So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. (Neh 4:6)
Self-seeking opponents became angry and greatly enraged when they heard that Nehemiah and the reinvigorated people of Jerusalem were rebuilding the walls (4:1). But rage in the hearts of opponents didn’t stop the rebuilding, for the people had a mind to work.
They were jeered at and despised. “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” (4:2). But the hurtful words of adversaries didn’t stop the rebuilding, for the people had a mind to work.
They were belittled and ridiculed. “Yes, what they are building–if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” (4:3). But all the bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice Sanballat and Tobiah could muster didn’t stop the rebuilding, for the people had a mind to work.
Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. “And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night” (4:7-9), for the people had a mind to work.
Rumors swirled throughout the surrounding region, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” Enemies whispered in the shadows, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” Discouraging messengers came from all directions and tried to distract them ten times (4:10-12). But the rebuilding didn’t stop, for the people had a mind to work.
The walls bore scars, no doubt, and so did the people. In vulnerable, open places, sentries had to be set with swords, spears, and bows. Sparks of courage had to be rekindled in the hearts of the builders more than once. “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, yours sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes” (4:13-14). But the rebuilding didn’t stop, for the people had a mind to work.
Even when half the people had to work on construction and half had to hold spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail, the rebuilding didn’t stop. The leaders stood behind them. Some had a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other. Trumpets were prepared for sounding if help needed to be rallied from a distance. They labored and supported and guarded from the break of dawn until the stars came out (4:15-20), but the rebuilding didn’t stop, for the people had a mind to work.
Read Nehemiah 4 and you can sense the exhaustion, the fear, and uncertainty.
But Nehemiah didn’t stop praying. “Hear, O our God.”
He didn’t stop reassuring. “Do not be afraid of them.”
He didn’t stop lifting their focus heavenward. “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.”
He didn’t stop thinking and preparing. “In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
He didn’t stop leading by example. “So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.”
And the rebuilding didn’t stop, for the people had a mind to work.
We can’t control the rage of others. We can’t keep jeers and taunts from flying. If some are intent on plotting, causing confusion, whispering rumors in the shadows, or reveling in the deconstructive work of discouragement and distraction, sometimes the most we will be able to muster is, “Hear, O our God.”
But we can control our mindset.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Col 3:2)
…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Tim 1:7)
…seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness… (Matt 6:33)
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:58)
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Gal 6:9)
And so the work of the Lord endures, as God’s people continue to have a mind for God’s work.