Strength from God

KEY VERSE: “In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.” —Nehemiah 4:20

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 4:6-12, 15-20

IN NEHEMIAH’S APPROACH to the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, important factors may be noted. First, he saw the need: “Ye see the distress that we are in.” (Neh. 2:17) As a rule, it is difficult to engender interest in a project for which there is no need. Nehemiah’s confidence in the success of the undertaking was based on the fact that he was able to see the Lord’s providence in his being able to obtain the needed authority from King Artaxerxes.

This not only gave him confidence, but when he related the circumstances to those in Jerusalem who would share the responsibility of the undertaking with him, they said, “Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”—vs. 18

As always during this “present evil world” (Gal. 1:4), when there is something to be done for the Lord, Satan has his emissaries ready to oppose the work. The opposition may be violent and open, or it may be concealed and subtle. In any event, the Lord’s servants need always to take this into consideration, and to prepare themselves accordingly with whatever safeguards may be necessary at the time, and in keeping with the Lord’s will.

Nehemiah, and the faithful Jews in Jerusalem, had their enemies who were determined that the walls of the city would not be rebuilt. These were Sanballat, the Horonite, and his servant, Tobiah, an Ammonite, and Geshem, the Arabian, who were leaders of the movement to stop the work. Nehemiah took every precaution to protect his work against any aggressive move that might be made against him by these clever adversaries. When his enemies learned that the work of building was actually in progress, they “conspired all of them together, … to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.”—Neh. 4:8

It became necessary for Nehemiah to make suitable arrangements for the defense of the workers. Nevertheless, it was a strenuous and dangerous operation. Recounting it, Nehemiah wrote, “So we labored in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labor on the day.”—vss. 21-22

These enemies endeavored to frighten Nehemiah with a story that the king had been informed that the Israelites were planning a rebellion, and would make Nehemiah king. Nehemiah knew that this also was merely a trick, and told them so. But the impact of their efforts was discouraging. Nehemiah said, “They all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.” (Neh. 6:9) The success of this great man was his utter dependence upon God.

The builders, under the direction of Nehemiah, would not be deterred by their enemies’ threat of possible violence. The record states, “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” (Neh. 4:6) Here is another formula for success in the service of the Lord; namely, “a mind to work.” Acceptable service to the Lord must be motivated with a sincere desire to serve, and not merely by a sense of duty.

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