Responding to Ridicule...

Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5 Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.  6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.—Nehemiah 4:4-6

I have said this before and will say it again...I. LOVE. NEHEMIAH.  I am so grateful for his godly example.  He is humble and kind...but also like steel.  If you crossed him, he prayed and when Nehemiah prayed stuff happened. 

Verses 4-6 show us how Nehemiah responded to ridicule. He prayed.  He didn’t give Satan a foothold.  He didn’t mull over the enemies words and allow their poison to reach his heart and affect his thinking. He did the very best thing he could do...he did what we should do when we find ourselves in similar positions.  He brought it all IMMEDIATELY to God.  He prayed and committed the whole matter to Him who judges righteously...to Him to whom vengeance belonged. God was Nehemiah’s defense and His Defender.  He didn’t even take the time or the energy to respond to their words...He knew God had heard them.   Verse 5 tells us what he did after praying...He and the people went back to work, undeterred by the provocations of their enemies. They continued to do the work they had been called by God to do and so should we.  

1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;

May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;

2 May He send you help from the sanctuary,

And strengthen you out of Zion;

3 May He remember all your offerings,

And accept your burnt sacrifice.

Selah

4 May He grant you according to your heart's desire,

And fulfill all your purpose.

5 We will rejoice in your salvation,

And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!

May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.

6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;

He will answer him from His holy heaven

With the saving strength of His right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;

But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

8 They have bowed down and fallen;

But we have risen and stand upright.

9 Save, LORD!

May the King answer us when we call.—Psalm 20