May 8, 2025 - Nehemiah 7-10

When Nehemiah first heard about the sad plight of his people in Jerusalem, he reports, “I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (1:4).  When opposition to the work broke out, Nehemiah reports, “We prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night” (4:9).  Opposition continued, and Nehemiah prayed, “O God, strengthen my hands” (6:9).  When the wall was finished, Nehemiah tells us, “Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy” (7:5).  So many challenges and obstacles.  So much opposition.  And what did Nehemiah do, over and over again?  He prayed and he sought God’s counsel and protection.  Sometimes it seems as if there is no rest or respite from the world’s opposition and hatred.  Always, it has been the same.  Rest is coming but, with Nehemiah and multitudes before us, until then, we work and we seek God’s face and we ask for his protection.

O land of rest, for thee I sigh!

When will the moment come

When I shall lay my armor by

And dwell in peace at home?

To Jesus Christ I fled for rest;

He bade me cease to roam,

And lean for comfort on His breast

Till He conducts me home.

We’ll work till Jesus comes,

We’ll work till Jesus comes,

We’ll work till Jesus comes,

And we’ll be gathered home.   –Elizabeth Mills (1837)