Chapter 3
The men worked together, each on his portion of the wall.
High priests, goldsmiths, perfumers, officials, daughters, servants, and merchants.
All working separately on their own section of the wall, yet for a common goal. Such a cool picture of the Body of Christ.
v23 Each took a section, just in front of their house.
These people had been living with the rubble all around them. But it took someone giving them a charge and a plan to do anything about it.
You can never be sure how God will use you. When His tabernacle was built, He used the finest craftsmen, experts in their fields. They had been honing their craft for a lifetime, and God used their natural and well-practiced talents for His own purpose.
But here, we see the opposite. These men (and women!) were asked to set aside their natural talents and work together for a unified purpose. It is very likely that the goldsmiths, perfumers, and officials had no experience in building walls or hauling stone. I'm not sure the high priests felt all that comfortable working next to the merchants, or women.
Sometimes God gives you a task that it feels like you were made for. You look back on your life and realize that everything has been leading to this one moment. He has given you these talents, gifts, strengths for exactly the job ahead. It all makes sense.
But it seems like more often, He asks us to "play to our weaknesses." It's counter-intuitive. We feel ill-equipped to do do what He's asked. It goes against our very nature to accept it. But God isn't bound by our nature. He's Supernatural. He asks the tongue-tied woman to give a public testimony. He asks the rich man to volunteer on a housing project. He asks a loner to start a people-centered ministry. He asks the people-person to spend weeks alone writing a book. Look at your own life. I bet He's asked something of you that plays right to your weakness. It can be overwhelming!
But God has promised that what He starts, He finishes. That you can do all things through Christ. And when you complete the task that plays to your weakness--maybe even your weakest--you don't struggle with pride. You know that it was all God's work, through you.
Chapter 4
v2 Mockers love an audience.
v4 Nehemiah's response is prayer. (And asking God's curse on his mockers!) God can handle your angry words and your raw emotion. You don't have to wait to go to Him until your heart is right and full of mercy. He's the One who heals your heart. Just go to Him.
v6 The people had a mind to work - determined.
v10 "We ourselves are unable to build the wall." That moment when the thing God has asked you to do is literally more than you can handle.
v13 Once again, called to play to their weakness. Each family tasked with defending their portion of the wall.
v14 DO NOT be afraid of them! Remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
When the Powers of this world are pressing in--pornography, addiction, depression, slavery, abuse, exploitation, death--remember your God. Remember who you are fighting for. Make a list. Name them. And keep fighting. It's worth it.
v15 Return to the wall, each one to his work.
v20 Do your work. Ready your weapons. Make a plan to rally together. When the time comes, "OUR GOD WILL FIGHT FOR US."
Look how Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the king, has changed in these few chapters, over the course of a few months. He has become a labor-contractor, a people-manager, a public speaker, a RALLYING-CRYER. God equips those He calls.
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I want to add to our list of prayer-types used by Nehemiah. I'll start with the ones we found yesterday and tack on today's at the end. This book is rocking my definition of prayer.
BESEECHING PRAYER - a prayer to pray when you are in desperate need--weeping and mourning. Sometimes you don't even have words. Your tears are your prayers, and God hears every one. (Nehemiah 1:4)
SCRIPTURAL PRAYER - remembering God's words and promises and speaking them back to God. This is a prayer of thanksgiving, trust, and an act of faith. I like to think God loves it when we remember His words and apply them to our lives, even in conversation with Him. (Nehemiah 1:8-9)
PRAYER OF ACTION - when you are about to do something that you cannot do without God's help. Prayer for success in what you know God is leading you to do. If you like bold statements and beautiful words, this is a good time to pray those things! (Nehemiah 1:11)
SILENT PRAYER - prayer when you are in immediate need. There is no time for lengthy prayers full of descriptive beautiful words. Maybe it's just a single word, "Help!" (Nehemiah 2:4)
PRAYER OF EXULTATION - proclaiming God's work in your life. Making a statement that He is the reason for your success. In this instance, Nehemiah was just remembering that God's hand was on him, and that's why the king granted his request. Not all prayers start with, "Dear God..." You can pray this prayer while writing in your journal, posting on Facebook, or talking with a friend. It's a prayer of testimony. (Nehemiah 2:8)
HIDDEN PRAYER - sometimes God places something on your heart that is too precious or fragile to talk about it. It could be a hope or a dream. A task that seems impossible. And idea that is still forming. A desire of your heart that you can't even speak out loud to Him, let alone to anyone else. But he knows it. He put that desire in you. It's OK to have secrets that are just between you and Him. He's the Lover of your Soul.(Nehemiah 2:11)
PRAYER WITHOUT PREAMBLE - not what we think of as a "good Christian prayer." Sometimes But if you wait until your heart is "right" before you come to the throne, you may never get there. But God can handle your angry words and your raw emotion. Is your heart full of hate, pain, frustration, revenge, and all-out RAGE? You don't have to wait. Tell Him. He knows your pain. He hurts when you hurt. He is the One who heals hearts. Just go to Him. He's your Dad. See what He can do for you. And through you. Nehemiah trusted God with even his ugly emotions, and we can too. (Nehemiah 4:4-5)
PRAYER OF DISCOURAGEMENT - this is the prayer you pray when you are drowning. I pray this way a lot as a mom. Are you feeling out of your depth? Is fear taking over? Is your life and responsibility literally more than you can handle? Just praying this prayer has a way of fortifying you in a new way. Let the words, "I can't do this" remind you to lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus. You will be surprised how much lighter your heart feels when you stop carrying weight you were never meant to carry. Lean in to your weakness, and let the strength of the Lord take over. (Nehemiah 4:9-10)
PRAYER FOR FORTITUDE - when you see your friend sinking into despair. You know God is strong. You know He's going to see her through this hard time. But maybe she just can't see even the smallest glimmer of light at the end of her dark tunnel. She's weary from the fight, and the only prayers she's capable of are in the form of her weary tears. It's time for you to stand in the gap for her. It can be so hard to watch someone sink into spiritual mire. But the Truth about who God is, and who she is to Him, holds so much power over despair. "Do not be afraid. Remember God who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses...Our God will fight for you." Pray this on your own, but also speak these words in person, out loud. Let the truth wash over her. Be like Aaron to her, holding her weary arms up until her battle is over. (Nehemiah 4:14-20)
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Next time: Nehemiah 5-7
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