THEY RETURNED TO THE WORK. Nehemiah 4:15-18 There is an urgency to the work of God that escapes the minds of the Lord's people when we are occupied with the ordinary things of daily life. But when a work must be done in public view, it is important that it be seen to progress despite obstacles and opposition. Complaints and fears are normal and must be heard and addressed, but the work at hand is our responsibility to complete. We must not lose sight of the objective.
God has given us this work to accomplish for the benefit of His people. It is a testimony to those around us, many of whom hold negative opinions of what claims to be "Christian." God's people are given a new understanding of who we are and why we are here. The kingdom of God is strengthened and advanced in the area where we live when we give ourselves to the work with joy and enthusiasm.
Volunteer laborers from farms and villages outside Jerusalem had been coming each day to help build the wall around Jerusalem. It would have been a place where they could come for safety in times of trouble or enemy attack, so they had a part and a responsibility to join in the work. Consequently, they left their daily occupations and made personal sacrifices to do this emergency work, which would not only affect their income but also their families, who had to take care of things while they went into the city to work with those who lived there. Then, because of obvious opposition, the time came when they couldn't even go home at night, leaving their wives and children vulnerable to those rich people who didn't put their hands to the work.
God had frustrated the plans of the enemies of the Jews to stop the work of rebuilding the walls. All of the people returned to the work, but there were significant changes that intimidated the enemies. Now, rather than those who opposed appearing to be a strong force against the rebuilding work, it was the other way around. Half of the people were armed and poised to defend the work with shields and body armor, and others with bows and spears, ready to act on a moment’s notice if any move was made toward them.
A unified defense plan to protect the people of God is important. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more, as ye see the day approaching." God's people need one another's help because of the danger posed by the spiritual enemies we face.
In the work of the Lord, there is a need for unwavering faith in God and confidence that our work has divine sanction. There is also a need for common sense to deal with the work and the opposition to it in a practical and positive way. The goal is why we press ahead with a work, but there are things that need to be done along the way to promote that work. The final goal should be emphasized rather than the difficulties we face, even though we cannot ignore them. We just can't let them sidetrack us from the ultimate objective or take priority in our labors.