A while ago, while I was struggling with different stuff I read some passages from Nehemiah that really spoke to me. Looking back over it now, with hindsight, gives further meaning to it. Isn't it funny how when we get through a hard period and look back we see it from a totally different perspective, since we're able to see the journey God has brought us on during that time. So let me try and write those thoughts down - in the order that they come to me, so they're not organised at all! Hananai and his mates went to see Nehemiah soon after the Jewish exile to chat about those who had gone through it and survived. They said:
"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." When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you..."" (Nehemiah 1:3-6)
First point - how are we left when we've been through a battle? Yes, we may have made it through to the other side, but chances are that we've been damaged and need to be restored - by waiting on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31).
If we take the wall (reported by Hananai as being broken down) to be a symbol of protection, we see that after any period of attack, our defences can be weakened. Nehemiah's immediate response on realising this is to pray and seek God - and look at the way he begins his prayer. He doesn't pray "God, what on earth have You done, sort this mess out now", he praises God for who He is, regardless of the situation he finds himself in. Then he goes on to confess and repent of his sins and those of others. That challenged me - how do I approach God in circumstances like this? Too often, I don't go about it like that!
My next observation came later in the story, as Nehemiah went to see the king (he was his cupbearer). The king asked Nehemiah why he was sad (it says he had never been sad in the king's presence before), so Nehemiah explained that he was sad because the city he has known and that represents such a big part of him (his fathers are buried there) is destroyed, including it's defences...
"The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it."" (Nehemiah 2:4-5)
How often do we find ourselves in situations where people confront us with questions that we don't know how to answer or we don't feel comfortable giving an answer for whatever reason? Nehemiah was afraid of answering the king. But the key lies in the throwaway line in the verse above...he prayed to the God of heaven, then he was able to answer the king. Paul writes "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Colossians 4:6). If we focus our attentions on the God of heaven and on living in His ways then we need not fear when it comes to answering those who stand before us.
The final passage that challenged me (on a number of fronts) begins in the next chapter, as they begin to repair the damaged wall. A quick read of Nehemiah 3:1-27 shows different people repairing different sections of the wall...all through that passage we read "next to him...", and the passage lists those who were working on each section in order. Then in verse 28 we read "...the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house". This strikes me again on a point that I've written about so many times before, about the responsibility of the individual in any community or church. It's easy to view the church as a whole without realising that it can only ever be the sum of its parts, and that each of us must carry out our responsibilities. In this case, it meant that each person was responsible for looking after his little section of the wall. If any one of those people had neglected that responsibility then the defences would be incomplete and the whole community would be in danger. I think last time I wrote about it in the context of consecration, how we each need to prepare ourselves individually before we can stand as the body of Christ, but it applies anywhere - anything given in a group context must first be applied individually.
"But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat" (Nehemiah 4:7-9)
As we build our defences and close up the gaps where the enemy has previously been able to get in to attack us, then we will meet opposition. We need to be praying, and constantly be on guard to meet that threat (see Ephesians 6:10-18). But we're promised the victory if we keep focussed on God. Jesus said "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19).
As we look through chapter 4 we see some principles that help when it comes to guarding ourself and building our defences...
1. Protect our weakest points. "Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them with families, with their swords, spears and bows" (v13). I've learnt recently that we need to know our weak spots. We need to be aware of the areas where the enemy attacks us and where we are weak. I know the areas in my life that fall short of what God expects, and I know the ways that the enemy so often tries to bring me down. When we know what it is, we need to pay particular attention to guarding that area of our lives, praying into it and taking physical steps to close up the gap. I find it particularly interesting that the verse mentions family - it is so clear to see how the enemy is attacking the family unit in our society...even if nothing else is a weak spot for us as individuals (which I don't believe for a minute), then surely this is a call for us to be upholding and defending the role of families.
2. Know whose strength we stand in. "After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."" (v14).
3. Support and cover eachother. "From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armour. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah" (v16). How important it is to be watching out for eachother as we go about our work, praying for eachother and supporting one another in good and bad times - rejoicing with those who rejoice, weeping with those who weep.
4. Come together. "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from eachother along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!" (v19-20). I really see value in a church spending time together regularly to build eachother up, to be strengthened and refreshed and equipped, and also to stand and fight together. Paul writes "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25)
5. Be constantly ready and on guard. "Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water" (v23). Are there certain times of the day when we let our guard down and are easily distracted or tempted? Are there certain places we go?
Apologies for the random garbled thoughts that probably don't make much sense or fit together at all. Going on into chapter 5, I can see another post about JUSTICE on its way!!
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