A Tool In One Hand, A Weapon In The Other

Nehemiah 3 & 4

Chapter 3

All classes of the people (Jews) worked on the wall: goldsmiths, perfumers (v. 8), rulers and women (v. 12), Levites (v. 17), and merchants (v. 32). 

And many of the people worked on the part of the wall that was right beside their own houses; now there's motivation to get the job done well! 

So the whole wall around the city was progressing up to half of it's intended height. 

Chapter 4

Now their enemies are going from jeers and mockings to outright attack. They're getting desperate. 

This necessitated both concerted prayer and constant vigil. So they worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other (v. 17). 

When we are doing God's work and succeeding, is when the enemy steps up his attacks. 

So we need to be aware and take precautions, trusting in God to "have our back." But prayer is what will keep us on God's side. 

It doesn't matter who we are in this World; whether we're considered important or not, whether we're a jock or a nerd, a man or a woman, an intellectual genius or mentally challenged; we are all needed in God's army to battle the enemy who wages war against us because we are God's. 

And we are all working on that part of the "wall" that protects our own families and ourselves. 

O my Father, You are always ready to show Yourself strong on behalf of those who trust in You. We know that the more we do Your work, and the better we succeed in it, then the more the enemy is angry that his program is being upended. Because that's what You do. 

Keep us vigilant, Father; strengthen us to work with one hand and hold a weapon in the other; to persevere and never give up. 

We know that the enemy's wrath is fierce because he knows that his time is short, but You have already defeated him. We may not win every battle, but You have already won the war. 

Father, continue to grow Your glory in growing Your family. Continue to send out workers into the fields; to find every lost sheep, drawing them all into the safety of the one fold with one Shepherd. And when every people group and language has heard, then the end of this era will come (Matthew 24:14): Jesus will return in His glory to take up His birthright; to set up His throne to rule in righteousness. 

Then this World will experience it's true Golden Age, for that thousand years.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!