Responding to opposition biblically

Whenever we encounter opposition, we have a few different options on how we can respond. Some are right. Some are right in the eyes of the world. Some are just plain wrong.

Let's look at some tactics. (A long post today, but hang in there, OK?)
First, you can run from opposition. You might pretend it's not there, or you might agree that it's there, but either way, you just turn tail and run.
Not good.
As an alternative, you could try to dodge it - go around it - and see if that worked. Pretend that the long way around was what you intended to do all along.
That one's not too good, either.
Reasoning things out is always good, right? You could try to work out a compromise. Unfortunately, both sides lose a bit in a compromise, and you end up giving way, at least partially, to your opposition.
So that's not the best option, either.
Most of us are not crazy about conflict, but you could meet the opposition head on, straight up, and work through it.
That last approach is usually the only good long-term way. And it's the Biblical way, too.

Many of the best generals the world has ever known have been adept at juggling several "fronts" of attack at the same time. Nehemiah would have made an excellent general!

Nehemiah had four prongs of attack, and we will look at each of them in turn.
His first "front" was that he and the builders lifted their voices in prayer.
"Oh, come on," someone might say, "you're in the midst of opposition and you're going to get on your knees?"
Well, yes!
Often when we are faced with opposition, our first response is to get angry. We want to hit back. We want to defend ourselves. But I'm here to tell ya - our first response should always be prayer. I like this quote by John Bunyan:

     You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan.

Prayer does some pretty awesome things: it reminds us that God is sovereign, even over those who are opposing and attacking us.  Since He has allowed this trial in our lives for a reason, it makes sense to pray and submit our hearts to Him. We also acknowledge our trust in Him when we pray.
Nehemiah's prayer sure is interesting, though. Check this out:

4 Hear us, 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. (Nehemiah 4:4-5)

Well, I never.
Kinda flies in the face of "love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5)  Doesn't it? What about that?
Does this trouble you? I had to study up on this, since it just didn't seem to match some other passages in the Word of God that came to mind...
Should we pray as Nehemiah did when faced with opposition?
I think part of our answer can be seen if we check another translation:

Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5 Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. (v 4-5)

I believe that Nehemiah first "brought it to the attention" of God (of course, He already knew) that these Ammonites and Samaritans were opposed to the work on the wall. They were actually insulting the name of God in their mockery and sarcasm.  The first request that he made was that their hate be turned back to them. This doesn't seem that harsh when we compare it to others -- check out these verses:

Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;    Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!
Let them vanish like water that flows away, (Psalm 58:6-7a)

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,    and their backs be bent forever. Pour out your wrath on them;    let your fierce anger overtake them. May their place be deserted;    let there be no one to dwell in their tents. (Psalm 69:23-25) 

So give their children over to famine;    hand them over to the power of the sword.
Let their wives be made childless and widows;    let their men be put to death,    their young men slain by the sword in battle. (Jeremiah 18:21) 

I actually think that Nehemiah's prayer is a great example for us; it seems harsh to us today, but let's look at what he was doing. He didn't debate the issue. He didn't choose some people and form a committee. He didn't even take the time to confront the opposition in person (at this point). Instead, he took it to God in prayer, and reminded himself and God of his reliance on Him.
Then, Nehemiah asked God to battle their enemies for them. It's absolutely proper and OK for believers to pray such prayers - because they are letting go of their own anger and desires (like, I wanna go punch that guy!) and letting God deal with things!
If we are angry at someone, or are being opposed by an enemy or by Satan, we can "go at them" in prayer. We don't do this in the sense of praying evil upon them, but in the sense of turning them over to a just God Who knows best how to handle things. We should not pray for personal vengeance, but that God would take things out of our mortal hands and take care of things. Have you ever thought about the fact that when we pray for God's kingdom to be established (like in the Lord's prayer) we are asking for all kingdoms that oppose His to be destroyed? Now, we know that God can "destroy" or nullify opposition by converting them; by saving their souls. Or, He can pour out His wrath upon them (like He will do against some at the final judgment, if they have not repented of their rebellion against Him).
Please don't get me wrong here -- we need to recognize, as Nehemiah did, that this is God's cause, not our own. We need to guard our hearts carefully against selfish motives. We need to guard against selfish delight in seeing our enemies brought down. But we can also remember that the saints will rejoice when God ultimately judges the wicked:

“Rejoice over her, you heavens!    Rejoice, you people of God!    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!For God has judged her    with the judgment she imposed on you.” (Revelation 18:20)

If our hearts are right, we can pray that God will subdue the enemies of His work. It's His choice whether He subdues them by conversion or by His justice. Either way, prayer is our first response to opposition!