A
Time to Foritfy
The
Book of Nehemiah is about rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.
These walls were used in those days to defend the city. They
acted as barriers between those inside the city and their enemies
outside the city. In times of trouble everyone would come inside
the walls for protection. With this in mind, it is interesting to
look at two verses in Proverbs.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
Bishop K. C. Pillai wrote that this verse spoke about the renewed
mind. The strong city was a walled city and when we build a wall
of God's Word around our minds we can fortify it against all attacks.
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; <>And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Here, the slothful had let the wall break down, his strong city was
gone. It represents his mind being weak and overrun. This
individual could look forward to nothing but destruction and poverty.
In Nehemiah, we read about building the physical wall around Jerusalem
for the same benefit of protection. Even though it is a physical
wall, the concept and the challenges are the same as when we build that
renewed mind wall of defense. So let's look at Nehemiah and see
what we can learn.
But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
The first thing to realize is that not everyone will be happy with your
efforts to grow. If you are growing, they will also need to grow
to keep up with you. Most people don't like this so rather than
grow they just try to stop you from growing. When this happened
Nehemiah didn't even acknowledge them. He did what we all should
do-he went directly to God. After letting God know, he just went
back to work.
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
The important thing is to finish the work. There will always be
distractions along the way, but the work must be finished. If you
press ahead the opposition will up the stakes and try to increase the
pressure. But, as always, just stay focused on God.
But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
Nehemiah stayed focused and he set up watches. He went to God
first, then he did whatever he needed to do to cover the
situation. I pray for my house, but I also lock the doors at
night. It doesn't mean that I don't trust God. I pray first
then do what I need to do.
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.
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
They worked and they were ready, but most of all they trusted
God. As we build our renewed minds, we too must have a mind to
work and be ready for anything. Sometimes all the pressure does
not come from the outside. Sometimes it can come from those very
close to you.
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
Here some of the believers were loaning money to their brethren and
charging interest to the end that many people lost their lands and
possessions. When Nehemiah heard about this, he confronted
them. Here they were getting ready to fight together against and
enemy and at the same time fighting against each other. Sometimes
even those closest to you don't want you growing ahead of them and they
will put roadblocks in your way. People think that it is always
easier to bring someone down to their level that it is to rise up to a
higher level.
If you persist to build your mental fortress, those around you will
step up the pressure and intimidation. The key is just not to
quit. When your wall is finally built you will have all the
reward you need.
Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)
That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
Here they tried to trick Nehemiah, but he was ahead of them. When this didn't work they decided to tell lies about him. Yes, it seems that some things never change. They continued to lie about Nehemiah and threaten him, but he would not give in. He continued to do his job and fortify the city until it was complete.
We too can build up our strong city and have a mind that can withstand any and all attacks from all enemies. God gave us free will to control our minds and strengthen it against any negative attacks, but we must do the building and stay deligent to keep it strong.
God bless you and have a wonderful day.
.