Rebuilding the Broken - Week 6

Daily Scripture Readings

Monday          Proverbs 4:25-27

Tuesday         Hebrews 2:1-2

Wednesday   Hebrews 12:1-2

Thursday       Philippians 3:12-14

Friday            2 Timothy 4:6-8

Saturday        Ezekiel 37:1-14

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus, help us to remember that we are doing a great work and we need to stay on the wall.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN

READING:

Unfortunately for Nehemiah, facing opponents was an ongoing theme. Dealing with them was not a “one and done” affair, but an on-and-off challenge. The unholy trio are back. What do we see?

First, seeing Nehemiah and friends reach significant milestone stirs up Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and the rest. Nehemiah cannot count on his progress and victories dispiriting them. Sometimes that happens, yes. But other times not. Sometimes his victory will rile up his enemies because they simply want to see the Jews suffer rather than thrive.

Second, having failed in previous attempts to thwart the project, Sanballat and Geshem try something else—a meeting. If they can’t destroy the Jews, they will draw their attention and energy away from the rebuilding project. It is distraction and derailment thinly disguised as dialogue.

Third, Nehemiah sniffs out the true purpose of the meeting. Nehemiah is clear about the value of the work he is doing versus the value of meeting with people who only mean to harm him and undermine the work. His response is well worth memorizing.

“I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.”

Fourth, Nehemiah remains clear about his purpose and theirs. His purpose is to fulfill the work that God laid on his heart. Their purpose is to—to borrow a description of the ultimate enemy of God’s people— “steal, kill, and destroy.” Though they try again and again and again, Nehemiah perseveres in the same response. He is doing a great work and has no time for those who oppose its advancement.

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