COV LIFE BLOG

Nehemiah 6 – Recap on Fight Against Opposition

 

The work which Nehemiah had undertaken was one of, no common magnitude, and surrounded with no ordinary difficulties. His resources for its accomplishment were scanty, and the enemies that combined to hinder it were numerous and subtle and strong. They at first assailed him with threats; but finding these in vain, they then had recourse to guile and stratagem. They sought to disquiet him by vain rumours, and to seduce him from his work by pretended kindness. Under fair pretexts, they disguised dark designs. But he had entered on his purpose with a calm resolve; he was satisfied that the enterprise in which he had embarked enjoyed the blessing and protection of God, and nothing could induce him to swerve from its pursuit. The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build,’ was the sentiment with which he girded himself to his task; and it was in this mighty confidence that he prosecuted the work, undismayed by threats, unembarrassed by plots, in nowise disheartened by difficulties or disappointments. His noble steadfastness of resolution was manifest throughout his career. He had counted the cost, he had made up his mind; his decision was unwavering, and he carried it out with unfaltering energy. There is a surpassing moral grandeur in the reply which he sent to Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of his enemies, when they said to him — ‘ Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. He transmitted to them this magnanimous message — ‘ I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down; why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you.’ It needs only that you should study his history, to perceive how this sublime determination of spirit pervaded the whole of his course. Whatever his hand found to do, he did it with his might; whatever he resolved to win, he never ceased till he had won it; whatever he determined to encounter, he never failed to overcome. He could do all things, bear all things, surmount all things, through the strength that was perfected in his weakness.

Ask, then, beloved, that the Spirit of God would ‘ give you one heart,’ that you may have ‘ one way.’ Energy of faith is the spring of earnestness of life. When the things unseen mightily impress, and the love of Christ mightily constrains, then there will be a lofty decision of character: then will you keep the world, with its impertinencies, its blandishments, its vexations, and its artifices, in the proper place. However it may beset or assail you, whether it threaten or allure, you will meet it with the majestic reply “I am doing great work, so that I cannot come down; why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?’

Hugh Stowall

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Heart Preparation
Read Nehemiah 5:14-6:19. Consider the resolve of Nehemiah when confronted with what seemed like a good thing to do but his steadfastness to do what God had called him to. Where are you giving in to the deception of opposition telling you to a good thing when God has called you to another thing?