Discouragement and fears within added to the burden of builders of the wall, but faith in the power of God was there and enabled them to overcome these obstacles. Judah said, “The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.” They had forgotten that the Lord was the strength of His people, and that if He gives us a work to do for Him He will always give the strength needed for it. We get this strength to go on by keeping in communion with Him.
Then it appears that there were some Jews who were under the power of enemies; “they dwelt by them,” and were in their secrets. Ten times they came to Nehemiah saying that the enemy threatened to come upon them from any direction before they would be aware of it. We see how unwearying is the enemy who by threats and discouragements of one kind and another, seeks to cause us to abandon our service for the Lord.
However, Nehemiah, unwearied in his watchfulness, set part of the people to watch, and had them armed with swords, spears and bows. Then he encouraged the rest, saying, “Be not afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daugers, your wives, and your houses.” When God is brought in, by the exercise of faith, there is courage for the conflict, and “If God be for us, who can be against us.” When the enemy heard that their plans were known, and that God had brought their counsel to naught, it appears they retreated for the time being. The Word tells us to “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Then every one was able to return to his work on the wall. Neverthess Nehemiah made preparation for defense in case of attack and divided up his servants, the one half engaged in the actual work of building, the rest holding spears, shields, and bows. Even those who worked each had a sword girded by his side.
We can see in Nehemiah and his builders a picture of those who labor in the Church of God. It is the Lord who appoints and qualifies for the work and how happy it is when each finds his appointed place and seeks to occupy it for Him. There are some who are especially fitted for conflict; they are awake to the attack of the enemy on the truth of God. Others are better qualified to teach, and occupy themselves with souls, seeking to build them up in Christ. But all are exhorted by Jude in his epistle to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” v. 3; again in verse 20: “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Some were called to be burden-bearers. What a privilege to be a burden-bearer — for others — if the Lord has given us that to do for Him! The word in Galatians 6:2 is, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
“Every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand he held a weapon.” v. 17. While seeking to go on diligently with our work, we need to be armed and ready for conflict with the enemy at all times.
ML 07/26/1959