His strength is mine;
He is my God.
I trust His grace;
My fortress high,
my shield divine,
My Savior and
my hiding place.
My prayer to God
shall still be raised
When troubles thick
around me close;
The Lord, most worthy
to be praised,
Will rescue me from all my foes.
The prophet Nehemiah was called by God to return from captivity, back to Jerusalem. He was charged with the tremendous undertaking of rebuilding the wall around the city. He left Babylon with the blessings and supplies of the king. But, it was not going to be an easy task. He not only had to contend with the opposition from outside the city, but also with the fear and discouragement from within the city, God's people.
Nehemiah 4:7-9
7. But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
When we, as God's people have "a mind to work," to build or rebuild for the Lord, to work for His kingdom, the enemies of that work are going to become "very angry." This should not be a surprise to us.
How are we to respond? The example of verse 9 says to "pray to our God," and "set a guard" day and night. We are called by scripture to make our requests known to God, praying at all times in the Spirit, keeping alert with all perseverance. And to be vigilant, be aware, to pay attention and don't be outwitted by, or ignorant of, the enemy's schemes. Philippians 4:6 ; Ephesians 6:18 ; 2 Corinthians 2:11
Nehemiah 4:10-14
10. In Judah it was said, "The strength of those who bear the burdens of failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall." 11. And our enemies said, "They will not know or see until we come among them and kill them and stop the work." 12. At that time the Jews who lived near them cane from all directions and said to us ten times, "You must return to us." 13. So in the lowest parts in the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their sword, their spears, and their bows. 14. And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes."
The people of Jerusalem began to voice the heavy burden they were feeling and the fear that began to overwhelm them because of their enemy's threats.
Nehemiah and his people were in a real battle and their enemy first came at them with discouragement, then mockery, and finally the threat of physical attack. Nehemiah responded by first offering a prayer to God. Then, he put feet to his prayers; "We set up a guard against them day and night."
The enemy was plotting subtle attacks against them. They were going to sneak into their midst and destroy them and their work.
God's people came from all around to bring warnings of the pending attacks, over and over again they came.
They heeded the warning of the pending attack and made preparation to defend themselves. But they didn't stop there; they also continued the work of the Lord.
As they were waiting for the attack, Nehemiah encouraged the people saying "Don't be afraid of them." How could their fears be dispelled? He said to them "Remember The Lord." Don't look at the power of the enemy; look at the power of the Lord.
Over and over again, Satan brings trouble to God's people. We sometimes question God as to why we have to go through the things we do. There is so much junk in our lives, "rubble" all around us, it's difficult to accomplish God's work and we get discouraged.
Remember the Lord, for He is great and awesome. It is not we against them; it is they against Almighty God!
From this point on, the people of Jerusalem kept constant vigilance and were on constant alert, one working and the other standing watch.The people had a trowel in one hand and sword in the other. They devised the plan of blowing the trumpet if they were attacked and all would go to that place to do battle together. Nehemiah encouraged them saying "The Lord will fight for us."
We need to respond in like manner when the burdens of life seem overwhelming or even scary. When the enemy is coming against you, trying to stop the Lord's work in your life, you must persevere. You should have the tools of your calling in one hand and His sword (the Bible) in the other. We need to pray and have our eye's of discernment open, so we can recognize where our opposition is truly coming from. And, most important of all "Remember the Lord", remember who He is, remember that you belong to Him. Remember all He has promised to those who will trust in Him. Remember the Lord.
Your purchased people, gracious Lamb,
You never can forget;
The piercing nails have wrote their names
Upon your hands and feet.
Your dear peculiar ones;
For them your righteousness avails;
For them your blood atones.
Vainly against the sheep he strives,
And wars with the Most High;
Their glorious Head forever lives,
Nor can his members die.
Jesus shall His elect avenge,
Nor from His own remove;
Nor cancel His decree, nor change
His everlasting love.
God Bless and Press On
Larry
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