Nehemiah 6 Devotional

Finished by Our God

“When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.”Nehemiah 6:16 (BSB)

As the wall nears completion, the enemies turn to schemes. Four times they invite Nehemiah to a meeting on the plain of Ono, planning to harm him, and four times he replies that he is doing a great work and cannot come down (6:2-4). Next comes an open letter accusing him of plotting to be king (6:5-7), then a hired prophet urging him to hide in the temple (6:10-13). The aim is always to frighten the builders until their hands go slack (6:9).

Nehemiah's reply in that same verse is a short prayer for God to strengthen his hands. The wall is completed in fifty-two days (6:15), and the surrounding nations lose heart, because they recognize that this work was done by God (6:16). Even Israel's enemies can see who built the wall. A psalm says that unless the LORD builds the house and guards the city, the builders and watchmen work in vain (Psalm 127:1). You can ask him for strength for today's work and leave its finishing in his hands.

To think about: Where do you need to ask God to strengthen your hands today, rather than give in to fear or distraction?