神的子民被掳，溃不成军，过了一段漫长的日子之后，他们终于得到允准回去重建耶和华的殿和耶路撒冷城（参看历代志下36章）。尼希米带领百姓重建城墙，可是他们却受到邻近的撒玛利亚人的多方阻挠。
参巴拉和当地其他的领袖们阻挠尼希米和犹大人（现在也被称为犹太人）的工程、嗤笑和嘲弄他们。为了阻止犹太人重建的工程，他们威吓要发动攻击和扰乱。
在这样的环境下，尼希米和百姓祈求神的帮助，“又因他们的缘故，就派人看守，昼夜防备。”百姓们都怀着警戒的心，齐心努力工作；结果他们只用了五十二天的时间，便把城墙修好了（尼希米记6:15）！
我们可以从这件事学到一些功课。我们可以向神祈求：“神啊，求你保护我们脱离威吓和危险，天天赐我们力量殷勤作工，又帮助我们在所作的一切事上尊荣你。”还有，晚上睡觉之前，锁好门户也是重要的啊。
我们时刻都需要神的帮助和保护。我们的“仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人”（彼得前书5:8）。所以我们要一面祷告一面工作，天天都倚靠神。
父神啊，我们天天都需要你的帮助、引导、和保护。当我们受到威吓和阻挠时，求你帮助我们信靠你和忠心服事你。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。
尼希米记 4:1-6
1参巴拉听见我们修造城墙就发怒，大大恼恨，嗤笑犹大人，
2对他弟兄和撒马利亚的军兵说：“这些软弱的犹大人做什么呢？要保护自己吗？要献祭吗？要一日成功吗？要从土堆里拿出火烧的石头再立墙吗？”
3亚扪人多比雅站在旁边，说：“他们所修造的石墙，就是狐狸上去也必跐倒。”
4我们的神啊，求你垂听，因为我们被藐视。求你使他们的毁谤归于他们的头上，使他们在掳到之地作为掠物。
5不要遮掩他们的罪孽，不要使他们的罪恶从你面前涂抹，因为他们在修造的人眼前惹动你的怒气。
6这样，我们修造城墙，城墙就都连络，高至一半，因为百姓专心做工。
"When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews. . . ." - Nehemiah 4:1
After a long period of exile and destruction from conquering armies, God's people were allowed to rebuild the temple of the Lord and the city of Jerusalem (see 2 Chronicles 36). Nehemiah led the people in rebuilding the wall, but they faced a lot of opposition from their neighbors in Samaria.
Sanballat and other local leaders opposed Nehemiah and the people of Judah (now also called the Jews), ridiculing and scoffing at them. They threatened to fight and stir up trouble to prevent the Jews from rebuilding.
In the midst of all this, Nehemiah and the people prayed to God for help and "posted a guard day and night to meet this threat." The people were vigilant and worked hard together, and they finished the wall in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15)!
We can learn from this example. We can pray, "O God, please protect us from threats and dangers, and give us strength for our work each day. Help us to serve you in all that we do." And before we go to bed at night, it's also important to lock our doors.
We always need God's help and protection. Our "enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). So we pray and work, depending on God every day.
Father God, we need your help and guidance and protection each day. When we face threats and opposition, help us to trust in you and to serve you faithfully. In Jesus' name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
