Nehemiah 4:8 - When Progress Provokes Opposition
"And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it."A sure sign of progress is when the enemy sets out to destroy the work of your hands. The question I want to consider, and let the Bible answer this morning, is: “What do we do when we are under attack?”
Nehemiah 4:9 - Prayer and Watchfulness
"Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them."The Christian’s mindset in the face of opposition is captured in one word here—“Nevertheless.” This is how we must approach every attack, every conspiracy, and every mocking attempt to stop us in the work of God. In spite of these things, we pray: “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God.” This “nevertheless” mindset is determined, refusing to be stopped or distracted. Notice, prayer is the first order of business; so it should be with us when we’re under attack. Too often, prayer is treated as a last resort when all else has failed, but it should always be our first priority. Prayer moves God’s heart to hear, see, and answer His people, and in the case of an attack, to fight on their behalf. This was the confidence of Nehemiah’s workers (verse 20), and that confidence comes from laying our case before God, petitioning for His help, and rising from prayer with renewed assurance in God’s strength over the strength of the enemy.
They also used practical reasoning: “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” Prayer and watchfulness go hand in hand. It’s what Jesus called His disciples to in the garden, and it’s what we’re called to in times of temptation—to “watch and pray.” Though they had brought their case before God, they didn’t return to work without keeping an eye on the enemy and on the task. Their focus was equally on working and defending. So it is with us, Christian soldiers, with the trowel for building God’s work and the sword for defending the faith once delivered to the saints. We go forward, praying and watching.
Our Weakness < God's Strength
The work of God not only draws the enemy’s attacks but also reveals our own weaknesses: “The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed.”(Vs.10) We often start the work of God assuming our strength will last, but burdens weigh us down, and as humans, our strength wanes. This weakness isn’t just known to us; our adversaries see it too. Verse 11 states, “And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them…” This is the perfect time for them to launch their next attack—when we’re weak and distracted. So, what do we do? Nehemiah’s response is clear:“Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” (verses 13-14).
Nehemiah watched over the people and called others to join him, each family watching for their own. Then he called them to faith, “be not afraid of them: remember the Lord…” That’s what we must do—don’t be afraid, but instead, remember the Lord. When our minds are filled with thoughts of the enemy—his strength, his numbers, his strategies—we will fear him. When our thoughts dwell on our weaknesses and limitations, we will fear failure. But when our thoughts are fixed on God—His strength, His ability, His protection, His promises—we can continue to work, pray, and watch, knowing “Our God shall fight for us” (verse 20).
Are You Under Attack?
Are you under attack this morning? Take heart, for it means you are accomplishing something. Pray, watch, and when your strength weakens, and you fear that your weakness and the enemy’s strength will surely lead to defeat, “be not afraid: remember the Lord.” “Our God shall fight for us.”
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