“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and
set a watch against them day and night, because of
them.”–Nehemiah 4:9.
Jehemiah, and the Jews with him, were rebuilding the
walls of Jerusalem. Sanballat and others were angry
with them, and tried to stop the work. They determined
to pounce upon the people on a sudden, and slay them,
and so to put an end to what they were doing. Our text
tells us what Nehemiah and his companions did in this
emergency: “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our
God, and set a watch against them day and night,
because of them.”
These people had not only to build the wall of
Jerusalem, but to watch against their enemies at the
same time. Their case is ours. We have to work for
Christ. I hope that all of us who love him are trying
to do what we can to build up his kingdom; but we need
also to watch against deadly foes. If they can destroy
us, of course they will also destroy our work. They
will do both, if they can. The powers of evil are mad
against the people of God. If they can in any way
injure or annoy us, you may rest assured that they will
do so. They will leave no stone unturned, if it can
serve their purpose. No arrows will be left in the
quivers of hell while there are godly men and women at
whom they can be aimed. Satan and his allies aim at our
hearts every poisoned dart they have.
Nehemiah had been warned of the attack that was to be
made upon the city. The Jews who lived near these
Samaritans had heard their talk of what they meant to
do, and they came and told Nehemiah of the plotting of
the adversaries. We also have been warned. As our Lord
said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to
have you, that he may sift you as wheat,” so has he, in
his word, told us that there is a great and terrible
evil power which is seeking our destruction. If Satan
can do it, he will not only sift us as wheat, but he
will cast us into the fire that we may be destroyed.
Brethren, “we are not ignorant of his devices.” You are
not left in a fool’s paradise, to dream of security
from trial, and to fancy that you are past temptation.
It is well for these people, also, that, being in
danger, and being aware of the malice of their enemies,
they had a noble leader to incite them to the right
course to be pursued. Nehemiah was well qualified for
his work. He gave the Jews very shrewd, sensible, and
yet spiritual advice, and this was a great help to them
in their hour of need. Beloved, we have a better Leader
than Nehemiah; we have our Lord Jesus Christ himself,
and we have his Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, and
shall abide with us. I beg you to listen to his wise
and good advice. I think that he will give it to you
through our explanation of the text. He will say to you
what Nehemiah, in effect, said to these people, “Watch
and pray.” Although the adversaries of the Jews
conspired together, and came to fight against
Jerusalem, and to hinder the work of rebuilding the
wall, Nehemiah says, “Nevertheless, we made our prayer
unto our God, and set a watch against them day and
night, because of them.”
In the text, I see two guards; first, prayer: “We made
our prayer unto our God.” The second guard is
watchfulness: “We set a watch.” When I have spoken on
these two subjects, I shall take as my third topic, the
two guards together. “We prayed, and we set a watch.”
We must have them both, if we would defeat the enemy.
I. First, then, dear friends, think of THE FIRST GUARD:
“We made our prayers unto our God.”
Speaking of this prayer, I would hold it up as a
pattern for our prayers in a like condition. It was a
prayer that meant business. Sometimes when we pray, I
am afraid that we are not transacting business at the
throne of grace; but Nehemiah was as practical in his
prayer as he was in the setting of the watch. Some
brethren get up in our prayer-meetings, and say some
very good things; but what they really ask for, I am
sure I do not know. I have heard prayers of which I
have said, when they were over, “Well, if God answers
that prayer, I have not the least idea of what he will
give us.” It was a very beautiful prayer, and there was
a great deal of explanation of doctrine and experience
in it; but I do not think that God wants to have
doctrine or experience explained to him. The fault
about the prayer was, that there was not anything asked
for in it. I like, when brethren are praying, that they
should be as business-like as a good carpenter at his
work. It is of no use to have a hammer with an ivory
handle, unless you aim it at the nail you mean to drive
in up to the head; and if that is your object, an
ordinary hammer will do as well as a fine one, perhaps
better. Now, the prayers of Nehemiah and the Jews were
petitions for divine protection. They knew what they
wanted, and they asked for it definitely . Oh, for more
definiteness in prayer! I am afraid that our prayers
are often clouds, and we get mists for answers.
Nehemiah’s prayer meant business. I wish we could
always pray in this way. When I pray, I like to go to
God just as I go to a banker when I have a cheque to be
cashed. I walk in, put the cheque down on the counter,
the clerk give me my money, I take it up, and go about
my business. I do not know that I ever stopped in a
bank five minutes to talk with the clerks; when I have
received up my change, I go away and attend to other
matters. That is how I like to pray; but there is a way
of praying that seems like lounging near the mercy-
seat, as though one had no particular reason for being
found there. Let it not be so with you, brethren. Plead
the promise, believe it, receive the blessing God is
ready to give, and go about your business. The prayer
of Nehemiah and his companions meant business.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
