In Nehemiah 4, we’re going to learn about doing God’s amazing work and how to persevere when trouble approaches us.
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?"
Ah, the ridicule has arrived. Too often, we look at all there is to do — the heaps of burnt stone around us and we wonder to ourselves how we can ever get it put back together again. Stone by stone, my friend. Stone by stone.
"…Will they finish in a day?"
The Jews were working so diligently and intensely that it seemed as though they were trying to get the job done in one day. You can almost picture in your mind how the men stood, shoulder-to-shoulder, day-by-day, and worked. When others look at our lives, I pray that they see us working with the same devotion as the Jews!
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!"
Tobiah made sure to point out that 1) the wall was so low that the fox could climb over it and 2) the building structure was so poor that the weight of a fox could cause it to crumble (John Gill). That's a bit disheartening. As you're pouring your heart and soul into God's work, people come along and poke fun at your little progress and the quality you're producing. But what's next in verse four is so amazing! Listen to how Nehemiah and the Jews respond to the anger and insults of Sanballat and Tobiah:
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 responds not in discouragement, not in anger, not in frustration, and not in heartache. He responds in prayer. When your soul aches, your feelings bruised, and your progress is backhanded by comments – remember Nehemiah. He didn't spend his time formulating a perfect rebuttal to the accusations or immediately dish out a piece of his mind; his response was to talk with God. Isaiah 31:5 reminds us, "A birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also He will deliver it; and passing over He will preserve it."
Allow God to be your defender the next time scorn comes your way.
6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.
Did Nehemiah pray and seek the Lord as to whether the Jews should continue the work? Negatory. They know what needed to happen: keep working. They prayed that God would take care of their enemies, and they continued what they began. It was not just the act of prayer but the act of continuing the excellent work. 1 Corinthians 15:58 encourages us in saying, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." When the enemy is attacking you, don't back down!
7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
The opposition increased after Nehemiah prayed, and the work continued. If you feel as though it's right hook after left hook from Satan, gird up! If he didn't feel you were a threat, then he'd move on to the next victim. What should our response be when the battle heats up? Answer: Prayer and continued to work!
Nehemiah states what they did: "But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat."
Don't miss this because it should fire you up! There have been times when I have sensed such an impression to do battle alongside someone else, and things got thick. But when that has happened, God has never failed to stir my heart to the point where it's almost like He's saying, "Let Satan just bring it – because I will rally and will overcome." I love fighting on the right side! In John 16:33, Jesus tells us directly that we are to take courage when tribulation comes, for He has overcome the world!
10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall." 11 Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work." 12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."
These verses are when the Israelites begin looking at the rubble around them versus looking up to the God who defends them. In John 14, Jesus reminds us first thing not to let our hearts be troubled. He repeats that same statement later in the chapter. This repeated phrase is so critical for us to meditate because the Lord knows how easy it is for us to become distracted and begin stumbling over the rubble around us.
13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."
There's nothing like a great battle cry! Nehemiah assembled the defense and spoke encouragement to the people reminding them of the awesome God they serve and why they're fighting. Be on the lookout for those who are engaged in battle – sometimes, the best thing we can do is earnestly pray for them, remind them of God's awesomeness, and prod them to stay focused on the goal!
15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.
16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
Oh, this is a remarkable picture of godly work. Held in one hand, we have our trowel and in the other our sword. Of course, these are men doing the building and the protecting, but that doesn't mean women can't engage in battle – just read Judges 4 about Deborah and Jael. These two warrior ladies were significant figures in overcoming the Canaanite forces.
19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"
21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. 22 At that time I also said to the people, "Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day." 23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.
Be assured: when called to do God's work, He will fight for you. Second Kings 6 is a terrific example of how the Lord surrounds us. When Elisha's servant was troubled by the surrounding Arameans, Elisha prayed his eyes would be open. "Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
What a deep peace the servant experienced at that moment. David Guzik tells us this, "The previous lack of perception on the part of Elisha's servant did not make the reality of the spiritual army any less real. If there are 50 people who do not see something, it doesn't invalidate the perception of one who does see."
Even though others see minimal work and people spread out everywhere, you may have the eyes to see what God sees. I speak Ephesians 1:18-21 over your life today as you do His work: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in his Holy people, 19 and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." Amen.