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A MIND TO WORK AND PRAY (VI)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27
Nehemiah 4:12-23

1 Chronicles 28:20-21

 

“Be strong and of

good courage; and do it.”

 

A MIND TO WORK AND PRAY (VI)
 
Dinsdale T. Young wrote concerning what to do when strength fails: “There must be great Trustfulness in such crises. Let not your faith fail. Cling in weakness to what you have proved in strength. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Be like John Wesley, who was never so calmly and hopefully trustful as when nature’s strength decayed. Be like a great and saintly minister of whom a friend said, ‘In the stress of his busy life it was his childlike faith and trust in the Heavenly Father that kept him from the wear and tear and worry of work.’ Say to thy wearied soul, ‘Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him.’”
 
They said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you (Neh 4:12). Wearied workers and increased burdens required action from Nehemiah and the builders. They had been praying and working. In the face of varied approaches from the enemy, they had, apart from unceasing prayer, put in effort to the work (Neh 4:6), and increased vigilance and watchfulness as they worked (Neh 4:9). Yet, they still received repeated news of impending and increasing danger.
 
Therefore set I… I even set the people… with their swords, their spears, and their bows (Neh 4:13). Though they had made many adjustments since the work began, they still needed to do more. They had to prepare to defend themselves. The first considerations were given to the “lower places” which would be more easily penetrable, and on “the higher places” where the view would be considerably increased. The defences would need to both repel and pre-empt (foresee) any attacks from the enemy, since the news that had been received was “from all places… they will be upon you.” As they set up defences, they also armed those who were to defend. They were armed with weapons that they could use both in repelling the enemies from afar, and in preventing and engaging the enemy in proximity. Nothing was to be left to chance, every situation was anticipated and prepared for.
 
THOUGHT: Courage is enhanced by preparedness (Eph 6:10-12).

PRAYER: O Father, help me to be ready whenever duty calls.

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