So We Built the Wall - Nehemiah 4:6

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how he was threatened by Sanballat and Tobiah again, and he prayed, “Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before you: for they have provoked you to anger before the builders”, and in chapter four and verse six of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “so built we the wall”, where we read,

So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: 

for the people had a mind to work.

The verse reads, “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof:” Nehemiah began with the words, “so we built the wall” or “wherefore, therefore, then and on that account we, Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem, rebuilt, established and reconstructed the barrier wall”; “and all the wall” which means “and each, every, the whole and every part of the barrier wall” “was joined together” or “was bound, conspired and put in league with each part” “unto the half thereof” which means “until the wall was one half of it's original height”. Nehemiah shared how the people of Jerusalem continued rebuilding the barrier wall, and they completed one half of it's original height.

The verse goes on to say, “for the people had a mind to work.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “for the people” or “because, since and on account that the human beings in Jerusalem” “had a mind to work” which means “held, owned and possessed a willing heart, understanding, thinking and reflection to produce, accomplish and attend to the wall before them”. Nehemiah said the “people” in Jerusalem possessed a willing heart and thinking to produce and accomplish the rebuilding of the barrier wall. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the people of Israel in Jerusalem continued rebuilding the barrier wall even though enemies opposed them. They were purposed in their hearts to complete their task, and at that point they had returned the wall to half it's original height. God was working in the hearts and bodies of these willing and purposed people, and He desires to accomplish His will through us as well. When we surrender our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross and was raised from the dead three days later, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a purpose, drive and ability to carry out His desires within this world and in it's people. 

Next time Nehemiah shares what happened when, “the breaches began to be stopped”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".