Who is the enemy?

Nehemiah Chapter 4

 

Perhaps we can look to Sanballat and Tobiah’s arguments against re-building the wall, and expect that they may be the same arguments we might need to face and meet when building up a church.  The “enemy” is always mortal mind posing as our own mind, isn’t it, and the arguments might sound like this: 

·         I am are not strong enough.

·         This is a crazy idea.

·         Can we protect ourselves and the wall?

·         The stones we have to build with are just charred rubbish.

·         The wall will not be strong enough – “if a fox go up, he shall even break down the wall.”

However, like the builders, we know how to pray to God and find the truth which will dispel the darkness of that thinking.  “The people had a mind to work.”  Hurray!

The opposition didn’t stop, neither did the people’s prayers, however the Jews closest to the enemy were fearful, so Nehemiah took practical steps and saw to it that there were weapons for their defense.  He also spoke to the nobles and rulers urging, “Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord.”  The Lord will be with you as you fight for your families.

I love verse 17: “They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held a weapon.”

Nehemiah was a great leader.  I don’t know Shakespeare very well, but I am reminded of Henry V’s St. Crispen’s Day Speech.  I recall being very impressed with Kenneth Branagh’s masterful rendering of it in his movie.  A great rallying call!

At least the Jews were able to "put off (their clothes) for washing” (Neh 4: 23).  I wonder if Henry’s men did.

 

Joyce Voysey