Nehemiah 4:6-11: a reflection

6So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. 7But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be filled, they were very angry; 8and they all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion among us. 9But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night because of them. 10Judah said, “The strength of the bearers of burdens is fading and there is much rubble, so that we are not able to build the wall.” 11Our adversaries said, “They will not know or see, until we come in among them and kill them, and cause the work to cease.”

As Nehemiah and the people rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, their enemies, angry at the progress, conspire to attack and stop the work. And notice how Nehemiah and the people respond to the threat: they did two things together. We made our prayer to our God, the text says, and set a watch against them day and night. They prayed earnestly, and they took practical precautions; they trusted God, and they posted a guard.

Notice the wise balance in their response: prayer and practical action together. They did not merely pray and do nothing, leaving themselves defenseless; nor did they merely rely on their own vigilance, trusting only in the guard. They did both: they prayed to God, entrusting the matter to him, and they set a watch, taking sensible precautions against the threat. Trust in God and responsible action went hand in hand.

That balance is a model for facing our own threats and challenges. We can be tempted to one extreme or the other: to pray but take no practical action, as though trusting God meant doing nothing; or to rely wholly on our own efforts and precautions, forgetting to pray. But Nehemiah shows the wiser way: pray, and set a watch; trust God, and act responsibly. When you face a threat or a challenge, do both. Pray earnestly, entrusting the matter to God; and take the sensible, practical steps that wisdom requires. Do not pray and then neglect to act, nor act while neglecting to pray. Trust God and do your part; pray, and set a watch, as Nehemiah and the people did, joining earnest prayer with responsible action against the threats you face.

Lord, when Nehemiah and the people rebuilding the walls were threatened by their enemies, they made their prayer to you and set a watch against them day and night; they prayed earnestly and took practical precautions, trusting you and posting a guard. Teach me that wise balance for facing my own threats and challenges. I can be tempted to one extreme or the other: to pray but take no practical action, as though trusting you meant doing nothing; or to rely wholly on my own efforts and precautions, forgetting to pray. But Nehemiah shows me the wiser way: pray, and set a watch; trust you, and act responsibly. When I face a threat or a challenge, help me do both. Help me pray earnestly, entrusting the matter to you; and take the sensible, practical steps that wisdom requires. Keep me from praying and then neglecting to act, or acting while neglecting to pray. Help me trust you and do my part, joining earnest prayer with responsible action against the threats I face, as Nehemiah and the people did.