The story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem after the Israelite kingdoms had fallen and were taken into captivity is full of valuable lessons that have taught me a lot about prayer and persistence and believing God will provide and take care of us.
One of my favorite verses emerges
from this story. Nehemiah 8:10b For the joy of the Lord is your strength.
I think for Nehemiah, he lived
this verse and it is why he accomplished all that he did.
While in captivity and in the
king’s court as a cupbearer, the joy of
the Lord was his strength.
When he diligently prayed for
months and sought God concerning what to do about the report of the broken
walls and gates in Jerusalem, the joy of
the Lord was his strength.
When he risked his very life and courageously
asked King Artaxerxes if he could go to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls, the joy of the Lord was his strength.
When he asked King Artaxerxes for
all the supplies and everything he would need to do the job, the joy of the Lord was his strength.
When he surveyed the damage to
the walls and devised a plan, the joy of
the Lord was his strength.
When Nehemiah and his group of
workers were ridiculed for their efforts and threatened with trouble, the joy of the Lord was his strength.
When Nehemiah armed the workers
with swords in one hand while rebuilding, the
joy of the Lord was his strength.
When the work was finished and
everyone in the city gathered to worship the Lord and be thankful for the job
that was accomplished in rebuilding the walls, Nehemiah admonished the entire
congregation with the words of Nehemiah 8:10.
Is God the source of your joy? Is
He the source of your strength? I think we would be wise to declare as Nehemiah
did that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Nehemiah 8:10
For the joy of the Lord is your strength.
