Daily Thought

To cope with the mockery and the derision of others is one thing, but to stand firm in the face of verbal hostility and aggression is another.

The Jews’ enemies, realizing that their first initiative had failed to undermine the spirit of the enterprise by causing the workforce to lose heart, now demonstrate their anger and assume a threatening posture towards Nehemiah and his loyal band. There is now talk of outright conflict, and of physical presence to hinder the work going on at Jerusalem, v. 8. As before, Nehemiah would have to consider the effect such a development would have upon his people, for it was likely to generate fear, even panic, amongst them.

We have commented upon the sovereign purpose of God being fulfilled through human agency, and the entire story of Nehemiah demonstrates this truth. God triumphed through the triumph of His people on this occasion, and His triumph was not only over human adversaries that adopted such threatening posture against the remnant band of Jews, but over the forces of evil and darkness that motivated and would use these human adversaries.

Our adversary, the devil, uses many stratagems against the people of God in his attempts to thwart God’s purposes, and cause the work of God to cease. We should not be ignorant of his devices - alas, so often this is the case and we fail in times of testing!

Since the beginning, the devil has used the fear of man to affect adversely the people of God. It is fear that creates panic in the mind, overwhelms the intentions and the best efforts of those not able to cope with it. The great and the worthy have succumbed to it, and Elijah provides a startling example of this, fleeing after Jezebel’s threat, and Peter, so bold before the event, after Jesus’ arrest and trial, 1 Kgs. 19. 1-4; Matt. 26. 69-75. The band of disciples hid behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, John 20. 19.

In all of these examples, one disturbing element arising out of their fearful reactions is that their work for God is halted, and so the devil triumphs! What can be done to thwart the intentions of the evil one? What did Nehemiah do, with his fellow Jews? They made their prayer to their God, and set a watch against their enemies day and night, v. 9, cp. Prov. 29. 25; Matt. 26. 41; 1 Pet. 4. 7; Heb. 13. 6.