From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
Nehemiah 4:16-18
Nehemiah’s plan of counterattack is described: From that day on half of my men did the work while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. (v.4:16) Even the builders wore a sword at their side. In addition to that, Nehemiah was aware of the wide separation between the people doing the work, so he set up a warning system to warn the people of impending danger. He told them to gather together when the trumpet sounded so that their God could fight for them. Watchmen were normally posted on the walls of a city to warn the people of danger, but watchmen were also needed in the rebuilding of the walls.
We need a “watchman” posted on the walls of our life. The Lord has given us His Holy Spirit to do that work. The Holy Spirit warns us of danger and empowers us to stand up to the distractions and attacks that keep us from the work that God calls us to do. The Scriptures tell us that we are the temple of God’s Holy Spirit and that we are being built into spiritual houses.
(I Corinthians 3:16 and I Peter 2:5) The enemy will seek to stop the building up of our spiritual lives, but we have a model found in Nehemiah’s strategy to combat these attacks. We must put on the armor of God (our sword and bow) and pick up our plough (the work to be done); only then will we be able to stand up to the challenges that face us.
Where do you feel challenged in your walk with Christ? Is He asking you to step out in faith against the scheme of the enemy? Ask the Holy Spirit to post a watchman on your spiritual walls and forge ahead into whatever He is calling you to do. With the armor of God secure and the watchman ready to sound the trumpet for danger, you can trust that the Lord will fight for you. Anything that God calls you to do, He will equip and empower you to do. Never allow fear of attack to stop you from the things of God. Silence the voice of the enemy by strapping on God’s Word and start building!
Heavenly Father,
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to begin the work to which You have called me, and post guards over my life. Thank you for the knowledge that where You send me, You have already gone to prepare the way.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
Visit Drawing Near to God.com for more Abiding Space Blog posts and Daily Devotionals
