"Lighting the Fire"
Jotting – Week 46

Celebrate the Triumph over Enemies

One-Handed Work

Have you ever tried to work with one hand while fending off an enemy with the other? I’ve known parents (and was one long ago) who stir a meal on the stove while balancing a toddler on the hip. I have worked on the computer with one hand and tried to talk on the phone at the same time–not very successful either at the work or the conversation. Statistics show that driving and talking on cell phones can lead to accidents–and even death.

Working with one hand and holding a weapon in the other was exactly what God’s people did on their return to their homeland after years in captivity.

When the people entered Jerusalem after their long trek from Babylon, they went back to a flattened and ruined city. If you know your Bible history, you know that the armies of Nebuchadnezzar 70 years before had “burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions” (2 Chronicles 36:19).

The first group to return began to rebuild the temple. It took 21 years to complete that task, which was overwhelming, discouraging, and stopped for a number of years. Enemies had persuaded the king that to let Jerusalem be rebuilt would be harmful to his rule. Another king finally allowed the work to resume.

It was almost 90 years after the first exiles returned that Nehemiah was sent to rebuild the walls of the city. Enemies would tear down what the people had built; they attacked with words of ridicule and anger. Even from within, greed reached out to keep the walls from going up.

Nehemiah, a man of prayer and single-mindedness, however, accomplished the task in a record 52 days, arming his men and setting a watch day and night. He wrote: “So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon” (Nehemiah 4:16-17).

Celebrate the Victory
Nehemiah 8 records Ezra’s reading of the Book of the Law of Moses to the people. Nehemiah 12 records the celebration held to dedicate the walls:

Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, ... for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem. Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall. So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate. ... By the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went up the stairs of the City of David, on the stairway of the wall, beyond the house of David, as far as the Water Gate eastward. The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad Wall, ... So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, likewise I and the half of the rulers with me; ... The singers sang loudly with Jezrahiah the director. Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.  (Nehemiah 12:2-31; 37-38; 40; 42-43)

We too need walls around us to keep the enemy from destroying us–as he plots to do every minute of every day. He attacks with ridicule, doubt, and anger. He lies and twists the truth. He “transforms himself into an angel of light” (1 Corinthians 11:14). He has his claws sharpened. St. Peter wrote: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). St. Paul wrote:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints —and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:11-20, emphases added).

Be Watchful, Full of Prayer

New Christians will most certainly come under attack by Satan–he doesn’t like any kind of heavenly victory, so surround them with prayer and words of encouragement in their new faith. Read and study Scripture together. Yes, celebrate their victory through Christ over sin, death, and Satan, but make them aware of the enemy and what means he may use on their weaknesses. Give them the weapons necessary to continue in celebrated victory over the wicked foe.

Each of you, as you proclaim the words of saving grace through the Lord Jesus, needs prayer to persevere, to stand firm in the faith, to speak boldly, so pray for one another; “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:4-7).

Then we can say like the psalmist: “When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us, And we are glad. Bring back our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126).

Pray: O Lord, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, You have brought victory for our new brothers and sisters in the faith. But we know that Satan is on the prowl. He means to recapture what was his. He plots and plans with his evil hosts to regain those who have been lost to him. Father, send Your Holy Spirit to make new hearts strong in You. Keep us all safe, Father, under the shadow of Your wing. Help us all to stand firm in the faith, to clothe ourselves with Your armor, with prayer and supplication, with the study and reading and proclaiming of Your Word. Thank You, Thank You for loving us so much and for giving us all a safe haven in You now and in eternity. In Jesus’ strong name. Amen.