Journal Through the Bible: Week 103 Thursday

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Nehemiah chapter 4

Does God issue any commands?

• God did not speak.

Does God make any promises?

• God did not speak, but it will be interesting to see how He answers the prayer that Nehemiah prayed in verses 4-5! After all, Nehemiah claimed that these who mocked the work of the Jews who were building the wall of Jerusalem were actually provoking God to anger.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Nehemiah set a watch and he also prayed. Jesus told His followers to watch and pray also. We are to be busy about His work while being aware of what is going on around us, but we are to pray without ceasing also.
• Just as Nehemiah told the working people not to be afraid of their enemies, Jesus has told His workers not to fear the enemies round about, too. 
• Nehemiah armed the people with weapons of warfare that they were to use right along with their tools for building. Jesus gives us spiritual armor to prepare us for battle while we labor to build churches pleasing to Him.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Nehemiah had his messenger beside him in order to be ready to sound the trumpet whenever Nehemiah said. According to Revelation a messenger is ready to sound the trumpet when the Lord tells him to do so.
• When the trumpet sounded the people were to come to the place where it sounded. Then they were to watch and see God fight for them. When we hear the trumpet sound we will go to where the Captain is awaiting us and we will see God fight the battle for us.
• Nehemiah kept the people always at the ready! They only put off their clothing long enough to wash. We are to be well-washed, have our garments ready, and be watching, too. We should be clothed in the spotless robes of righteousness provided through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and we should be prepared for the time when He comes for us because we know not the moment when we will be called to Him.