Nehemiah 4 records a critical part of the game which can turn on the head of a dime. The completion of the massive project of rebuilding the walls around the city of Jerusalem is close to 50%. Work has progressed at least twenty days and the results are phenomenal. Concurrently, tons of debris are disposed of while walls are going up. Chapter 3 mentions the words “next to” 16 times. This is a massive joint effort from relative strangers working next to each other after returning from years in exile. And just when victory is rising on the horizon, the enemy shows up in full battle gear.
A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL ATTACK
Sanballat is Nehemiah’s nemesis. The powerful Persian-appointed governor of Samaria appears loudly on the scene. Sanballat furiously opposes rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. A strong Jerusalem is a major threat to his powerbase. He pulls every trick in the book, including mockery, threats, and plots to disrupt the Jewish workers. The enemy launches a powerful psychological and spiritual attack.
WORDS FROM THE PIT OF HELL
Enraged and furious, Sanballat publicly ridicules the Jews. “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?” Sidekick Tobiah gleefully adds, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”. Words penned from the pit of hell.
WE STAND STRONGEST ON OUR KNEES
How does Nehemiah respond? He immediately runs to God. Nehemiah realizes that this battle is not his; it is God’s. Only God can handle Satan. Charles Stanley notes, “We stand tallest and strongest on our knees.”
God responds by giving the Jews new vigor. “At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people worked with enthusiasm.” End of drama? No! Sanballat and company “all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion.” The enemy loves to frighten and confuse us.
NO HOPE OF ANYTHING GETTING BETTER
Notice the response from the Jewish people this time: “But WE prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.” Prayer catches on at a crucial moment as a blanket of discouragement settles down on Jerusalem’s exhausted workers. “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.’.. The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, ‘They will come from all directions and attack us!’” Sounds like the hopeless worldview of Winnie the Pooh’s friend Eeyore: “End of the road. Nothing to do. And no hope of things getting better.” Satan prepares for a victory lap.
WHEN VICTORY BLOSSOMS
The workers only see obstacles rather than the goal. This is the moment when God can shine the greatest. Yes, they will never be able to build the wall by themselves. Victory blossoms when we come to an end of ourselves, our own strengths, talents and abilities and admit it to God. Satan doesn’t like to hear when we totally submit to God. God’s angels begin running a victory lap.
REMEMBER WHO GOD IS
Nehemiah looks over the situation, calls together the nobles and the rest of the people and says, “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!” In other words, REMEMBER! REMEMBER WHO GOD IS!!!!!! These are the words that strike fear in the evil one’s heart.
The Jewish people at that point throw their lot totally into the hands of God. Instead of wringing their hands, they “work early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men are always on guard.” Can you imagine the new attitude and words of encouragement coming out of the mouths of God’s people?
The enemy retreats back to the shadows when we intentionally adjust our attitudes. “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious!” “We stand tallest and strongest on our knees.”