All week in our Bible study, we have talked about the opposition we will face as we set out to act on our divine burdens. We will indeed face opposition of various kinds as we set out to act on the divine burdens God has given us. In the midst of our struggles and opposition that we face as we set out to act on our divine burdens, we must not forget one essential, vital truth: God is with us. Because He is with us, we can have confidence throughout any obstacle we face as we seek to obey God by doing something about the burdens He has placed on our hearts. In difficult moments, what we need is to remember God.
Nehemiah encouraged the people of Jerusalem to remember God as they faced obstacles and ridicule while rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. Nehemiah chapter 4 reveals that Nehemiah and the rest of the Jewish people rebuilding Jerusalem's walls faced mounting opposition. Their enemies were plotting against them and their efforts to rebuild the walls. As Nehemiah observed the situation, he "called together the nobles and the rest of the people" to give them an epic pep talk (verse 14). He needed to encourage them to keep going, even though the opposition against them was growing and growing. As he gathered everyone together, he "said to them, 'Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!’” (verse 14). In the face of opposition, Nehemiah urged the Jewish people to remember the Lord, who is great and all-powerful. He is far greater and infinitely more powerful than their enemies were, so they did not need to be afraid. Their fear did not need to overcome them. Their God was with them, leading them and guiding them.
Like the people of Israel rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, we often need the reminder to "remember the Lord." We need to remember that God is with us and holds all the power. He is in control. Even more, He has proven Himself trustworthy and faithful to us time and time again throughout our lives. Will you remember Him and trust in His power today?
Take a few moments now to follow Nehemiah’s instruction and “remember God.” Reflect on this past month. Write down at least three ways God has shown Himself to be faithful to you over the last month. Acknowledge His power, care, and provision, thanking Him for His great faithfulness to you. Let His past faithfulness remind you that He will be faithful today, tomorrow, and every day in the future. You can trust Him.
1Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”
4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.”
6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.
7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.
10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”
11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”
12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!” 13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.
14 Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”
15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 16 But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.
19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”
21 We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. 22 I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. 23 During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.
