As an amateur gardener (emphasis on amateur), it is the time of year that I least enjoy in the yard. The early fruits of my spring efforts have taken a beating by the hot and humid South Carolina heat. Flowers and foliage have crispy edges that, despite all the rain, have given up their struggle against the searing sun. The beds that once sported rich deep brown mulch have now faded to a dull gray. New weeds of every kind, fostered by a wet August, have invaded the grass and fence line and require daily upkeep. It is also the time of year when I realize I tend to weeds more than my garden. It seems that before my eyes while working, another weed has sprouted in a place I cleared yesterday. Weeds have become a distraction from my plants and are left to defend themselves. Weeds rob me of focus.
I have realized that I am far too much of a romantic gardener. While whiling away my hours talking to my lemon and olive tree and giving my roses a trim, I compliment their beauty. I envisioned myself providing stylish haircuts to my bushes while birds sang and butterflies fluttered. Suddenly reality distracts me from my fantasy with the mocking voice of crabgrass while dandelions invade, impersonating flowers. I always sarcastically chuckle to the guy at the garden center and inquire why yard science hasn’t figured out the perseverance of weeds and transplanted whatever it is into flowers and grass. Wouldn’t that be awesome? I would love to garden without the distraction of weeds.
Whether gardening, working from home, reading, or painting, there is nothing more frustrating than stopping what you love doing to deal with what you don’t like. Sometimes a start and stop cycle can continue through an entire project. There are times when I write, the dogs intermittently bark, disturbing my focus the whole time. Just when I think I have them settled, the phone starts ringing. If Nehemiah could speak to this, I am sure he would relate that every time he returned to work on the wall, a new distraction arose, and the scriptures record that his start and stop cycle prevailed throughout the reconstruction project.
Nehemiah had two big distractions: Sanballat and Tobiah. The first attempt was to belittle and discourage the work on the wall. These two guys launched an attack with swords and arrows on Nehemiah and his workers. With the Lord’s help and direction, Nehemiah countered these attempts to stop the work. The work crew and their leader resumed their work on the wall. Meanwhile, Sanballat and Tobiah devise a new plot at the enemy camp. Here are the scriptures that record this latest development:
“1-2a When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there were no more breaks in it—even though I hadn’t yet installed the gates—Sanballat and Geshem sent this message: “Come and meet with us at Kephirim in the valley of Ono.”2b-3 I knew they were scheming to hurt me so I sent messengers back with this: “I’m doing a great work; I can’t come down. Why should the work come to a standstill just so I can come down to see you?”
4Four times they sent this message and four times I gave them my answer. 5-6a The fifth time—same messenger, same message—Sanballat sent an unsealed letter with this message:
6b-7 “The word is out among the nations—and Geshem says it’s true—that you and the Jews are planning to rebel. That’s why you are rebuilding the wall. The word is that you want to be king and that you have appointed prophets to announce in Jerusalem, ‘There’s a king in Judah!’ The king is going to be told all this—don’t you think we should sit down and have a talk?” 8 I sent him back this: “There’s nothing to what you’re saying. You’ve made it all up.”
(Neh 6:1-8, The Message)
When ridicule and physical threat did not hinder the work, the enemy has now moved to the tactic of distorting the truth and inviting the destruction of Nehemiah’s reputation to the king he had so faithfully served. The very same king who supplied Nehemiah with the resources and passports and the time away from his job to take on the reconstruction project, to begin with.
In these accounts, the enemy is like a preserving deadly weed that every time he crops up, he tries to be more invasive and threatening. This is a pattern of attack that we as followers of Christ face as well. The enemy will begin to distort the truth when the enemy can’t discourage us, and physical harm is out of his reach. This is what happened to Eve in the garden. When the serpent, after seducing her, still faced resistance, he sealed the deal by getting her to review the validity of God’s word. He distorted the truth. Doubt is an invasive weed in the garden of life and serves to distract effectively. Note that Nehemiah is almost at the end of the project. He has to be fatigued. The folks are tired.
Prior to this attempt, Nehemiah had to stop working and deal with the financial needs of his people. He called another town meeting to deal with it because his workers and families had mortgaged themselves to the hilt to survive, and the officials were making a killing by loansharking! It is not surprising the minor distractions failed. The enemy’s focus is now on undermining the whole project, casting dispersion on the motive for rebuilding. We are usually tired when we see victory in sight. This is not the time to drop our guard and get distracted. If you have ever been the subject of malicious gossip and someone has attempted to destroy your reputation, then you understand how tempting it is to stop and fully defend yourself. Nehemiah teaches us a great lesson by staying steadfast and diligent in the task. His response is simply to refute the lie. Period. He doesn’t launch a political campaign. He doesn’t send word to the king to try and head Sanballat and his cohorts off at the pass. He just keeps leading the people and working.
Jesus demonstrates this is the wilderness when Satan comes to tempt him. Jesus quotes scripture that refutes the lies the devil is proclaiming. Period. I find it so ironic that Sanballat uses another liar, Geshem, as his supporting reference. Liars hang out with liars. It is paramount to overcome any challenging distraction to be grounded in the truth of God’s word. If I have just read it, and not studied it. If I have tasted it but not digested it. If I have decorated my life with truthful fascinations but not built a foundation on God’s truth, I will never (and I mean never) complete the dream and task God has placed within me. And called me too. I will never finish my reconstruction project. I will fall victim to the enemy’s distraction, and one of the most vulnerable areas is trying to defend a lie and doubting the truth. If Satan can not get me to oppose the work of God, he certainly will pursue the delay of it.
This phase of the reconstruction project is just about over. Nehemiah has remained steadfast the whole time, keeping his eyes on the Lord and his heart committed to the “God, who is great and awesome, who keeps His covenant of unfailing love. All of us are somewhere in life, making attempts at building something. Maybe like me, you are in your own garden; we are all dealing with the distracting weeds of life like worry, heartbreak, failing health or finances, and fear of the future, and you have all but given up on the beauty of your garden. I have attempted rebuilding the life God has called me to and fallen off the wall many times, been distracted, and succumbed to the enemy’s threats. The band sometimes just stopped working but thank God, His mercies are new every morning. I can, through His strength, climb back up and resume my work, and from up there, the weeds are not nearly as visible. Once again, I can see the beauty of the garden below.
Lord, help me stay steadfast in the work you have given me. God, I hate distractions !. Help me to fellowship with you more each moment because it is there that your truth is revealed and gives me the focus I need. Remind me that is only in fellowshipping with you and dwelling on your promises that I will secure victory and peace when the lies of the enemy crop up..
Come back next time because the sounds of celebration will be heard in the vineyard as the series Nehemiah: Under Reconstruction” continues.
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