We have been following Nehemiah in the progress of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. When we last left him, the walls were half completed. This is perhaps one of the most dangerous point in the whole realm of building. This is the point where that first thrust of enthusiasm begins to fall away and the real test comes.
If you have ever done any mountain climbing, you know the experience of which I speak. When you are at the bottom of the mountain, you are filled with enthusiasm and the top doesn’t seem too far away. As you climb and fatigue begins to set in, you note that with all of the struggle, you have only climbed halfway. There is a strong feeling of wanting to give up and go back down.
This is also very true in the Christian experience. After the first enthusiasm for a particular job has gone, it is sometimes difficult to keep pressing on. Here we can take a lesson from this book and the experience of Nehemiah. There are several things we note in this portion of the chapter that are important to our building for God while under fire from the enemy.
1. The onslaught of the enemy.
A. Verbal attack
We noted last week that up to that time, the attack of the enemy was simply a verbal attack. There was ridicule and scorn that was heaped upon this army of builders, yet they kept on working and ignoring the words of the enemy.
B. Outward battle
The verbal attack had failed to bring defeat, so now the enemy turns to another form of resistance. He now prepares for open battle.
The plan for this battle was for a sneak attack. Nehemiah 4:11 the enemy says, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”
Some of the Jews, apparently, who were not terribly active in building the wall, were near the camp of the enemy and heard the plans. In their pessimism, they ran to Nehemiah with this tale of woe and defeat.
Because of the strength of the enemy, which included a coalition of nations, the Jews were filled with fear.
We do have a strong foe, but fear will not turn his attacks into defeat. There is something more that must be done besides standing in fear.
2. The reaction to the enemy.
Once again, it appears as though Nehemiah was standing alone against this great enemy. Listen to his words of counsel in Nehemiah 4:14.
And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, 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.
A. To overcome fear, one only has to look to the Lord.
When God is on our side, there should be no fear of the enemy.
It is not common to view God as great and terrible. He has been portrayed as an all-loving God, tender and kind. This He is, but He is also great, and viewed by His enemies as terrible.
When we stand in the position of real need, do we actually look to God? We have our organizations, we have our plans, but do we look to God? Would it not be far better if we took our absence from one organizational meeting a week and spent that time in a prayer meeting? Would not this, in the end, serve to bring more power to our church and to the work of the Lord?
B. They were determined and not defeated.
Nehemiah said, “Remember your God… and fight.”
Instantly, a plan was put into effect that ultimately brought the work of the enemy to defeat. They were going to risk their lives to build the wall. If the enemy were to fight against them, they were ready to give their lives.
3. Strategy for the work.
A. Strong force at work, strong force at guard.
In Nehemiah 4:16, you will note that the building plan was this: that half of the men would stand guard against the enemy while the other half built the wall.
Today, the church needs builders and guards. Some people, due to age or other physical factors, feel they are no longer of any value to the Lord’s work. I believe the church of Jesus Christ has sustained many attacks of Satan because some of its senior citizens have been in the background, praying for those who are engaged in the work.
B. The workers were also prepared to fight.
In Nehemiah 4:17, we are told the builders also had their weapons by their side, so they built with one hand and held their weapons ready to fight with the other hand.
This matter of standing guard by prayer is not just a matter for the person who cannot enter into the battle; the young and the able need to be fortified by prayer.
We are made aware by this lesson this evening that Christians need to build, but they also need to be prepared for battle if he is to carry on a service that is victorious for our Lord.
Irvin's Legacy 