By Kenneth B.E. Roxburgh, Ph.D.
Chair and Armstrong Professor of Religion, Samford University
Persist
Nehemiah 4:1–3, 6–9, 14–18
In the New Testament, Paul often speaks about the Christian life as involving spiritual warfare, in which we discover opposition to God’s purposes coming from not only those who are not believers but even those who are part of the church.
This is exactly what Nehemiah discovered as he attempted to rebuild the walls of the city and bring God’s purposes to their fulfillment.
God’s work ignites opposition. (1–3)
This chapter identifies external and internal threats to the building project and how Nehemiah carefully addresses these challenges.
The first threat is that of Sanballat and Tobiah. They try to undermine the confidence and commitment of God’s people by ridiculing what they are trying to do. Their anger is expressed through mockery and sarcasm. Sanballat calls God’s people “feeble Jews.” They mock their faith in God with a derisory comment about prayer. The question they ask can be translated “Will they leave everything to God?” They make a reference to the stones they are using, the very ones that still show the soot marks from the destruction of 587 BCE and the fire damage inflicted by the Babylonians.
Laughter can bring healing, but it can also be a dangerous weapon in the hands of the enemy. The outcome is that the team is demoralized and the work is hampered.
Opposition brings us to the place of prayer. (6–9)
It shouldn’t surprise us that the immediate response of Nehemiah is to turn to God in prayer. In one of the most helpful books on prayer that I have ever read, Oscar Hallesby says that the foundation of prayer is helplessness “for it is only when we are helpless that we open our hearts to Jesus and let Him help us in our distress, according to His grace and mercy.”
Prayer doesn’t need to be a beautiful soliloquy in which we know exactly what to say and use all the right action verbs in our sentences. Prayer is simply turning to God and casting all our cares upon Him, knowing that He cares for us.
Nehemiah’s prayer is urgent and expresses exactly how he feels.
Nehemiah follows prayer with action. The threats and sarcastic humor have no impact on his attitude towards the work God has called him to accomplish.
Kathleen Kenyon’s archaeological excavation on these walls revealed that they were 9 feet thick. Nehemiah strenuously committed himself to God’s plans. When further threats came to disrupt this activity, Nehemiah once again prayed and posted a sentry day and night. Prayer did not mean that careful action was not needed. There was a realism about his prayer life. Notice that they prayed with confidence, not to a distant God, but to “our God.”
Opposition leads us to be vigilant. (14–18)
These verses combine a sense of confidence that God is with them and a vigilance that they need to be careful. He carefully looks things over and then makes a decision. Half the people will work and the other half of the people will stand guard. He isn’t putting his trust in his own resources because he reminds the people that God is with them, great and awesome. He encourages the people of God to remind themselves who it is they are working for.
God will not go back on His word. He keeps His promises.
We can trust in Him.
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