Nehemiah: Building With One Hand and a Weapon in the Other

In Nehemiah 3 we learned that the work of the Lord is not solo work. The vision God has given us is not ours alone. It will take the help of like minded people to get the "good work" done. Our diligence today can have everlasting effects tomorrow. 

Nehemiah 4 Facing the Opposition 

Nehemiah faced opposition right from the get go. I believe that he would have had even more trouble if he hadn't had the foresight to ask the king for the two letters (you can read more about that here...Neh 2:7-9).  

Sanballat and Tobiah, remember them? Well, their back. So the mockery and ridicule continues. They hurled insults at the Jews calling them feeble, weak. At one point Tobiah even says that the wall they were building would not hold up. It would break down even if a fox climbed onto it. So what was our good man Nehemiah going to do this time? Pray of course. Nehemiah's first response was to pray. Then he went on building. Let's follow Nehemiah's example. Take it to God and get back to work (Pastor Scott Hunter). Wow! I admire Nehemiah so much, help me Lord to reach this point of maturity in You, cuz that's not what I would've done! (just saying). 

When we are doing the "good work" for the Lord, everyone is not going to support us but the right people will. We need to trust God to handle our Sanballat's and Tobiah's. After Nehemiah prayed, the people worked more fervently than ever. Nehemiah was their constant reminder of the goodness of God. 

The more work they did, the more opposition they faced. The more work they did, the angrier Sanballat and Tobiah became. They plotted to kill Nehemiah and the Jews. Again, Nehemiah prayed. Then he stationed workers with weapons all around the wall. So they essentially worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other! Our "weapon" against the enemy is the Word of God. We continue to do God's work with our "weapon" in hand. 

Therefore, we give due diligence to His Word. It's just like taking an exam. If we have not studied the required material, chances are, we are not prepared. When we are not prepared, we have not given ourselves the opportunity to achieve the desirable outcome. The Word of God prepares us and gives us the opportunity to respond rightly in the face of opposition. 

Regardless of what the Lord is asking us to do in obedience, we must have a response to the opposition. Because when we step out in His name, the attacks will come (SRT). Let's let no one put an end to the work we are doing for His Kingdom. In spite of the opposition the work must go on.


Lord, help us to hold tight to your Word. Let it penetrate our hearts as we turn our face towards you. We need your help to remain faithful to reading your Word daily. In Jesus name, Amen. 

*image from praying.kansasbob.com

Nehemiah: Builders of the Wall

image from terrainplanning.com

In Nehemiah 2 we learned the importance of being patient and what action steps to take when moving forward with the call that God has placed in our heart. We also learned how to respond rightly to opposition.

Now on to Nehemiah 3. I have to admit, upon first glance I wasn't really excited about this chapter. It's basically an overview of who repaired what part of the wall. This gate was repaired by so and so. This section by so and so. Next to him was so and so, and so and so. You know, just the basic mundane building of a wall. Right....wrong! So wrong!

Man, I had to stop dead in my tracks. Isn't this exactly what was supposed to be happening! The people were fulfilling the call that God had placed in Nehemiah's heart. They were supposed to be building the wall section by section, gate by gate, side by side. Generations of family members, neighbors, friends, leaders, and priests helped to rebuild the wall. They were doing the "good work". The day-to-day grind of life using whatever skills they had.

The vision had been written and made plan for all to see and understand. Every great and powerful move of God, from rebuilding walls, planting churches, or leading a bible study requires work. There comes a time when we have to GET UP, STOP TALKING, STOP VISION CASTING, and START WORKING (SRT). Putting down beams one at a time using whatever skills and talents we've been blessed with. The "good work" may not  always be "glamorous" work or give us goose bumps, but it is part of the necessary work to carry out the plan of God. 

What are you supposed to be doing to help get God's "good work" done? What am I supposed to be doing to help get God's "good work" done? What is God asking us to do within our day-to-day grind that is going to help towards God's 'good work'. We have to remember that the vision that God has giving us is not ours alone. It is not going to get done by us alone. It isn't going to come to fruition by us alone. It's going to take the influence of God on our lives, to influence others, to see a need and be willing to get down in the trenches with us, doing whatever it takes, using whatever we have to get the work done. 

Check this out: In Nehemiah verse 15 we meet a guy by the name of Shallun. What's so special about him? Well I'm glad you're curious. The bible tells us that Shallun repairs the wall of the Pool of Siloam*. Fast forward to John 9:6 where Jesus is on the scene healing a blind man with mud made from saliva and dirt. Guess where Jesus told him to go wash it off; in the Pool of Siloam. We never know how the work we do today will impact the lives of others tomorrow. Let's go build some walls! 

Lord, help us to remember that we need you and each other as we take on the task of building the section of the wall that you've called us to build. In Jesus name, Amen.



 (SRT) = She Reads Truth an online community of women with a heart for God.
 *Pool of Siloam or Shelah= There are also other places in the bible where this pool is significant.

Nehemiah: Patience

image from sharefaith.com

 

Nehemiah 2:1-8        
   
In Nehemiah 1, we learned that Nehemiah was in great distress over Jerusalem. He mourned for days and fasted, prayed, and confessed. 

Nehemiah was cup bearer to King Artaxerxes. As cup bearer, Nehemiah was responsible for tasting the wine before it was given to the king to ensure it had not been poisoned. Nehemiah had a job that put him in a unique position, he had access to the king. 

Nearly 4 months had passed since hearing of the news before Nehemiah encounters the king in Ch 2. The king senses that something isn't quite right with Nehemiah and asks "Why are you sad?" Now, as cup bearer it was important that Nehemiah have a pleasant demeanor in the presence of the king. But because of his grief, he was unable to pretend to be happy. Although Nehemiah was grieved and afraid, he responded boldly to the king. He realized that God had finally allowed for this moment to come. "May the king live forever!" "Why shouldn't I be sad when my hometown is buried in ruins and its gates destroyed by fire?" The king asks the million dollar question, "What is it that you want?" Nehemiah prayed before answering, "If it pleases you (If I please you), send me to Judah where my ancestors are buried so I can rebuild it." And BOOM...just like that, the king grants Nehemiah's request.  

Nehemiah was an ordinary servant who would do extraordinary things, but he did them by moving with God. Not running ahead but walking beside. Nehemiah's reliance on God is first displayed in this chapter by his willingness to wait. (SRT)

He was willing to wait on God's timing and not take matters in his own hands. Nehemiah waited 4 months before God moved on his behalf. Guess what Nehemiah was doing in the meantime....praying. Nehemiah was a man of prayer. How many times have we become impatience in our waiting? Let's learn to pray while we wait. Let's be resistant in our need to move ahead of God. What ever it is that we are asking God for, let's remember to pray and wait! 

Nehemiah's willingness to pray and wait put him in the very place God had prepared for him in advance. Ephesians 2:10 says,  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)

Dear Lord, thank you for your words today. Help us to remember to pray while we wait. In Jesus name. Amen!

Yours Truly~Freedom