Nehemiah, A wise man who trusted God
Nehemiah, A wise man who trusted God
We have been reading the book of Nehemiah this past week. Nehemiah, an old testament Prophet, had a great task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem that were ruined by The Babylonians. Seventy years later Persia had conquered the Babylonian people. The Persian guards of Jerusalem noticed after the wall was being rebuilt that the people of Jerusalem were getting strong. These guards tried to place fear in the people (assuming that the people would revolt and place Nehemiah as their king). The guards tried to get Nehemiah to come out of Jerusalem and talk with them in the valley. Nehemiah detected the guards disingenuous intent and sent letters back to them saying he needed to stay with the people and that it was preposterous to think that he would become king over Jerusalem.
Another time a man (paid by the guards) told Nehemiah to go into the temple with him, and shut the doors because Nehemiah’s life was in danger. Nehemiah responded “Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. “. Nehemiah perceived that God had not sent this Man.
This was an auspicious moment in Nehemiahs life here that we can learn from. His faith never waivered. He set his eyes on the task of restoring Jerusalem from reproach. He never gave up and never strayed from his purpose for God. He prayed unceasingly. He obtained the victory. The wall was finished. The people were protected from the enemy. Praise God!
Do not let anyone place fear in you for doing the work of God in your life. Ask God for strength in your life that only comes from the true voice of God.
(verse 9 “For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done.
God will let your enemy see His work in your life so do not despair and do not get weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap a harvest if we faint not.
(verse 16 “And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.”)