Responsible action under God (Nehemiah reflection #3)
Parts of Jerusalem, destroyed as the Jews were taken into exile, was slowly rebuilt under Ezra in 458 BC – mainly the temple. And now 13 years later in 445 BC, Nehemiah has heard that even some of that rebuilding had been destroyed. Why is that a big deal? Well Jerusalem has stood at the centre of many of God’s plans and promises. And a destroyed Jerusalem never to rise again seems to suggest that God’s promises have failed or been frustrated in some ways.
We saw in our first Nehemiah devotional that Nehemiah’s first response to the news of Jerusalem’s situation (1:3) was prayer. Prayer because of an all pervasive consciousness of God as the one who rules from heaven. The one who will be at work. The one who will fight for and defend his people. And the one that carries the ultimate responsibility for the completion or success of his plans and purposes and promises.
In our second Nehemiah devotional we reflected on the fact that, even as Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem under the kind and sovereign hand of God, things weren’t going to be easy. It’s clear that God and God’s people will always be opposed by enemies – we’re to expect enemies. How did Nehemiah respond? He prayed – remember again how we’ve seen that again and again. In doing so, he kept looking to the Lord.
Today our wrestle is with understanding how having prayer as our first priority, and trusting that God needs to work, how that fits together with us taking responsible action. Often the two can be pitted against each other. You’re either a ‘Let God do what he needs to do’ and so you do nothing. Or you’re a ‘I will do myself what needs doing.’ Nehemiah doesn’t believe in that false distinction. Instead we see him trusting in God’s good sovereignty, and that allowing Nehemiah himself to get on and do what he believes God has given him responsibility in. Let me show you some examples from Nehemiah.
In Nehemiah 2:8 it is acknowledged that the reason the Persian king allowed Nehemiah’s request is because God’s gracious HAND was on Nehemiah. And as Nehemiah recounts this in 2:18 (‘how the gracious HAND of my God has been on me’), we’re told that this spurred the people on to start rebuilding. And we’re told: ‘and their HANDS were strengthened to do this good work. Can you see that? God’s HAND and it leads to their HANDS doing their work – under God, strengthened by God.
Or look at Nehemiah 4. As they have started to rebuild the walls, God’s enemies have gathered all around (4:7) threatening to fight against Jerusalem. How do the people respond. Well, first they pray! (4:9) But there’s more, read the whole verse: ‘So we PRAYED to our God AND stationed a guard because of them day and night.’ Can you see that relationship again? They prayed as a first response showing trust in God’s good sovereignty. But then they also stationed a guard. Did that show a lack of trust in God? No, they didn’t think so – for them it seems like responsible action under God.
Or look at one last example. Still in chapter 4, now verse 20, we hear of their defence plans. When they hear the trumpet blast from a certain part of the wall showing that someone is attacking them, the people are to rush there to help fight off the attack. And that verse ends with this note of confidence: ‘our God will fight for us.’ So, we have the two things combined: the people will FIGHT, and they will do it because they know their God is FIGHTING for them. And so, what does that lead to, working under that God who works? Well the next verse says: SO we continued the work, while half the men were holding spears from daybreak until the stars came out (4:21)
God is always and ultimately responsible for anything good – salvation included. The buck stops with him. But when you live with and under that God, knowing his ultimate responsibility leads you in turn to practise personal responsibility.
Think of some examples where this works out in practise.
As you pray and trust God to help you in your exams, it doesn’t mean you don’t work and study. No, instead you are disciplined in your work ethic even as you entrust your marks (good or bad) to the Lord.
As you struggle with sin: yes, God must do the deeper work of helping us with our affections and desires, and we pray to him in our struggles with sin. But at the same time as responsible agents we know we must also, under him, do what’s needed to fight sin – perhaps saying no to certain things, and yes to other means of grace (bible, prayer, other Christians).
Where are you unbalanced in your Christian life under Jesus?
Out of the two parts we have concentrated on today (God’s sovereignty, our responsible action), the one (former) always comes first. But flowing from and under God’s sovereignty, we are encouraged to practice responsible action. At the end of the day knowing, for instance, that as we ‘work out our salvation with fear and trembling’ (Phil 2:12) we can only do that because ‘it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.’ (Phil 2:13). In that relationship though is freedom. Freedom, as those now in Christ, to work and to do – because at the end of the day, God is working and doing.
