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SERVICE AMIDST OPPOSITION (IV)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20
Nehemiah 4:1-6

Deuteronomy 26:1-10

 

“…thou shalt
set it before the LORD thy God, and

worship before the LORD thy God.”

 

SERVICE AMIDST OPPOSITION (IV)
 
Sanballat and his friends censured the Jews and their work from multiple fronts. All the criticisms they laid before the workers were false and unfair. Their intent in all this was singular: that the work should cease. They intended to stop the work by diverting the focus and attention of the workers. Generally, men do not take criticism well. We have an inherent need to answer back and defend our intentions and actions when they are challenged, even if the persons raising the questions do not understand or accept our response. In this, we ought to be careful. We cannot convince nor please every man, but we must not have doubts as to our own intents and motives as we respond to God’s call and carry out His will in our lives.
 
Will they sacrifice? (Neh 4:2). The third question was a spiritual one. Life in all its aspects is spiritual. In their resolve to work, the workers had claimed: “The God of heaven, he will prosper us” (Neh 2:20). The evidence of God’s help would be in the completion of the work, and the response of gratitude and thanks would be in the worship and sacrifice, and the dedication of the completed work to God. Hence the question: “…will they sacrifice?…” (Neh 4:2).
 
It is common for people to deter others by undermining their faith and trust in God. But those who know their God also know that they do not need to defend God. Those who trust in God and depend on Him for grace and help, know that the best way to show this is not by well-framed apologies, but rather, by a life of consistent commitment and obedience to the revealed will of God and active service to Him. Like the three friends of Daniel, the response to the question “who is that God that shall deliver you?” is best answered by a firm resolve of allegiance to God, to His worship and service. This firm allegiance was what the builders had shown at the start of their endeavour when Nehemiah had asserted: “The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build…” (Neh 2:20). Their task in the face of criticism was not to answer back, but rather to “…shew the same diligence… unto the end” (Heb 6:11).
 
THOUGHT: (Read Daniel 3:16-18.)

PRAYER: (Use Hezekiah’s prayer in Isaiah 37:14-20.)

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