Fifty-Two Days in Nehemiah (Day 23)

Day 23

Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

Nehemiah 6:14

There are few things that can destroy the peace of a Christ follower like the desire for revenge. When we are mistreated, it is a natural thing to want to settle the score. However, this is not what God would have us to focus on. Scripture tells us, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Nehemiah has all but completed the wall. He has dealt with a number of difficulties along the way. He has been threatened, insulted, and he has been challenged. Although the rebuilding of the wall is almost complete, the difficulties around the rebuilding are not. He once again is dealing with threats, rumors, and false accusations.

Nehemiah has a choice to make. He is obviously to a point that he can say, “Enough, I’m going to put a stop to this.” There was not a single person then, or now, that would have blamed him. However, Nehemiah does not take matters into his own hands. As we have seen him do again and again, he turns to prayer. He simply asks God to remember what these people have done and to deal with it according to His will.

We, like Nehemiah have a choice to make when we are wronged. We can take matters into our own hands, which often becomes toxic to our own soul; or we can leave it to God. Remember the exhortation of Romans 12:9, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”