10th.: Keep Turning to God
Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem. After assessing the state of the walls around Jerusalem,
Nehemiah rallied the Jews to rebuild those walls.
The enemies of the Jews did not like this.
They then began to mock Nehemiah and his efforts.
Nehemiah let God know about the mocking,
“Hear, O our God, we are despised, and turn their reproach upon their own heads.
… cover not their iniquity, … they have provoked to anger before the builders." (Neh. 4:4-5).
When the mocking failed, the enemies then plotted a physical attack against the Jews (Neh. 4:7-8).
Again, Nehemiah went to prayer (Neh. 4:9a),
“Nevertheless, we made our prayer to God." (Neh. 4:9a)
Nehemiah's preparations discouraged the enemies.
And Nehemiah gave due credit to God,
“… and God had brought their counsel to nought.” (Neh. 4:15b)
Since a frontal assault did not work, the enemies then tried to get Nehemiah to fall into a trap.
Nehemiah went to prayer,
“Now therefore [O God] strengthen my hands.” (Neh. 6:9).
Since the trap did not work, then enemies tried to get Nehemiah to do something rash, (Neh. 6:10-13).
Nehemiah went to prayer,
“My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their words ….” (Neh. 6:14).
Go to prayer, when the enemy arises.
“No weapon formed against thee shall prosper” (Isa. 54:17a)