TO THE WORK

So built we the wall; and all the
wall was joined together unto the
half thereof: for the people had
a mind to work.
Nehemiah 4:6

Nehemiah is one of my favorite books in the Old Testament. I don't even have a picture in my mind what he looked like. I do know he held a most important job. He worked in the palace in Shushan. His boss was a king by the name of Artaxerxes. Nehemiah had a job probably most men wouldn't want to have. He was the king's cupbearer. Before the king ever took a sip of wine from the cup a servant brought to him, it was Nehemiah's job to take the first sip to insure the king wasn't being poisoned.

On a particular day, there were men who traveled from Jerusalem to report to Nehemiah regarding condition of their city. It was destroyed for the most part, and was in ruins. The men were hoping for some help in restoring their beloved city and was hoping Nehemiah could return to Jerusalem to see to the rebuilding. Nehemiah was grieved in his spirit over the news, but he was also aware of the fact that he was captive and serving the king of his captivity. All he could do was to approach the king about a possible trip back “home.”

Approaching a king in that day was a very precarious thing. You never entered the throne room without an invitation from the king. Nehemiah didn't have that problem as he was usually near the throne most of the time. Another no-no was in one's approach to the king. One had to be in proper attire and with a proper spirit. No one was allowed to be around the king with a sad or mad look on one's face. Nehemiah knew of these protocols but on the day he sat near the throne after he had received the news from friends, his countenance was sad right in front of the king.

 It was quite noticeable to the king and remarkably, the king didn't seem to be offended. Nehemiah explained his concern about the conditions in Jerusalem and had a strong desire to go back even for a brief time to see to the rebuilding.

It would be miraculous for a king to agree to such a thing, but Artaxerxes agreed for him to go and did everything in helping with Nehemiah's trip, even to seeing to his receiving building goods for the project. Nehemiah went with the promise of his return back to serve the king when the building was complete.

The story goes on, but as it would happen, during the building process, opposition surfaced. When doing God's work, it's amazing how quickly Satan catches on to what is transpiring and jumps on his band wagon of discouragement and threatening. In the beginning, the threats came from two men, but when the building continued despite opposition, those building came under sever threats of violence. Nehemiah challenged the people in 4:14:

“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.”

The enemy was thwarted for a brief time and the people continued with their work. The men were so determined, some for a time, did the building while others stood guard with their weapons. The builders also did their work while having a sword strapped to them. These were determined men, but knew it could take a good fight to get the work finished, thus the need to keep their swords near. They had an alarm system regarding the oncoming enemy. Nehemiah arranged for there to be a trumpet sounding the warning. He added an interesting word of encouragement....:Our God shall fight for us.”

With completion of the wall around Jerusalem, there was such a time of victory and celebration. It included time spent in God's Word, prayer, singing, rejoicing, feasting...a really big time for the people. Nehemiah reminded the people that “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” By the way, that statement is true for us today.

There is so much to this story and I've tried to hit some of the highlights. I was thinking about in these days when Christians all over our country are trying to rebuild walls of ministry. There are Christians discouraged, feeling like they are spiritual failures who want to rebuild so much in their own personal lives. The building of the greater walls is made up with the spiritual building that takes place in individual lives.

God is fighting for us. He wants to empower us to defeat Satan's tactics in our lives. It wasn't just in Nehemiah's day that God fought for the people. He is fighting for us now, but it takes a team effort. God won't force spiritual victory on us. We must want it, to build back some walls we've allowed to be broken down. We do it with the “Sword”...the word of Truth. We will be weak an anemic without it. With the work complete, the people spend hours standing while the Word of God was read.

We also need encouragement of members of God's family to help with what building needs to be done personally or corporately. There are churches struggling with discouragement and defeat. We're not to do the building in our own strength, but in God's and it can be done.

When victory comes, it's okay for us to celebrate any victory God gives us. We don't do this enough as we tend to give ourselves credit for our accomplishments. Let's remember again that “the joy of the Lord is your strength”...may we feel a freedom in celebrating spiritual milestones, but know it was God Who was instrumental in it all.

Father, I need You to help me in ways I need to rebuild some spiritual muscles in my life. Thank You for You being my strength in it all. In Jesus's precious name....Amen