Prayer and a Mind to Work
And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. (Nehemiah 4:9)
Neh. 4:6-9 and 9:15; Psa. 5:3 and 55:17; Mk. 14:38; Acts 10:2; Eph. 6:10-19; Col 4:2
What Is God Saying?
Nehemiah is the last historical record in the Old Testament. The Temple was rebuilt in 516 B.C. but 70 years later the walls of the city were in disrepair The returning exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem were content to allow the walls to crumble. News of this reached Nehemiah who was the cupbearer of the Persian King Artaxerxes, a position which called for great responsibility and trust. He was so affected by the distressing state of things at home that his sadness was detected by the King. Out of sensitivity and respect for his loyal but troubled officer, he sent him back with royal letters to rally and organise the people. The walls and gates were rebuilt in 52 days.
The rebuilding of crumbled walls and burned-out gates was not a welcome sight to the surrounding enemies so they sought to hamper the work in every way. It was necessary to protect the walls and the workers from their sporadic but determined efforts. The re-building of the walls and gates was made possible by three things: the people had a mind to work (4:6), they believed in prayer, and they were ready not only to pray but also to watch. They not only asked God to do something for them, they were willing to do something for themselves.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Nehemiah believed in prayer and he also understood the need to be alert. Prayer to God does not exclude doing our part. We are not called to retrofit sagging city walls; we are engaged in doing the will of God in a never-ending battle against the enemies of truth and righteousness. We are called upon to strengthen the walls of our souls and to provide protection against the assaults of a resolute enemy. Prayer and spiritual defence are all-important today. Busy building, Nehemiah took time to pray. Busy praying, he got things done. They go together. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, in part because the righteous man is also available to get things done. Jesus did not say, ‘Watch or pray.’ He said, ‘Watch and pray.’
Pray With Me
Lord, I pray to be alert and I want to be alert in praying. Prayer is an ally to and not a substitute for alertness. Jesus said, ‘Watch and pray.’ Let that command set the pace for all my prayers. Let it go deeper. Let it motivate and control all my living. In the time of Nehemiah, Your servants did not think of prayer as a substitute for alertness. Alertness led them to prayer and prayer led them to alertness. In praying, they were shown all the more clearly how they must set a guard as a protection against the enemy day and night.
Let communion with You lead to awareness of all that is set against You. Let there be neither worry nor fear, but a healthy respect for the opposition of the evil one. Praying is not a repetition of a magic formula. It will not prove successful even if it is spoken often with acceptable words and in the proper manner. It is true that ‘unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.’ It is not true that the Lord's watchfulness does away with the need for a watchman. Being aware of the presence of evil, let me also be confident through prayer of the available strength and the ultimate triumph of good.
Through Christ who calls us to do as He did when He watched and prayed. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Effective prayer is marked by willingness on the part of the person praying to watch for the enemy, to use the full armor of God for protection (Eph. 6:10-19), to go where his prayer directs, and to do as God's Word commands. Prayer is not a nice habit or a quiet interlude. It is a blueprint for action—God's action in us and our action for Him. Watch and pray. Pray and watch.
