Nehemiah 4:12

Nehemiah 4:12 says, And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.  The Jews heard about those who were coming to stop them from building and were warned to be ready for it.  We are going to have people of the world attempting to stop our work for God today, so we need to be ready for it when it happens. 

Verse thirteen adds, Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.  Having heard of the coming opposition, Nehemiah had the people armed and ready.  We know that we are going to have opposition when we proclaim God’s word today, so we need to always have on the armor of God. 

Verse fourteen continues, And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.  Nehemiah told the people to not be afraid, because they had God on their side.  We today have no reason to allow the people of the world make us afraid, because we still have God on our side if we are followers of Christ. 

Verse fifteen states, And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.  When their enemies heard that the people of God were ready for them and under God’s protection, that they didn’t attack, and the people continued with their work, but still took steps to ensure that they were ready for an attack.  We cannot let fear stop us from doing God’s work today.  Still, even while doing what God has called us to do, we need to be ready for the attack if it comes. 

Verse sixteen adds, And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.  From the time they were warned, half the people bore arms, and half the people did the work.  We as individual Christians and as the church as a whole need to be ready to stand against any opposition, but we must also continue to do what God calls us to do. 

Verse seventeen continues, They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.  Even those doing the actual building were armed and ready, and so must we be today.

Verse eighteen concludes, For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.  Nehemiah says that all those who built were ready for an attack, but the one to blow the trumpet to sound the alarm was by him.  The Holy Spirit is always ready to warn us of imminent danger if we are listening.