Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 2
Monday


A DEADLY WEAPON

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali used several ring tactics to defeat his opponents; one tactic was taunting. in his fight with George foreman in 1974, Ali taunted Foreman, "Hit harder! show me something, George. That don't hurt. I thought you were supposed to be bad." fuming, Foreman punched away furiously, wasting his energy and weakening his confidence.

It's an old tactic. By referring to Nehemiah's efforts at rebuilding the broken wall of Jerusalem as nothing more than a fox's playground (NEH 4:3), Tobiah intended to weaken the workers with poisonous words of discouragement. Goliath tried it on David by despising the boy's simple weapons of a sling and stones (1 SAM 17:41-44).

A discouraging remark can be a deadly weapon. Nehemiah refused to surrender to Tobiah's discouragements, just as David rejected Goliath's diabolical teasing. Focusing on God and His help rather than on their discouraging situations, David and Nehemiah both achieved victory.

Taunting can come from anybody, including those who are close to us. Responding to them negatively only saps our energy. But God encourages us through His promises: he will never forsake us (PS. 9:10, HEB. 135), and He invites us to rely on His help (HEB 4:16).

* Lord, it's easy to let discouragement sap my energy and joy. Help me to
reject all agents of discouragement in my life and to trust in You for comfort
and strength.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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If you're in a tunnel of discouragement, keep walking toward the light.

***************************Today's Bible Reading __ Nehemiah 4:1-10*****************************

1 But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we
were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very
indignant, and... 2 said, "What are these feeble Jews
doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer
sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day?..."

2 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said,
"Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break
down their stone wall."
4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach
on their own head, and give them as plunder to a land of
captivity! 5 do not cover their iniquity, and do not let thrie 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.

7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs,
the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of
Jerusalem were being restored...they became very angry,

8 and all them conspired together to come and attack
Jerusalem and create confusion. 9 Nevertheless we mad our
prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against
them day and night.

10 Then Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is failing, and
there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Despite the taunting that the Israelites faced
from multiple sources when rebuilding the walls and city of
Jerusalem, they had courage and confidence in God. They had
returned to Jerusalem just as God had promised through the
prophet Jeremiah (JER 29:10).