ANGER MINGLED WITH CONTEMPT FOR THE WALL

CONTEMPT FOR THE WALL

"We made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch" Neh. 4:9

That is always the true attitude of those who are called upon to work for God in face of danger. As the work proceeded, the opposition of the enemies of the people, which first expressed itself in derision, passed to ANGER MINGLED WITH CONTEMPT. Nehemiah was conscious of the menace of this attitude to the work he had in hand, and lifted his heart in prayer to his God. An illuminating sentence in the narrative at this point shows how completely Nehemiah had captured and inspired the people. It declares that "The people had a mind to work." Thus the work went forward, until the wall was raised to half its height. At this point the OPPOSITION BECAME FIERCER, and a determined attempt was made by CONSPIRACY TO STAY ITS PROGRESS. With immediateness, and a keen sense of the necessity created by this fact, Nehemiah says, "We made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch." In this method there was neither foolish independence of God, nor foolhardy neglect of human responsibility and precaution. Everything was done to insure that twofold attitude of complete faith in God, and determined dependence upon personal effort, which always makes for success. How often God's workers fail for lack of one or the other of these important elements!