Nehemiah 4:14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord,who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." English Standard Version (ESV)
I attended a revival meeting at a small South Carolina church on Tuesday evening of this week and heard some good gospel music and also heard a great message from this passage in Nehemiah chapter 4. In the book of Nehemiah God may be thought of as the "rebuilder of broken walls and lives" (from the Aaron Geoffrey song "He Is").
In his message the pastor mentioned that they were half way through rebuilding the wall around the city of Jerusalem when they began to face opposition and threats.
The people began to get discouraged and there were thoughts of giving up, that all was hopeless.
The prophet's call was for the people to remember that God, the God who created them was with them and was on their side, but they still needed to fight, fight for their brothers, fight for their sons, fight for their daughters, fight for their wives, and fight for their homes. It was a call to fight for their lives, their way of life, their faith and their God. If they did Nehemiah was confident that God would be in it, fighting for them.
Perhaps we're in the middle of a marriage, a relationship, or your kids are halfway through school, or you are "halfway" into a ministry and things have come to a halt. The world around us now as it did then, calls to give up. Start anew somewhere or with someone else or doing something else. The challenge remains the same to us, fight for your marriage, your family, your church and for your nation. If we do, God will be right there with us, not only with us but leading the way.
As the pastor was delivering the message another Old Testament verse came to mind:
Habakkuk 3:2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you,
and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
in the midst of the years make it known;
in wrath remember mercy. English Standard Version (ESV)
and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
in the midst of the years make it known;
in wrath remember mercy. English Standard Version (ESV)
If you find yourself in the "midst of the years", halfway through or beyond and you are discouraged of the lack of progress on your wall, seek revival, seek His mercy and grace, and fight for the cause knowing "our God will fight for us". (The Message)
Blessings,
Mike
Nehemiah 4:10-20The Message (MSG)
10 But soon word was going around in Judah,
The builders are pooped,
the rubbish piles up;
We're in over our heads,
we can't build this wall.
the rubbish piles up;
We're in over our heads,
we can't build this wall.
11-12 And all this time our enemies were saying, "They won't know what hit them. Before they know it we'll be at their throats, killing them right and left. That will put a stop to the work!" The Jews who were their neighbors kept reporting, "They have us surrounded; they're going to attack!" If we heard it once, we heard it ten times.
13-14 So I stationed armed guards at the most vulnerable places of the wall and assigned people by families with their swords, lances, and bows. After looking things over I stood up and spoke to the nobles, officials, and everyone else: "Don't be afraid of them. Put your minds on the Master, great and awesome, and then fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes."
15-18 Our enemies learned that we knew all about their plan and that God had frustrated it. And we went back to the wall and went to work. From then on half of my young men worked while the other half stood guard with lances, shields, bows, and mail armor. Military officers served as backup for everyone in Judah who was at work rebuilding the wall. The common laborers held a tool in one hand and a spear in the other. Each of the builders had a sword strapped to his side as he worked. I kept the trumpeter at my side to sound the alert.
19-20 Then I spoke to the nobles and officials and everyone else: "There's a lot of work going on and we are spread out all along the wall, separated from each other. When you hear the trumpet call, join us there; our God will fight for us."
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