Sanballat and Tobiah mocked Nehemiah and the Israelite workers. To mock someone means to cruelly laugh at or make fun of someone. Nehemiah did not let anything on the earth discourage him or delay his work. He had an important job to do - his orders came from God in heaven! Sanballat and Tobiah would not give up. Four times they tried to arrange meetings with Nehemiah to distract and harm him. But. Nehemiah knew it was a trap! He said, “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” In fact, Nehemiah said this made him even more determined to finish God's work! Now, that is focus and determination! Nehemiah and the people of Israel, with God's help, finished the wall in just 52 days! They completed their work because they focused on God and not the outside noise! As followers of Christ, others may mock us, but we must focus on the job God gave us to do! Psalm 1:1 says, "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers."

Nehemiah stayed alert and ready to protect God’s people from the evil plots, schemes, and outright attacks of their enemies! Nehemiah’s first response to trouble was prayer. “But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.” Nehemiah and the Israelites did not let their guard down. They armed themselves as they worked, and as they did common tasks during the day. They were willing to do anything it took to be ready for an attack, night or day! “During this time, none of us--not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me--ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.” The good news is that we can change our clothes and stay alert too! But, let us follow Nehemiah’s example and stay watchful. We should always begin with prayer, and continue to pray throughout each day. Make no mistake, we have an enemy who wants to tempt us, trick us, and distract us! “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” It is easy when things seem to be going well to let our guard down. Like Nehemiah, stay vigilant, stay alert, and ask God to give you discernment to make wise choices. “So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.

Nehemiah and the people of Israel worked together to finish the wall in only fifty-two days. Everyone pitched in and worked together to finish God’s great work! Nehemiah 4:6 says, “At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.” It is so much easier and fun to work with someone who is full of energy and enthusiasm, isn’t it? And, it is difficult to work with someone who complains, and does as little as possible to get by. Colossians 3:23 says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” The Bible calls us to be different; to give it all we’ve got, no matter what the task! Why? Our work is for God! Yes, we must be enthusiastic, and do our best, so we can be an example to others! “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

Ezra and Nehemiah gathered the people to read God’s Law to them. As they listened to God's Law, the people wept. When the reading was over, Nehemiah encouraged them to stop weeping and to praise God. He said, “This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”. We are so blessed to live under the New Covenant as followers of Jesus! The Old Covenant Law only revealed sin and disobedience; it did not bring joy. Jesus came to give us joy and to free us from the burden of the law! Romans 7:6 says, “But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.” Yes, today, we can live for God by the power of the Holy Spirit in us! God’s Spirit produces joy in us. He gives us the ability and strength to please God. Are you ready to have joy in your life? Jesus said, “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”.

It was no small feat to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem; especially in 52 days! This did not happen by luck, or by Nehemiah’s amazing talent and ability! This work began in prayer; he was intentional about his success! “O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” Nehemiah then gave credit to God for giving him favor with the king. When the wall was finished, Nehemiah said, “When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.” Nehemiah never allowed his success to fill him with pride; he always gave praise to God for his success.