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The Work Is Finished
15On the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, the wall was completely rebuilt. It had taken 52 days. 16When our enemies in the surrounding nations learned that the work was finished, they felt helpless, because they knew that our God had helped us rebuild the wall.
17All this time the Jewish leaders and Tobiah had been writing letters back and forth. 18Many people in Judah were loyal to Tobiah for two reasons: Shecaniah son of Arah was his father-in-law, and Tobiah's son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. 19The people would always tell me about the good things Tobiah had done, and then they would tell Tobiah everything I had said. So Tobiah kept sending letters, trying to frighten me.
1After the wall had been rebuilt and the gates hung, then the temple guards, the singers, and the other Levites were assigned their work. 2I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, because Hananiah could be trusted, and he respected God more than most people did. 3I said to them, “Don't let the gates to the city be opened until the sun has been up for a while. And make sure that they are closed and barred before the guards go off duty at sunset. Choose people from Jerusalem to stand guard at different places around the wall and others to stand guard near their own houses.”
Reflect
With the report that the walls were completely rebuilt (6:15), the next thing one would expect would be a report of the celebration that the task was completed, and done in record time. But instead, the narrative moves in a different direction. Although verse 16 recounts the general effect among the enemies, it is a little disconcerting that the next verses (17-19) speak about the continued, but more subdued, attempt to intimidate Nehemiah as he does God’s will. And the continuing opposition comes through the people of Judah that Nehemiah was trying to lead! And precautions, like the ones that were taken in 4:12-13, still had to remain in place against potential attacks, with the gates being guarded and closed during the night time (7:1-3).
Opposition to God’s work is a prominent theme in the book, and it is now emphasized that even though the work of rebuilding was completed, it did not result in the end of the opposition, either internally or externally. It seems that opposition to God’s work never ceases.
True, there were major accomplishments, and the enemy recognized that God enabled the work to be done. But the enemy was not “converted,” believing in God, or being won over to Nehemiah’s side. Rather the opposition that was present before simply continues.
We are reminded of Jesus’ ministry, when in spite of the many miraculous signs proving God’s presence with Jesus, those who opposed his ministry were merely hardened in their opposition.
When we face opposition for the ministry tasks that God calls us to do, should we expect anything different? Even major accomplishments on behalf of the kingdom of God do not necessarily eliminate the opposition.
Respond
Lord, as we do your work, give us the strength to withstand the opposition that is sure to arise. Make us vigilant, anticipating even the subtle attacks of the enemy against your people. And may those around us see that you are the one helping us accomplish your work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Kelvin Friebel
I hold a M.A. & Ph.D. in Hebrew & Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I have taught Old Testament at Canadian Theological Seminary in Regina, SK, and Houghton College, in Houghton, NY. I have pastored Wesleyan and Christian & Missionary Alliance churches both in Wisconsin and Saskatchewan. I have taught and preached in Hong Kong, Lebanon, Philippines, Jordan, Thailand, My wife works at the University of Regina, and we have two grown children and five grandchildren.