Sermon Library

Our Doctrine

Kenneth H. Good Books

April 24, 2005

Pastor George H. Heiland

Fight for Your Brothers

11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them, and put a stop to the work.” 12 And it came about when the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, “They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,” 13 then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

 

A. Their Acknowledgement of the Threat vs.  11,12

 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them, and put a stop to the work.”

1. The Tactical Threat   vs.  11a

The tactic was to use the element of surprise.  “They will not know or see . . .”   This is a fundamental battle strategy designed to catch the builders off guard.  Its success depends on secrecy and the results can be devastating.

2. The Lethal Threat vs.  11b

“ . . . we come among them, kill them, and put a stop to the work.”  

Their intention was to kill the workers and stop the work before it could be completed.  This would decimate Nehemiah’s crew and render them defenseless and totally ineffective.

3. The Acknowledged Threat vs.  12

“And it came about when the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, ‘They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,’. . . ”

Evidently, Nehemiah had “spies” (workers) that lived on the Samaritan border who were bringing back reports of the intentions of the enemy.  Ten separate messages arrived with the same information.  It seems that Nehemiah’s informants were much more reliable than our intelligence agencies in Iraq.  Yet, like our courageous President, Nehemiah moved quickly to address the threat.

B. Their Assignment for Battle vs. 13

1.  Strategic Placement vs.  13a

“ . . . then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, . . .”

Nehemiah was careful to shore up the weaknesses in the one and one half mile wall.  Some manuscripts include high places such as look-outs, and others indicate bare or exposed places which may or may not portray height.  In any case, the city would have some protection against attack.

2.  Clustered Families vs.  13b

“ . . . and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows.”

Nehemiah placed families together in an effort to heighten their sense of readiness and to offer a higher degree of support for one another.

 

C.  Their Arsenal for the Fight vs.  14

1.  Nehemiah’s Insight vs.  14a

“When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: . . .”

The enormity of the task had already taken its toll among the people.  See Nehemiah 4:10;

 “Thus in Judah it was said, “The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet there is much rubbish; And we ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall.”

Add the threat of all-out invasion and a sense of fear grips the hearts and minds of the people.

2.  Nehemiah’s Exhortation

a.  Fear Not vs.  14 b

“Do not be afraid of them; . . .”

Fear can be paralyzing and the moment called for courage.  Nehemiah encourages the people to trust and not to fear.

b.  Reflect upon your God vs.  14c

“ . . . remember the Lord who is great and awesome, . . .”

Fear needed to be replaced by faith.  Nehemiah reminded them of the of the object of their faith. 

& Remember His Greatness

The Psalmist said “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. ”  Psalm 48:1

Also Psalm 145:3  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

& Remember to Reverence Him 

He is Awesome (Heb. yare’) (The Hebrew word translated  awesome is derived from the Hebrew verb meaning “to fear.” In this context, the word does not mean “frightening.” Rather it suggests the quality that inspires reverence or godly fear. . . . The person who properly fears God avoids evil (Job 1:1) and walks in God’s ways (Palm 128:1). 

Nehemiah knew that the fear of God could overcomes the fear of man!

Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell. Matthew 10:28    We must trust Him Who “ . . . is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them ”  Hebrews 7:25

c.  Fight for your Family       vs.  14c

“ . . . and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

In his book, The Christian Attitude Toward War, page 47, Loraine Boettner says;  “War is justifiable, of course, only when all honorable efforts to avoid it have failed. But when a nation is invaded, its people killed or threatened with slavery worse than death, and property destroyed, it has no alternative but to resist by any means and at any cost. To fail to resist under such conditions is both immoral and un-Christian. The priceless principles of religious and civil liberty for ourselves and for those who come after us are more important than life itself. Quite plainly there are some things worse than war. To become slaves in body and soul is worse than death. Such existence is in fact a form of living death.” 

d. His Fight for your Life 

2nd Corinthians 5:21 fits you with a robe of His righteousness; “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Trust Him now and face the enemy wearing the armor of God.  As unpleasant as it may be, every person must face the enemy of sin, Satan, death and eternal judgment. As a Christian, however, Christ took that judgment upon Himself so that we may be properly armed for battle.  Paul writes in Ephesians 6:10-12;  “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  In verses 16 & 17 he tells us to take up “ . . . the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  God is Awesome!

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.”  Acts 16:31

 Thanks for reading this message.  DO YOU have need of salvation? God's Word tells us to repent of our sins and come to God accepting the fact that Christ died on the cross, rose from the dead and paid the full penalty for all that come to Him in faith.

Here are some points to consider:

Have you found a church home?  If you are in the area of Port St Lucie, why not visit us?

Have you found new life in Christ? Why not come to Him today? God will receive those who will come to Him.  He has provided the means for you to be saved, baptized and be a part of His New Testament Local Church ministry -- He gave His Son to intercede; all you need to do is cast yourself upon His mercy and grace.  

Jesus said in John 6:37-40

38 “For  I have come down from heaven,  not to do My own will, but  the will of Him who  sent Me. 39 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of  all that He has given Me I  lose nothing, but  raise it up on the last day. 40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who  beholds the Son and  believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will  raise him up on the last day.”

 It is important to note Luke's comment in Acts 4:12 

 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”

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