Because of the problems they were facing Nehemiah set up new Battle plans. But note that his first priority remained the same as it had been before he spoke to King Artaxerxes. To rebuild the wall and make Jerusalem secure. His goal never changed.

Nehemiah must have had moments of depression, wondering what more problems he could have! But he was never a man of a hasty decision. When he heard about the problems and disastrous state of Jerusalem, he did not rush into anything, but fasted and prayed. The Lord opened the door.

It is better to repeat positive things than negative ones. We must proclaim what God says over our situations, not what the enemy is saying. Nehemiah made adjustments. A picture for us; that we should have at our side the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

We read that the workers continued and before long the wall reached half its height all round the city. What an encouragement for those workers and for us today that organised groups can achieve much, physically and spiritually. But the enemy became more and more angry making more evil plans.

This is a hard hearted prayer from Nehemiah, but it had to be. The enemy was determined to stop the building, and Nehemiah did not want his fellow workers either depressed or weakened in any way. Listening to the enemy weakens our faith and makes us think like the world.

The voice of the enemy is never far away when God is at work in our lives. None of the enemies suggestions here are true, and the repairs completed by Nehemiah and his team lasted for generations. Satan never speaks the truth. We must choose the voices we listen to.

Here a whole team of priests were labourers. Those of us that imagine priests wearing long robes, looking holy can not imagine them building walls! But their role is to do what is necessary to build and encourage a believing community, and this community of Jewish believers certainly needed help.

The devil has never changed, he succeeded in tempting Eve with His words, and he still uses the same tactics using people who do not accept that The God of Heaven is greater, stronger, wiser and much more powerful than His enemy has ever been and ever will be. Hallelujah!

Néhémie n'a pas été dérangé ou découragé par la quantité de travail qu'il y avait à faire. Le témoignage de Néhémie a bouleversé le cœur des auditeurs ce jour-là. Entendre comment Dieu a donné aux gens qui ne sont pas croyants la grâce de faire partie de Ses plans peut être un réel encouragement.

This message that Nehemiah was conveying to the priests, nobles and officials seems to be stating the obvious. These leaders had all been looking at the desolation of Jerusalem ever since they arrived back from exile hoping to pick up where their fathers had left off over a generation previously.