Seeds for 09/20/2024 - Nehemiah 4:10-14
Scripture:
10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”
11 Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”
12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”
13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
Observation:
Nehemiah is facing challenges from within and from outside. From within, he’s dealing with the fears of the people regarding the threat of their enemies, who are the challenge from outside. These fears are well-grounded, in fact, as their enemies are willing to kill them in order to stop the work. How will Nehemiah respond?
Nehemiah takes two essential steps.
First, he readies them for the potential threat by taking the practical steps to counter the threat if it should materialize. He deploys people, organized by families and armed, to strategic locations—“behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places.” Maybe the threat will come about, maybe it won’t. But they are taking it seriously and preparing themselves for what may come.
Second, he reminds the people who have been posted to defend the wall to depend on God. The exhortation not to be afraid of people or circumstances rings throughout scripture from beginning to end. We are particularly prone to fear. This case seems like a good example. When we hear or perceive immediate threats, those can seem to loom larger than the ever-present help of God. In such times, it is vital to have a leader or a friend reminding us that the “Lord… is great and awesome” and that we can rely on Him as we stand up and answer the challenge of the day.
Application:
When have needed to remember the Lord in order to meet a challenge before you?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, cast out all fear and keep me centered in your great and awesome presence as I approach the challenges I face. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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