).
We may say also, that whenever there is in our own day real energy for God, Satan will be heard from in one way or another, and this is the more likely to be, it seems, when. there is real separation from evil—-God's principle of unity, as illustrated in the book of Nehemiah. which we are examining.
Whether Sanballat and Geshem meant (verse 2) to do bodily injury to Nehemiah, or to propose cooperation or association, it was clear to the servant of God that his path of duty held him where he was; there could be no severing from the object before him, neither compromise with the world, nor fearing its power.
Sanballat next tried intimidation in a more direct way (see verses 6-7), and again afterward through the unfaithfulness of Shemaiah (verse 10).
Others too, in Jerusalem were in correspondence with the enemy (verses 14 and 11-12), and would have stopped the building of the wall. But it was finished, and its completion was a sad thing in the hearts of the enemy; it was seen to be a work of God (verse 16). These were feeble folk, but their trust, or at least Nehemiah's, their leader, was in the living God, and He gave them their desire.