Neh 4:16-20 ESV

15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

THE SWORD AND TROWEL

Were they victorious because the enemy shrunk back? [v.15] Definitely no! Their getting on with the work and finishing it was the victory. They would not be at peace and secured until the wall was rebuilt, would they? It is easy to feel that just enduring trials is the victory, isn’t it? An attack may prevent us to progress and work for the LORD. Thus, victory is enduring the attack while continuing the progress and work for the LORD.

Nehemiah devised a strategy adapted now as the ‘sword and the trowel.’ While some did the work of rebuilding, the others did the defending. All the workers had been working with trowels in their hands with ready sword at their side, until the work is done. In the same perspective, God’s kingdom is built with both a sword and a trowel. A ‘sword work’ to ward off against every spiritual force of wickedness in the high places. And, ‘trowel work’ in building up the people of God. As in winning basketball, the team should take care both offense and defense. Moreover, Nehemiah did ensure their readiness by setting up watchmen to blow trumpet alarms to rally everyone.

All of what Nehemiah did demonstrated that he did not minimize the gigantic task. Although, they put themselves 100% ready for the crucible to happen, they didn’t trust in themselves alone. Nehemiah has highlighted the true source of their strength, saying, “Our God will fight for us.” As Solomon warned us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”[Prov 16:9]

In our fight for the advancement of God’s kingdom, we hold the sword and trowel on both of our hands while our hearts are pointing to God.

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Neh 4:10-14 ESV

10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is 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 till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” 13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, 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.”

OVERCOMING DOSCOURAGEMENTS

To start well is a common experience we have in any endeavor or project, even in game competitions, is it not? We may have great first half - only to lose traction until the final buzzer. The half-way point of the rebuilding mentioned in Nehemiah 4:6 was a critical pivot point. On top of the enemy’s intimidation, much remains has to be done as yet, and it became overwhelming when physical fatigue and exhaustion has set in.

The rebuilding the walls won’t happen without destroying old structures, including cleaning and hauling away the rubbish. Think of the voluminous trash after 100 years of neglect. Similarly, in our lives, nothing much can be rebuilt for God's honor unless all the rubbish are swept away as well. Taking out the garbage of yesterdays can be an unpleasant and discouraging at times, However, it must be done for the now and tomorrow. This is what God is doing if we are in Christ, in’t it? [see 2 Cor 5;17]

The enemy’s impending threat was real, as they said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” These uncertainties had caused fear. Things were already in a bad shape, and the discouraged workers felt like giving up. This was felt first by the men of Judah, who supposed to be the strongest tribe.

How did Nehemiah lift up the morale of his men?

He could had been presumptuous to say, “Well, we have prayed about this and God will protect us without doing anything.” Or, he could react in panic, to say, “Let’s stop the rebuilding and flee for safety.” However, he executed a plan only after he had prayed. He trusted God in the midst of the storm, and had done concrete things necessary for God would have him do in order to ensure victory.

Nehemiah commanded them to bring out their armor. It was time to get serious, to put on the full fighting gear, and to get ready to fight with every resource they had. And not from mere bravado, he backed them up with the assurance that God was with them, saying, “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.” Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. [1 John 4:4] It’s always the right time to do the right thing. This was an opportunity to do for a noble cause – not for them but for the next generation.

During the height of the enemy’s threat, let us remember Peter’s admonition, saying, “8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” [1 Pet 5:8-11]

Neh 4:7-9 ESV

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.

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7 Ngunit nang mabalitaan nina Sanballat, Tobias, ng mga taga-Arabia, mga Ammonita, at ng mga Asdodita, na nagpapatuloy ang pagkukumpuni ng mga pader ng Jerusalem at ang mga sira ay nagsisimulang masarhan, sila'y galit na galit. 8 Silang lahat ay magkakasamang nagbalak na puntahan at labanan ang Jerusalem at gumawa ng kaguluhan doon. 9 Kami ay nanalangin sa aming Diyos, at naglagay ng bantay laban sa kanila sa araw at gabi.

WATCH AND PRAY

The height of the wall didn’t only rise up. But, the gaps were beginning to close. Therefore, the enemies of the work became angrier. Any development for good unto the glory of God in and through our lives would infuriate the enemy. The progress being made by God's people in touching a lost world for Jesus Christ is not surprising to make the devil angry.

This time, they didn’t satisfy to mock and deride. But, they threatened and planned for a violent attack. Perhaps the workers thought, “Did not we have peace before we began to build the wall? Did it not appear now that the very building of the wall may prompt the attack to come? Perhaps, it would have been easy for the workers to shrink in fear and think that all their efforts would be made in vain.

Like Nehemiah’s enemies, Satan always does his threatening tactics, doesn’t he? Thus, Peter exhorted us, saying, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”[1 Pet 5:8] Definitely, threats may create confusions. This is an important strategy of Satan. When distracted, God’s people would be out of focus toward God and His promises.

How did Nehemiah and his men handle all these?

They prayed and set guards. They expressed their strong faith in their prayers. Notedly, God could easily trump the enemy but He allowed them to continue their attacks. Why? It was because He was delighted that His people would draw closer to Him with a deeper trust than ever before. God did His perfect work in building the walls firstly by building His people.

They also knew that prayer didn't mean they had to do nothing. God gave them common sense to do what they could in protecting against attack. We can do a lot of sensible things only after we have prayed. Do we have an area in our Christian life that needs particular attention? It isn't enough to pray. We need to set a watch as well, daily. Do give a special attention and accountability to that area of your life until you are walking in consistent victory.

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Nehemiah 4:1-6 ESV

Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

OVERCOMING CRITICISMS

As soon as Sanballat and Tobiah saw the progress of the re-building of the wall, they opened their mouth to mock and deride them. Like Sanballat and Tobiah, Satan wants to make us feel defeated, or passive, or self-focused, or discouraged. As the saying, “People throw stones at a fruit bearing mango tree.”, so critics do mount attack to a growing ministry or project. Their attack has included a mocking[..feeble Jews?], a selfish motive [ ..doing it for themselves?], their lack of stamina [ sacrifice?], impatience [finish in a day?] inadequacy before a huge work [..heaps of rubbish] and poor quality of their work[ a fox will break down their stone wall?]

A lying and discouraging attack will often have some truth in it, but it will minimize, if not neglect, the great truth. That is, God was with them and has promised to see them pulling through all these. As Saul and his armies focused on Goliath, they forgot how much bigger many times over is God than the giant. As the 10 spies saw the Anakims, they saw themselves as grasshoppers and forgot God who killed the Egyptians.

We couldn’t prevent the attack of the enemy, could we? However, we could choose how to respond. As Nehemiah prayed, so should we do in times of enemy’s attack. One mark of a leader is to be able to engage the criticism head-on. That is, to not allow himself to be manipulated by the critics. Instead, he seeks God in order to be sensitive to God's voice even in the midst of criticism. There is nothing to panic since God is in control. A reaction of either anger or fear will give the critic a foothold to manipulate. The response of faith in God manifested in his prayer made the criticism toothless.

As a result, the people had a mind to work. This immediate answer to the prayer made no difference in the enemies. Instead, Nehemiah’s prayer was answered in the people of God doing the work. His prayer was focused in asking God to take care of his enemies. Resultingly, God answered by taking care of His people. They had not been affected but have the commitment to work.

Nehemiah 3:1-5 ESV 

Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.

3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.

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Nang magkagayo'y si Eliasib na pinakapunong pari ay tumayong kasama ng kanyang mga kasamahang pari at kanilang itinayo ang Pintuan ng mga Tupa. Ito ay kanilang itinalaga at inilagay ang mga pinto niyon; kanilang itinalaga ito hanggang sa Tore ng Sandaan at hanggang sa Tore ng Hananel. 2 Kasunod niya ay nagtayo ang mga lalaki ng Jerico. At kasunod nila ay nagtayo si Zacur na anak ni Imri. 3 Ang Pintuan ng mga Isda ay itinayo ng mga anak ni Senaa; kanilang inilapat ang mga biga nito, at inilagay ang mga pinto, mga kandado, at ang mga halang. 4 Kasunod nila ay nagkumpuni si Meremot na anak ni Urias, na anak ni Hakoz. At kasunod nila ay nagkumpuni si Mesulam, na anak ni Berequias, na anak ni Mesezabel. At kasunod nila ay nagkumpuni si Zadok na anak ni Baana. 5 Kasunod nila ay nagkumpuni ang mga Tekoita; ngunit hindi inilagay ng kanilang mga maharlika ang kanilang mga leeg sa gawain ng kanilang mga panginoon.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE OR BEING INDIFFERENT

This chapter is all about work – how each individuals played their unique roles of the project-the rebuilding of the wall. They were convinced that the wall was an important structure for their security from invaders. Od through His sovereignty can protect us. However, we need to do our part of building. Yes, Eliashib the high priest acted as a godly leader should; he was out in front of the work, leading by example. He did not act as if he was too "spiritual" for the hard work of rebuilding the walls.

In Christ’s economy, great men are those who soil their hands. Jesus sets the example by washing His disciples feet. He said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”[John 13:14-17] And, this was done by Nehemiah that motivated the other leaders at Jerusalem as well.

However, among the Tekoites, ‘their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.’ According to D. Guzik, “Literally, the idea in the Hebrew is that they wouldn't submit - they would not "bend their necks" to what the LORD wanted them to do. The real issue was submission. Maybe they thought they had a better plan, maybe they didn't like how Nehemiah was doing it. Whatever their reason, you can be sure they later regretted it, because they stand in infamy as the only people mentioned in this chapter who did not join in the work.”

Today, either we could be committed or not in the Lord’s work. Either we make a difference or we are indifferent. The choice is ours. Let’s remember that our opportunity to serve Christ may knock only once.

Nehemiah 2:11-16 ESV

11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.

11 Kaya't dumating ako sa Jerusalem at tumigil doon sa loob ng tatlong araw. 12 Kinagabihan, bumangon ako at ang ilang lalaking kasama ko. Wala akong pinagsabihan kung ano ang inilagay ng aking Diyos sa aking puso upang gawin para sa Jerusalem. Wala akong kasamang hayop maliban sa hayop na aking sinakyan. 13 Kinagabihan, ako'y lumabas sa Pintuan ng Libis tungo sa Balon ng Dragon at sa Pintuan ng Dumi, at aking siniyasat ang mga pader ng Jerusalem na winasak at ang mga pintuan nito na tinupok ng apoy. 14 Pagkatapos ay nagtungo ako sa Pintuan ng Bukal at sa Tipunan ng Tubig ng hari; ngunit walang madaanan ang hayop na sinasakyan ko. 15 Kinagabihan, ako'y umahon sa libis at siniyasat ang pader. Pagkatapos ako'y bumalik at pumasok sa Pintuan ng Libis; gayon ako bumalik. 16 Hindi nalaman ng mga pinuno kung saan ako nagpunta, o kung ano ang ginagawa ko. Hindi ko pa sinasabi sa mga Judio, sa mga pari, sa mga maharlika, sa mga pinuno, at sa iba pang gagawa ng gawain.

SEEING THE NEED FIRSTHAND

Nehemiah spent three days in Jerusalem to have an ocular inspection. He knew the job of rebuilding the walls couldn't go forth unless he saw exactly how bad the situation was. Clandestinely, he arose in the night, with a few men with him. Nehemiah wasn't just sightseeing. Instead, he carefully studied the broken down walls and the burned gates. The word ‘viewed’ in Neh 2:13,15 is a medical term for "probing a wound to see the extent of its damage."

He told no one what God had put into his heart to do for Jerusalem. He didn't say anything about his mission until the time was right. Good leaders learn a sense of God's timing. According to Redpath, "It is good to have Christian friends, but it is dangerous to wear your heart on your sleeve. Have a secret place somewhere which nobody knows anything about but you and God."

Nehemiah saw firsthand what had been reported to him, and what God had burdened him to repair. Surely, he should had teared upon seeing the extent of the damage and the resulting fear, poverty, and insecurity in the lives of the people because of the broken walls.

Nehemiah set out from the west side of the city, and turned left towards the south, continuing counter-clockwise around the rubble of the city walls, until coming back to his starting point. On top of the good happening [like, the temple built, sacrifice and worship restored], he did not content upon seeing the walls burned and broken down. He taught us by example - we must look at the broken down walls of our lives, and carefully study what are wrong - but only if we have the heart, the prayer, the vision, the passion to be used of God to set it right. Do we?

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Nehemiah 2:9-10 ESV

9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

9 At ako'y pumunta sa mga tagapamahala ng lalawigan sa kabila ng Ilog, at ibinigay ko sa kanila ang mga sulat ng hari. Ang hari ay nagsugo na kasama ko ang mga punong-kawal ng hukbo at mga mangangabayo. 10 Subalit nang mabalitaan ito ni Sanballat na Horonita at ni Tobias na lingkod na Ammonita, ikinayamot nila nang husto na may isang dumating para sa kapakanan ng mga anak ni Israel.

THE OPPOSITION

With officers and horsemen escorts, Nehemiah journeyed through the provinces, giving the letters from the king, until he arrived at Jerusalem. However, there were two people who were not happy – Tobiah, the Horonite and Sanballat, the Ammonite. They were displeased that someone had come to seek the welfare of the city.

For every endeavor we do for God and His people, there would be corresponding oppositions from the enemy. In fact, it should alarm us when we do something and there are no oppositions. Why? Perhaps, it is not so significant in God’s kingdom that the enemy doesn’t bother. Paradoxically, when in doing ministry and we have no trouble, there is trouble. The presence of problems in our endeavors doesn’t necessarily prove it as not in accordance to the will of God. Contrariwise, it does because it stirs the hornet’s nest of the enemy.

In the case of Nehemiah, God who gave him favor before the king could in no doubt keep Tobiah and Sanballat at bay. Let’s not forget that ‘he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.’[Phil 1:6] The work initiated by God will be completed by God, surely.

The question is not ‘why we have an enemy’. It is ‘who is our enemy?’. Jesus has warned us, saying, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”[John 15:18] Thus He prayed, “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”[John 17:14]

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Nehemiah 2:7-8 ESV

7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me

7 Sinabi ko naman sa hari, “Kung ikakalugod ng hari, bigyan sana ako ng mga sulat para sa mga tagapamahala ng lalawigan sa kabila ng Ilog, upang ako'y kanilang paraanin hanggang sa ako'y makarating sa Juda; 8 at isang sulat para kay Asaf na tagapag-ingat ng gubat ng hari, upang bigyan niya ako ng mga troso upang gawing mga biga sa mga pintuan ng kuta ng templo at para sa pader ng lunsod at sa bahay na aking papasukan.” Ipinagkaloob sa akin ng hari ang aking hiniling, sapagkat ang mabuting kamay ng aking Diyos ay nasa akin.

THE GOOD HAND OF MY GOD WAS UPON ME.

Nehemiah should be commended for prioritizing prayer. But, it is more notable that he personally committed to be used by God as the answer to his prayer. Having been assured of the king’s help, he requested him the necessary help and raw materials from the governors. He said, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.”

Nehemiah knew for certain that the promise of God to Moses is sure. According to John, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”[1 John 5:14-15]. Are our prayers in accordance to God’s will be marked with confidence?

Nehemiah knew for certain that ‘the good hand of the Lord was upon him.’ Why? He was fully committed into God’s business. He was committed to pursue the glory of God. As J. Hudson Taylor said, “Depend on it. God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply. He is too wise a God to frustrate His purposes for lack of funds, and He can just as easily supply them ahead of time as afterwards, and He much prefers doing so.”

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Nehemiah 2:1-6 ESV

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” 6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.

THE KING’S FAVOR

Evidently, Nehemiah’s heart was seen in his countenance. As a cupbearer, a trusted advisor of the king, he shouldn’t be sporting a sorrowful face. He hasn’t been sad before the king until this time. Hence, it caught the attention of the king who asked him, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick?. Was this the working of God in the king’s heart? Definitely , yes.

Nehemiah had prayed earlier that God would grant him favor from the king. Interestingly, it was the king who initiated the conversation. Nehemiah had the opportunity to state his burden honestly. He said, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

Upon saying these, he was gripped with fear. Nehemiah had prayed and waited for four months with the kind of heart described previously in Nehemiah 1. Perhaps, during those four months, his prayer was most likely "LORD, either take this burden from my heart or show me how to be the man to answer this burden." It was a mixed feelings. It was forbidden to be sad before the king and could have been taken as a terrible insult to the majesty. Moreover, he knew that he was going to say something very important. There was a lot of uncertainty about what would be the response of the king.

And, as he was waiting, the king said, “What are you requesting?” He was touched by God. The king had no obligation to help him, had he? Yet, he had given him the privilege to present his plan and needs to him. We see Nehemiah having not resorted to manipulating but he had waited and trusted this God’s perfect time. Our God is a God of perfect timing and of surprises, is He not?

After he heard from the king, Nehemiah did pray again. There was no rushing. As S.D. Gordon said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” Nehemiah has to devise a plan through the wisdom from God. As Solomon wrote, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” (Psa 33:11). “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” (Prov 21:5) The expression of faith does not negate planning, instead through the exercise of it. We aren't more spiritual for failing to plan, are we? The only planning that is unspiritual is that which is presumptuous, when God isn’t involved in it. [see Jas 4:14-17] There could be times when we simply can't plan, but we should never reject planning.

Should the Lord is always before us, He touches the lives of people along our path for His favor and purposes as He did to the king of Persia. Thus, he concluded, “So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.”