Co-written by Chrystal and Michelle J. Goff, sisters in Searcy, Arkansas, volunteer and director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries, respectively
The remnant of Israelites was weary. They had been beaten down and their cities destroyed by their enemies. Many of their relatives that were taken under Babylonian captivity continued to live in exile under Medo-Persian rule. A few waves of Israelites had returned to Judah, under Zerubbabel and later with Ezra, but the temple remained incomplete and the city of Jerusalem in ruins.
Nehemiah was burdened by the broken-down conditions in Judah, as reported by his brother. His family’s place of origin was a heap of rubble, not a town.
They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” (Neh. 1:3)
Nehemiah, fasted, prayed, and cried out to God for relief on behalf of his people. Strengthened with resolve, Nehemiah prayed at every step along the way as he, a humble cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, requested the time off, the materials, and letters of safe passage to go and rebuild the city wall.
Yet even before Nehemiah could share with the people what God had placed in his heart to do, he began to face opposition. Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite, “the bullies,” as we will call them, were “disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites” (Neh. 2:10).
The bullies didn’t think they would have to try so hard to oppose Nehemiah. He was a lowly cupbearer, so how would he know how to be a good leader for the rebuilding of the wall? They underestimated God and Nehemiah’s dedication to asking for help to fulfill his calling.
We lose count of the times that Nehemiah finds strength in the Lord to rebuild the wall. He, in turn, encourages the Jews, who have also cried out to God. God provides a solution. The Jews implement it, as they continue building. Then the bullies get angry and try a new scheme… The opposition tried a little bit of everything: rumors, deceit, poking fun, belittling, lies, intimidation, physical and verbal attacks.
Nehemiah and the Jews pray again, God strengthens them, they employ a new strategy, and the bullies get more frustrated. Repeat, ad nauseum!
At one point, the Israelites had to be workmen by day and guards by night. Half worked while the other half stood guard with swords. Those carrying materials could only carry half as much because of their sword in the other hand (Neh. 4:16-18). How frustrating! We can barely walk and chew gum at the same time! But God gave them the strength and balance.
The opposition was filled with obvious lies and manipulative secrecy. Five times in a row, the bullies tried to trap and harm Nehemiah, inviting him to a nearby town. The fifth time, Nehemiah’s response to their flagrant lies is hilarious:
I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” (Neh. 6:8)
Sometimes, whatever opposes us, whatever we feel bullied by feels relentless, conniving, wearying, ruthless… and we feel helpless to complete our task. We cry out, “This is trying to slow me down and thwart my efforts. Help!” Crying out to God in prayer and relinquishing the opposition to God, He does provide solutions, strategies, and strength.
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” (Neh. 6:9)
Bullied, bantered, and beaten down through the fifty-two days of intensive wall rebuilding and the opposition leading up to that, the Israelites has been strengthened by God. They then gathered before the newly rebuilt Water Gate as Ezra read from the Law.
Years before Netflix, the Israelites binged on the Word of the LORD, from daybreak to noon, and their response affirmed that, “Yes, they were still watching.” They were cut to the heart by what they heard and began to grieve the perpetuated sin of their ancestors.
Yet God strengthened the people with a reminder of what that day was all about: Rejoicing in the strength of the Lord! There would come a time for them to confess their sins, to commit to repentant, changed hearts and practices as the people of God.
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep… This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Neh. 8:9-10, excerpts)
No matter what the opposition (external bullies or internal struggles), God strengthens us.
The book of Nehemiah concludes with the wall as an instrument of dedication to God’s ways, His Law. On the Sabbath, the gates were closed and locked in protection of the holiness of the day dedicated to God and to remembering Him.
In what ways have you faced opposition to rebuilding or a rededication of all facets of your life to God? How have you seen God strengthen you in that calling?