RPG Teenz
WHAT IS THE SWORD AND TROWEL?
AUG 12
Nehemiah 4
Memorise Nehemiah 4:17 "our God shall fight for us"
WHAT IS THE SWORD AND TROWEL?
In the midst of rebuilding the walls, the people of Jerusalem faced much opposition. There were those like Sanballat and Tobiah who mocked them (Nehemiah 4:1-3), and conspired to mount a military attack against them (Nehemiah 4:7-8). In the face of such opposition, the people remained strong. Instead of being discouraged or retreating and giving up, they cried unto God and prepared themselves for it. They relied on God, but also fulfilled their own human responsibility by making certain arrangements to ensure that the work continued, and that their safety was also not compromised.
Nehemiah encouraged the people to remember their God, and how He would fight on their behalf. He then set up a ‘guard duty roster’, such that at any one time, half of them would stand guard with shields, spears, bows and armour, whilst the other half would work. But even as they worked, they all would be armed with a sword by their side, or a weapon in their hands.
Knowing how critical the situation was, they also doubled their efforts, and laboured relentlessly until the work was done. They worked from dawn to dusk (Nehemiah 4:21), and didn’t even have time to change their clothes, except to wash them (Nehemiah 4:23). They were rewarded for their efforts in the end, for despite all the difficulties that they faced, the wall was completed in just 52 days – indeed a testament to their strength and fighting spirit.
In his lifetime, the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon started a magazine called "Sword and Trowel". His inspiration came from this account in the book of Nehemiah 4, where they built the walls despite being surrounded by enemies, and armed themselves with weapons whilst continuing in the work (a trowel refers to a small hand tool for digging or smoothing, kind of like a flattened spade). In this account we see a picture of resilience and tenacity despite difficulties and oppositions, but we also see the picture of a Christian, whose duty is exactly that – to serve, to labour for the Lord, to build up and edify, but at the same time also to defend against the enemies of God, to take up arms and fight the good fight of faith. As Christians, we are described as both labourers and soldiers for the Lord (2 Timothy 2:1-6). May we all strive to fulfil these roles in our lives!
Thought: To serve the Lord is to fight against His enemies.
Prayer: Lord may you also arm me with a sword and a trowel, that I may serve You faithfully, and fight the good fight of faith.
Posted in Teens RPG
Nehemiah 4
Memorise Nehemiah 4:17 "our God shall fight for us"
WHAT IS THE SWORD AND TROWEL?
In the midst of rebuilding the walls, the people of Jerusalem faced much opposition. There were those like Sanballat and Tobiah who mocked them (Nehemiah 4:1-3), and conspired to mount a military attack against them (Nehemiah 4:7-8). In the face of such opposition, the people remained strong. Instead of being discouraged or retreating and giving up, they cried unto God and prepared themselves for it. They relied on God, but also fulfilled their own human responsibility by making certain arrangements to ensure that the work continued, and that their safety was also not compromised.
Nehemiah encouraged the people to remember their God, and how He would fight on their behalf. He then set up a ‘guard duty roster’, such that at any one time, half of them would stand guard with shields, spears, bows and armour, whilst the other half would work. But even as they worked, they all would be armed with a sword by their side, or a weapon in their hands.
Knowing how critical the situation was, they also doubled their efforts, and laboured relentlessly until the work was done. They worked from dawn to dusk (Nehemiah 4:21), and didn’t even have time to change their clothes, except to wash them (Nehemiah 4:23). They were rewarded for their efforts in the end, for despite all the difficulties that they faced, the wall was completed in just 52 days – indeed a testament to their strength and fighting spirit.
In his lifetime, the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon started a magazine called "Sword and Trowel". His inspiration came from this account in the book of Nehemiah 4, where they built the walls despite being surrounded by enemies, and armed themselves with weapons whilst continuing in the work (a trowel refers to a small hand tool for digging or smoothing, kind of like a flattened spade). In this account we see a picture of resilience and tenacity despite difficulties and oppositions, but we also see the picture of a Christian, whose duty is exactly that – to serve, to labour for the Lord, to build up and edify, but at the same time also to defend against the enemies of God, to take up arms and fight the good fight of faith. As Christians, we are described as both labourers and soldiers for the Lord (2 Timothy 2:1-6). May we all strive to fulfil these roles in our lives!
Thought: To serve the Lord is to fight against His enemies.
Prayer: Lord may you also arm me with a sword and a trowel, that I may serve You faithfully, and fight the good fight of faith.
Posted in Teens RPG