Remember God and Fight

Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” [Nehemiah 4.14]

Nehemiah looked over the situation and it was bad. But Nehemiah encouraged the people to not be afraid.

Then, Nehemiah instructed the people building the wall to do two things: Remember the Lord, and fight.

Fighting alone would not have been enough. Only as they remembered the Lord would their fighting have any success. Only as they remembered the Lord would they find the encouragement that He always made possible the impossible. Only as they remembered the Lord would they be empowered in their fight.

What does it mean to "remember the Lord?" It means to remember He is our Righteousness, our Sanctifier, our Peace, He is there, He is our Healer, our Provider, our Shepherd and our Banner. He is our Forgiver, our Advocate, our Refuge, our Strength, our Defender, our Protector, our Fortress, and our Shield.

It is only when we forget Who God Is that we are beaten by fear. But when we remember Who God Is, then we move forward with confidence, as Jesus walked on water, healed the sick, raised the dead, and fed the thousands.

Oh, be sure of it, The Jewish people of Nehemiah's time were ready to fight! They had every weapon and method of war prepared for action. But, they were at all times remembering their undefeated God.

Then, in Nehemiah 6.15-16 we find this:

So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. [Nehemiah 6.15-16]

History records and cannot be changed that what Nehemiah and the Jews accomplished rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem with the help of God. So profound was this event that their enemies and surrounding nations were aware of it to the point of fear and shame. They realized it was God Who made it happen.

So, the application to my life is this: am I doing anything that is so obviously beyond my capabilities, that the help of God is undeniably present in its completion?

Father, I want to glorify You as Israel glorified You, remaining prepared to fight at all times night and day, and see You complete a work that should not have been possible causing all who witness it to be frightened and humbled in Your sight.