A FIGHTING SPIRIT

Passage: Nehemiah 4:15-23

Key verse: 20

NIV

15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it,(A) we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

16 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 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon(B) in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet(C) stayed with me.

19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet,(D) join us there. Our God will fight(E) for us!”

21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.” 23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.[a]

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Footnotes
  1. Nehemiah 4:23 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Work Resumes

15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us (A)and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and (B)coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to (C)the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. (D)Our God will fight for us.”

21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; (E)each kept his weapon at his right hand.[a]

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Footnotes
  1. Nehemiah 4:23 Or his weapon when drinking
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Our God will fight for us! (15-2 ) The enemies' plot was thwarted by God, and all the people returned to the work of rebuilding the city walls. But this time, they remained armed with a tool in one hand and a weapon in another, ready for an attack. They sized up their situation, knew they were spread thin, and came up with a system to alert everyone to rally together to fight. Most importantly, they relied on God to fight the battle for them. Making a vessel of prayer and having a fighting spirit changed them from a disorganized, defeated motley crew into a spiritual army prepared to do the work and to fight back at any moment. We need this same spirit to do the gospel work and to fight Satan's attacks. 2. Alert day and night (21-23) They urgently rebuilt the city walls from the breaking of the dawn until the stars came out, meaning they worked a double shift. The men sacrificed their families to stay inside the city to serve as the national guard. Nehemiah and his men set the example by never taking a break. When the battle is on, there are no bystanders.

Prayer: Lord, grant us a fighting spirit and one heart and mind to do your work and be on guard against Satan's schemes.

One Word: A fighting spirit to finish the task