When Our Enemies Heard - Nehemiah 6:16

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days”, and in chapter six and verse sixteen of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared what happened, “when all our enemies heard thereof”, where we read,

And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

The verse reads, “And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “and it came to pass” or “and the following happened and occurred”, “that when all our enemies” which means “that at the time and moment each, every, the whole and everyone of our, Nehemiah and the people of Judah's, hating foes and adversaries” “heard thereof” or “listened to, perceived, discerned and gave attention to the completion of the barrier wall”, “and all the heathen” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the foreign, non-Hebrew and pagan nations and people” “that were about us” or “who surrounded us, Nehemiah and the people of Judah” “saw these things” which means “observed, noticed and considered that the wall was completed in fifty-two days” the following occurred. Nehemiah shared how the following happened at the time and moment every one of the hating foes and pagan foreigners who surrounded them observed that the wall was completed. 

The verse continues, “... they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.” Nehemiah added the words, “they were much cast down” or “they, the enemies and heathen people, existed as greatly and exceedingly prostrated, fallen down, knocked out and overwhelmed” “in their own eyes” which means “within their, the enemies and heathen people's, own personal sight or vision”: “for they perceived” or “because, since and on account that they, the enemies and the heathen people, distinguished, recognized and discerned” “that this work”which means “that the business, occupation, labor and workmanship” “was wrought of our God” or “was made, fashioned, accomplished and produced through the means of our, Nehemiah and the people of Judah's, Supreme Deity”. Nehemiah shared how the completion of the barrier wall caused the hating foes and pagan foreign nations to be overwhelmed in their own sight because they recognized that the rebuilding of the wall was fashioned and accomplished by his and the people of Judah's Supreme Deity.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the completion of the wall affected their “enemies” and the pagan foreign nations who surrounded them. These hating adversaries were overwhelmed within their own sight because they knew Jehovah God helped them to complete the wall. God wins, and when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross and was resurrected from the grave three days later as our personal “Savior and Lord”, we win too because He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us that will cause others to know He has done a great and mighty work in us. 

Next time Nehemiah says, “the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah”, 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".