Nehemiah tells us that the wall was finished in fifty-two days, and even their enemies were forced to own that it was a work wrought by God. Indeed it was a very remarkable work to build such a wall about three miles around with so few to work at it.
Nehemiah had much to cast himself on the Lord in those days. He tells us there were many letters exchanged between the nobles of Judah and Tobiah the Ammonite with whom they were linked through marriage. They continually reported Tobiah’s good deeds to Nehemiah, and uttered Nehemiah’s words to him. Like many today, they would seek to prove that there is no difference between the Lord’s people and the men of this world, that the actions of both alike are good; but in reality they have no thought of what is suited to God, or to those whom He has redeemed unto Himself. How trying this must have been to so separated a man as Nehemiah!
It is sad when the Lord’s people do not see how they are called out in separation from this world and seek the world’s friendship, and try to make out that some of the worst enemies of the truth are not so bad after all. But that is really not the question: rather, do they have faith in the Lord who came to redeem us? So many do not discern the two aspects of the work of Christ as they are brought before us in Galatians 1:44Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4). There we read that He gave Himself “for our sins,” and also “that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father.” In God’s sight this world is always the same — “this present evil world.” James tells us in his epistle: “Know ye not that the frienhip of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Jas. 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4).
In chapter? we learn something of the government of Jerusalem. Nehemiah appointed doorkeepers, singers and Levites; and then he put his brother Han. ani in charge of the city; for, he says, “he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.” Faithfulness to the Lord does not go unnoticed of Him and will surely bring its reward sooner or later.
Nehemiah gave instructions that the gates of the city must not be opened until the sun was hot, and at night the doors not only to be shut but barred also. Furthermore watchers were to be appointed of the inhabitants of the city, “every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.” It shows us how the Lord would have each to’ feel his responsibility in watching over and caring for the assembly as well as for the families of His people. At night the enemy would be most active and this would remind us that it is during the night of this world when “the rulers of the darkness of this world,” are especially busy. The Apostle Peter exhorts us, saying: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” And this makes us think of the blessed contrast we have in Revelation 21, where we read of the heavenly city, the new Jerusalem, that “the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” v. 25.
All taint of sin shall be removed,
All evil done away;
And we shall dwell with
God’s Beloved
Through God’s eternal day.
ML 08/30/1959