When Nehemiah and his people were beginning to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, they faced opposition and ridicule. Ridicule is one of the enemy’s major weapons of attack against the work and will of God. He makes fun of and taunts believers as being simple minded, weak people, who will “never complete” the task as hand. He tries to discourage them from believing in the Lord, and in continuing their walk of faith and obedience. But Nehemiah prayed, “turn their taunt on their own heads.” (Nehemiah 4:4). He prayed that God would put down their enemies and their intentions to destroy His work or harm His people.
Later on in V. 20 he rallied the people saying, “Our God will fight for us.” If we are humbly serving to honor God and to promote His purposes, then we can expect His power and ability to be at work with us and for us as we continue in our walk of faith. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)