God seems to be highlighting the ‘enemy’s language’ in Luke, in Ezra and in Nehemiah and I’m seeing the comparison with today’s ‘language’ that the enemy uses.

It’s the same devil; same language. Look at these phrases:

what are these feeble Jews doing?” (name calling); “they became very angry”; “conspired together”

“to create confusion”

“They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst, kill them and cause the work to cease”

Have you ever felt yourself caught in a battle not of your own making? Nehemiah found the enemy hurling lies and falsehoods at him (Nehemiah 2:19) accusing him of rebelling against the king. In fact, Nehemiah had sought to do a good thing and sought the favour of King Artaxerxes to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls.

It can happen when we choose to ‘do God’s work’ that we find ourselves embroiled in a fight we didn’t ask for. God promises to ‘arm us for battle’. He will teach us how to fight our battles.

Jesus came to earth knowing that in order to fulfil the plan of God, there would be an almighty battle. No ruler of any kingdom will give over his territory to another without a fight.

(Numbers 22:2-4/ Matthew 4)

Why would we think, as Christians, that our enemies will just give up either without a fight, or without a battle that may involve more than once skirmish? Jesus won the battle for us, but don’t think that absolves you and frees you up to do nothing! As soon as you start to extend your inalienable rights as a child of God, you have to fight. You will win if you don’t give up; but fight you must.

Nehemiah found the enemy invented lies and falsehoods against him, called them names (you feeble Jews); they were relentless and persistent in their attacks against him and they expected the Jews to ‘give up’. However, they made their prayer God and God made their plots ‘come to nothing’. (Nehemiah 4:15)

God will do the same for you!

NEHEMIAH 4 SELECTED VERSES:

“But they thought to do me harm” Nehemiah 6:2

‘They sent me this message four times, then the fifth time…” (relentless, persistent)

LIES AND FALSEHOODS……

“It is reported among the nations, that you and the Jews plan to rebel….and you have also appointed prophets to proclaim, saying, ‘there is a king in Judah’….so come, let us consult together” verse 6-8

“Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, BUT YOU INVENT THEM IN YOUR OWN HEART.” verse 8

“They all were trying to make us afraid, “saying, ‘their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.’” verse 9

NEHEMIAH’S RESPONSE:

“Hear O God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.” verse 4-5

“Nevertheless, we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.” verse 9

“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses…” verse 14

“And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, AND THAT GOD HAD BROUGHT THEIR PLOT TO NOTHING” Nehemiah 4:15

“Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” verse 20

“Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?” Nehemiah 5:9

“Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.” verse 9

“So the wall was finished and when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around saw these things, that they were VERY DISHEARTENED IN THEIR OWN EYES; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.” verse 16

“so I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but YOU HAVE NO HERITAGE OR RIGHT OR MEMORIAL IN JERUSALEM” Nehemiah 2:20

But to the wicked God says: WHAT RIGHT have you to declare My Statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth, seeing you hate instruction and cast My Words behind you?...you have given your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. Psalm 50:16,17

These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you; But I WILL REBUKE YOU, AND SET THEM IN ORDER BEFORE YOUR EYES Psalm 50:21

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the HERITAGE of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord. Isaiah 54:17

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to EXECUTE VENGEANCE ON THE NATIONS, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgement. THIS HONOUR HAVE ALL THE SAINTS. Praise the Lord! Psalm 149:6