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More Nehemiah commentaries
Nehemiah 1:1-11
Nehemiah prays for his people
Nehemiah 2:1-8
Nehemiah was fearful of what others may think
Nehemiah 2:9-20
Nehemiah determines to rebuild the wall
Nehemiah 3:1-14
Delegation of the work load
Nehemiah 3:15-32
Helping everyone to feel a part of the objective
Nehemiah 4:1-6
Ridicule and Criticism comes to Nehemiah
Nehemiah 4:7-14
Nehemiah reminds the people of their calling
Nehemiah 4:15-23
Nehemiah sets up a communication system
Nehemiah 5:1-13
Nehemiah deals with oppression
Nehemiah 5:14-19
The Generosity of Nehemiah
Nehemiah 6:1-9
Conspiracy Against Nehemiah
Nehemiah 6:10-19
The Wall Completed
Nehemiah 7:1-38
The Captives Who Returned to Jerusalem
Nehemiah 7:39-73
The Living Link Between the Past and the Future
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Nehemiah sets up a communication system
Nehemiah 4:15–23
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
The church choir director was frustrated with the sporadic attendance of all the choir members for rehearsals for the Christmas Choral Concert. At the final rehearsal he announced, “I want to personally thank the pianist for being the only person in this entire church choir … More
When Nehemiah’s enemies heard that their plot had been discovered, they did not attack and the people resumed their construction work (v. 15). However, Nehemiah exercises caution and devises a plan of defense that will unite and protect his people. He divides the people around the wall. Half of them work while the other half stands guard (v. 16). The work proceeded, and everyone who was involved in the work also carried a weapon (vv 17-18).
To further relieve the anxieties of the people, Nehemiah set up a communication system. He organized the people so that when a trumpet was sounded all of the people would congregate to a given area (v. 19). In order to accomplish this, he stationed a trumpeter next to him (v. 20). This was a person who would follow him everywhere he went as he supervised the work. He also reminds the people that God is fighting for them.
The work was very demanding (vv 21-23). They worked from the crack of dawn until the stars came out at night (v. 21). Those living outside the city did not even return to their homes. Venturing outside Jerusalem at night would have also been a dangerous risk. They were so committed to rebuilding the walls that everyone at all times was prepared to defend the city. In fact, they were so committed that they didn’t even take off their clothes (v. 23).
Application
Nehemiah and his people were ready at any moment to defend Jerusalem. This is symbolic of the Christian who is involved in building for the Lord and at the same time, in warfare against the devil. I should be so committed to the Lord’s work that I am always ready to build and to fight for Him.
Nehemiah 4:15-23 (English Standard Version)
When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 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. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to 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. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us." So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 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." 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; each kept his weapon at his right hand.
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