Nehemiah 6:3
Why Should the Work Cease?
Two First Testament Prophets (never “Old”) God spoke and speaks to us today through the entire Bible) Nehemiah and Habakkuk, have a lot to encourage us today, particularly in our present time of deep concern and uncertainty!
Today: Nehemiah. As Royal Cupbearer, he held a very high position, in the court of Artaxerxes, King of Persia. His was the task of official food taster, ensuring that the King didn’t swallow poison.
He evidently was emotionally close to his sovereign, as we read in Nehemiah 2:2, “Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.”
Nehemiah hesitatingly was frightened to answer truthfully, “Then I was very sore afraid.” But he courageously proceeded to tell his ruler that he understood that Jerusalem and its walls had been laid waste, in ruins, and the city gates were burned out.
Artaxerxes granted Nehemiah’s request to render help, as he soon departed for the City of David. Nehemiah arrived, and finding all the workers that he could muster, went right to work. Theirs was not an easy nor safe job, as we understand in Nehemiah 4:18, “for the builders, every one, had his sword girded by his side, and so builded.”
Ridiculed, laughed at, and opposed on many sides, Nehemiah was tempted to leave aside his effort, to party with the locals. But God’s Prophet had a bigger vision as recorded in Chapter 6:3, “I am doing a great work, so I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?”
Today we find so many church fellowships, torn from normality, as we rise to the fact of social distancing, and personal health measures that separate us from the warmth of Christian love for one another. Although we may appear broken in many places, yet, why should the work cease?
God is still on the Throne, and prayer changes things!
Nehemiah’s time of rebuilding occurred something like 2,600 years ago. Our time is NOW. The cause and work of Jesus Christ remains as urgent as ever!
Nehemiah’s words echo through our present age, “Come now therefore, and let us counsel together…..For they all made us afraid, saying, their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen our hands.” Nehemiah 6:7 & 9
Depews Chapel United Methodist Church, August 2, 2020
“Link to YouTube Video – He Leadeth Me”
“Link to YouTube Video – Work for the Night is Coming”
John 9:4
Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling,
Work ’mid springing flow’rs.
Work when the day grows brighter,
Work in the glowing sun;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man’s work is done.
Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labor,
Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute
Something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man works no more.
Work, for the night is coming,
Under the sunset skies;
While their bright tints are glowing,
Work, for daylight flies.
Work till the last beam fadeth,
Fadeth to shine no more;
Work, while the night is dark’ning,
When man’s work is o’er.
