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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Neh. 4
I continue to see the Christian life represented in Nehemiah’s story. We are building God’s Kingdom and the Enemy is furious with what we are doing. So he mocks and attacks. The mocking of Sanballat and the men of Samaria sounds a lot like the lies Satan plants in our ears. And how ironic that they said, “Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” (Neh. 4:2b), because that is exactly the work that Christ is doing in and through us. Nehemiah and the Jews working on the wall gave us a good example of how to handle these attacks on our lives and work. They stood together, guarded each other, never took off their armor, and carried their weapons, even when bathing.
Paul tells us to do the same thing in Romans 6. “For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit – which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” (Rom.6:13-18).
Neh. 5-6
In these chapters I see still more ways that the Enemy attacks the body of Christ. He attacks us from within by appealing to our greed, pride, and selfishness. Thus, we take advantage of one another rather than helping each other out, as Nehemiah did. He also works to distract us, pulling us away from the work. And he attempts to plant fear in our hearts, intimidating us so that we put our trust in places it does not belong instead of keeping our trust in God.
Let us pray with Nehemiah, “But now, my God, strengthen my hands.” (Neh. 6:9b). Let us be alert to the schemes of the Enemy and stay focused on the work God has given us to do. Like Nehemiah, we will prevail over the Enemy’s efforts. The people completed that wall the enemy told them they could not complete in fifty-two days. Then it was their enemies who lost heart, “for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.” (Neh. 6:16b).