Nehemiah 4:6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together to the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. 1. They built it notwithstanding sneers. "What do these feeble Jews?" Sanballat said. All the Sanballats are not dead yet. Often, when you would attempt some new or difficult work for Christ, there are a good many modern Sanballats ready to stand about and say, "You can't do anything; you are not strong enough; you are not experienced enough; you haven't money enough; the idea of your attempting such a thing! 2. they built the wall, notwithstanding active opposition. they kept right on steadily building. Said the great William Carey — who wrought such wonders, and against such opposition, in modern missions — to his son Eustace, "Eustace, if they say I am a genius, it is not true; but if they say I can plod, that is true. Yes, I can plod, I can plod." And a plodding persistence, in the face of almost any opposition, is sure at last to triumph. 3. They built the wall, notwithstanding despairing friends. I have been reading how General Washington, only a little time before the battle of Yorktown, was in the very darkest time of the long, hard struggle. Friends on every side were despairingly saying, "You can't do it; you might just as well give up." But the great Washington would not let himself despair. Whoever else might, he would not. He would keep at it; and, keeping at it, notwithstanding the despair of friends, a nation's independence was achieved at Yorktown. 4. They built the wall by prayer. I asked Mr. Spurgeon once how he prayed. He answered, "I go to the Bible and find a promise applicable to my need, then I reverently plead that promise before the Lord, asking Him to keep it for Jesus' sake; and I believe God will, and He does." That is the prayer of faith — the prayer of great grip on the Divine promise. 5. They built the wall by working together. Did you notice that "we"? "So 'we' built the wail," our Scripture says. Even one is worth something, but two are worth more, and many striving together are worth immeasurably more. Associate others with yourself, or yourself with others. It was because the Rough Riders rushed up the heights of San Juan together, and because the coloured regiments rushed up together, and together with them they were enabled to plant Old Glory on the summit. Fellow ship is better than individualism in all noble service. 6. They built the wall by willingness on the part of each to do whatever he could. Sometimes they bore burdens; sometimes they grasped swords and spears; sometimes they stood sentinel. There was no selfish picking and choosing. There was no mean declaring "I will do this, but I won't do that." Each one was ready to do any. thing; the thing which seemed just then the thing best to be done. It is no wonder that the wall went steadily and triumphantly up. 7. They built the wall by courageous trust in God. Said Nehemiah, "Be not afraid of them; remember the Lord." (W. Hoyt, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. |
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