Determination

[16] And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. [17] They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. [18] For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. [19] And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. [20] In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. [21] So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. [22] Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day. [23] So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing. Nehemiah 4:17-23

Talk about determination, Nehemiah is unwavering in his goal to see the wall built. He will do whatever it takes to see it accomplished.

The Bible says “from that time on…” half of the people worked on the wall and the other half ready for battle. The workers were in unity as one great working machine. One hand was working on the wall as they held a weapon in the other. They were prepared for whatever happened, if the enemy left them alone they were working, if the enemy came and disturbed them they were ready.

The wall was very large and the people were separated throughout the long span. Nehemiah spoke to the people and told them to be ready. When the trumpet is heard you know the battle is coming, gather together but don’t worry because God will fight for us. He had stamina, knowledge, faith and confidence in His God. Nehemiah was in close communication (prayer) with God and trusted Him to do what He said.

We cannot be in the work of God unless one hand is in the work and the other is on the weapon (Bible). Even though we are in God’s work we must always be in His word. The two go hand in hand. Do not get so busy in the work that you neglect His Word.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Discouragement from all sides

[10 ] And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. [11] And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. [12] And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. [13]Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. [14] And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. [15] And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. Nehemiah 4:10-15

Discouragement is heard from all sides. The people of Judah said, “We will not be able to build the wall, there is so much rubbish”. The adversaries (enemy) also had much to say, “They won’t know what hit them, we will get in the middle of them and kill them and the work will stop.” The Jews came ten times and begged them to stop the work because the builders were in danger.

Nehemiah is not just hearing negative comments from the enemies but from the very ones he came to help. It appears he turns a deaf ear and makes plans to continue with the work. He gathers the people and gets them ready with weapons to defend themselves, if necessary.

When done with the preparations to get ready for a conflict, he meets with the leaders. “Don’t be afraid; remember Who is on our side. He will fight for us and our families.” Ever the cheerleader and encourager, Nehemiah speaks comforting words.

The enemy gets word that God is on the side of Nehemiah and the workers. Amazing that the enemies found out that the people knew the plan; this was a day without radio, newspaper or even pony express. They knew because somehow God let it be known. “I will not let you mess with my people.”

I believe Nehemiah was in the center of the will of God. The Lord gave him peace in the midst of opposition.

We serve the same God today; He is with us no matter what we are going through. God is the God of the hills and the valleys. He is with us in the “up” times; He is with us in the “down” times.

We need to be like Nehemiah. Trust in God all the time and He will see you through.

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Building continues

[6] So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. [7 ]But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, [8] And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. [9] Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. Nehemiah 4:6-9

My last post was about all the opposition that Nehemiah endured. The discouraging words did not get him down, but fueled him to finish the project at hand. The building continued, the wall was joined together, because the “people had a mind to work”.

The enemies were now speaking of coming and starting a war against Jerusalem to hinder the work.

Nehemiah again prays to God and puts “action” to his prayer by setting up a watch day and night for the enemy.

Imagine, if the people today had a “mind to work” for God, not themselves, not for the secular world, but for God.

We need to keep our minds on the things of God. It is not easy since most of us are pulled in a hundred different directions, but pray and ask God what He would have you to do and do it.

[5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Taunting remarks

[1] But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. [2] And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? [3] Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. [4] Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: [5] And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. Nehemiah 4:1-5

Sanballat is not happy when he hears the wall is being built. He is extremely angry and mocks the Jews. He doesn’t stop there but goes out and starts to mock and put them down to anyone who will listen. He goes to his brothers as well as the whole Samarian army. “Just look at what the feeble Jews are doing. Will they really be able to make the wall of the city strong? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish the work? Will they get stones out of the burnt dump?”

His fellow conspirator, Tobiah, is there with gloomy thoughts too, “The work is a mess, if a fox goes up on the wall it will fall down.” Discouragement, opposition, conflict, resistance is on all sides of Nehemiah and the people that are working on the wall.

What does Nehemiah do? He runs to a corner and cries! Absolutely not, Nehemiah does what he does best, prays. He cries out to God, “God turn what they are saying around to be on their own heads, don’t let their sin be covered up. God by provoking us they are provoking you. Nehemiah is not known for “mincing” works. He calls sin, sin.

Nehemiah is on a mission to repair the wall of Jerusalem. He will let nothing stop him.

Does God want you to do something? Maybe He wants you to speak to someone about Him? Maybe He wants you to do something at church? Maybe He is speaking to you about … Only you know. Keep at the task at hand, God is there for encouragement. Don’t be discouraged by what others say.

…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

Have a blessed day,
Donna