Deeper Reflection
Seeing the concerted efforts of God’s people in the rebuilding project, Sanballat became very angry and fired five derisive questions to discourage them from continuing the work.³ Nehemiah responded to the opposition with prayer. Nehemiah’s prayer (v.5) did not stem from the desire for revenge but was uttered for the honour of God, who was the real object of the enemies’ insults.⁴ Facing fierce opposition, the rebuilding project should have been thwarted. Yet the faithfulness, diligence and resilience of God’s people enabled them to finish rebuilding the walls. They were deeply anchored in their faith in God.⁵Today, building the “broken walls” among the generations within the church and in society requires all of us to lean on God, pray unceasingly and continue the work faithfully. The evil one will oppose the Church with division, deception, discouragement and distraction. So let us get on our knees in humility, stand firm in faith and move forward in love to rebuild the “broken walls” among the generations for His glory.For we (the generations)⁶ do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12).

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³ Kenneth L. Barker and John R. Kohlenberger III, ed., Old Testament, vol. 1 of NIV Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994), 709. ⁴ ESV Bibles by Crossway, ESV: study Bible: English standard version., ESV ed. (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 2008), 831 ⁵ ESV Bibles by Crossway, ESV: study Bible: English standard version., ESV ed. (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 2008), 831 ⁶ The words in parentheses were inserted by the writer of today’s entry.