Thursday, January 22, 2026
So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes. Nehemiah 4:13-14 CSB
Remember The Great and Awe-Inspiring Lord…
As we have studied Nehemiah we learned that God had given Nehemiah a vision that seemed to crumble before him. There was a threat of attack from enemies, but Nehemiah did not stand around with his face in his hands. Instead he went to God in prayer concerning this matter. God gave Nehemiah the plan of action that was needed – to unify the people around the same goal.
During this time of rebuilding families were separated. But now with the scare of attack, Nehemiah positioned the families together and gave them a common goal of preservation. He directed their attention to the Lord because they were focusing on the debris, the clutter, and the enemy rather than God. We give our attention to what we feel is important, and what we believe is important is what we will focus on. Nehemiah does what we all are supposed to do when we find our faith beginning to sink amidst difficult circumstances - remember how God has worked for them in the past.
Everyone knows that sometimes you just have to take a step back, get up from your desk, take a break. We come back with a refreshed mind, a new set of eyes, and hopefully renewed clarity. The work stopped for a short time while Nehemiah stationed the families and made an inspection. He realized their fear of attack and asked them to all work and watch at the same time. If they were attacked they would instantly rally together. It provided the means of security they were lacking and it unified them in purpose even more. And once again Nehemiah reminded them of God and reassured them that he would fight for them.
Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated far from one another along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us! vs19-20
Nehemiah knew that the people’s faith, confidence, and morale would grow serving one another. When someone depends upon us, and we feel we are part of a team we work harder and with greater purpose.
For us we also need to remember what God has done in our past and that he will fight for us! We can face anything when we remember his greatness, and his power and presence in our lives over and over again. We know because of the evidence of his faithfulness, that we have witnessed personally, that we can trust him. In times of discouragement we need to look to God, not for simple answers or simple solutions, but for strength to endure and conquer the moment fully in him.
