We can learn a lot from Nehemiah. We can’t be so spiritual to be of no earthly good, nor so earthly that we are no spiritual good. The People of Jerusalem prayed to God for protection from their enemies, but they also did something practical they posted guards day and night. We need to be assertive both in prayer and action, as James puts it “Faith without works is dead”
Nehemiah 4 vs. 4-9 – Insults and Threats Directed at the Builders
Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads.
Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt
For our enemies are your enemies, they insult us, they insult you, be it on their heads
Surely God you will not let them overcome us, your plan must not die or wilt
We your people want to be secure, safe within our city walls, no arrows over our heads
You O God are a righteous God you despise iniquity, you see our enemies guilt
Overcome our enemies God, the time must come when they are in over their heads
Unable to stand, defeated by your mighty power, 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,
So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.
When we do things with all our heart, do what is right in God’s sight he will us favourably consider
When we acknowledge him and do not rely upon on our own understanding his love he does impart
He will direct our paths as we are prepared to seek him with all we are, and he will us save and deliver
We cannot give up half-way through but press on toward the goal and work with all of our heart
But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs
To Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.
They knew that if the walls were repaired Jerusalem could no longer be kept in a state of despair
Vulnerable to their raid and attacks, able to be easily subdued, and that made them very angry
They did not want a change to the status quo so they wanted to do all in their powers to stop the repairs
They hadn’t expected any change in the walls to occur, to see gaps being closed they were angry
They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
When we are prepared to stick our necks out for God we will be attacked and not a little bit
But a lot, Jerusalem’s enemies plotted to stop the rebuilding it wasn’t an idle threat
Faith should be both practical and prayerful, they prayed and posted guards day and night
We too need to know our enemies and protect ourselves from attacks and threats
Both by praying and putting on armour, but also by making choices which are in God right
God calls us “ choose this day whom you will serve”, choose him he will guard your hearts
Mark Maffey, July 2009
(NIV)