Nehemiah 6:15-19
Here in Michigan, we are all quite familiar with “orange barrel season” when major road and bridge construction is underway across the state, leading to numerous traffic delays, detours, and lane closures. The roadway is lined with graders, excavators, rollers, dozers, dump trucks, concrete mixers, and more. Some of our local road improvement projects can take a year or more to complete. In today’s reading of Nehemiah, we see the completion of a major construction project.
“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shekaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.” Nehemiah 6:15-19
Construction sites would’ve looked a lot different back then, and I’m amazed at how quickly the wall was built amidst ongoing opposition and after being in ruins for more than 100 years. If we turn back the pages in the book of Nehemiah, we are reminded that he had prayed for four months, which shows that Nehemiah worked longer in prayer than in the actual building of the wall. Commentator David Guzik is credited with saying, “This shows the spiritual battle was actually greater than the material battle.”
One of my favorite parts of today’s passage is about what the enemy thought of this great feat. “When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.” It’s always a victory when the enemies of God or those who are not part of the body of believers (yet) recognize God’s mighty hand at work and give him the credit. God’s story for God’s glory!
What a beautiful testimony to the power of God and his faithfulness.
He is worthy of all our honor, praise, and glory!
Here in Michigan, we are all quite familiar with “orange barrel season” when major road and bridge construction is underway across the state, leading to numerous traffic delays, detours, and lane closures. The roadway is lined with graders, excavators, rollers, dozers, dump trucks, concrete mixers, and more. Some of our local road improvement projects can take a year or more to complete. In today’s reading of Nehemiah, we see the completion of a major construction project.
“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shekaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.” Nehemiah 6:15-19
Construction sites would’ve looked a lot different back then, and I’m amazed at how quickly the wall was built amidst ongoing opposition and after being in ruins for more than 100 years. If we turn back the pages in the book of Nehemiah, we are reminded that he had prayed for four months, which shows that Nehemiah worked longer in prayer than in the actual building of the wall. Commentator David Guzik is credited with saying, “This shows the spiritual battle was actually greater than the material battle.”
One of my favorite parts of today’s passage is about what the enemy thought of this great feat. “When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.” It’s always a victory when the enemies of God or those who are not part of the body of believers (yet) recognize God’s mighty hand at work and give him the credit. God’s story for God’s glory!
What a beautiful testimony to the power of God and his faithfulness.
He is worthy of all our honor, praise, and glory!
Posted in Devotional