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The "braveheart" of Nehemiah


It's been a few weeks since I've updated the blog. Life comes at you fast and sometimes it takes me a while to catch up. But I've been reading God's word the last few weeks in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah and the Lord taught me a few things this morning I thought I'd share.

As I read, I was reminded of the movie Braveheart, a story about the heroic life of a 13th century Scotsman named William Wallace. In one of the most epic scenes in all of cinematic history, Wallace declares, "I AM William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do with that freedom? Will you fight?"

When one of the soldiers exclaims, "Fight? Against that? No, we will run; and we will live."

Responding to the impotent cry of the faithless warrior, Wallace responds, "Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live -- at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!"

This is the scene that comes to mind as I read Nehemiah 4 and 5 today. Nehemiah has his own Braveheart moment. I can see Him standing on the wall

Highlight:

'After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.” When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah, who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the trumpeter was beside me. Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated far from one another along the wall. Wherever you hear the trumpet sound, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!” '

Nehemiah 4:14-20

https://my.bible.com/bible/1713/NEH.4.14-20

Explain:

In Nehemiah 3 & 4, the work to which God had called Nehemiah begins in earnest. What is so striking is just how many people were involved in the building project. Chapter 3 outlines the work and who was doing what and where they were working. It was organized, it was industrious, and it was effective. The people because of their hard work and labor built up the wall to half its height in a very short time period.

This sent the opponents of the work into full rage. They began to try to intimidate and threaten. Their ridicule was ignored publicly but Nehemiah privately took it to God and even asked God not to forgive their sin because they had so intimidated those who were building. At first this seems a little harsh, but we also have to remember that these men were opposing God’s work, the wall was His idea.

When their ridicule was rebuffed, they resorted to threats. They threatened to attack the people as they were building. Nehemiah’s resolve and leadership was so tested through this, but NOTHING was going to stop the building of this wall. His resolve is seen as he places half the people building and half the people as a lookout. Each one had a hammer in one hand and a sword in the other. They were constantly rebuilding and ready to fight at the same time. There was one problem they were separated from one another, so at the sound of the trumpet when one was attacked they were to come to each others aid.

In an impassioned speech to the people, Nehemiah reminded them of that for which they were fighting. He reminded them that their wives and children were at stake, their homes, and the fame of God’s people. Above He wanted them to remember the Lord was worth the fight for He is great and awesome and He would fight for them.

One of the most interesting parallels here is how much Ezra and Nehemiah mirror the life of Moses and Joshua. Like Joshua, Nehemiah appeals for the people to take great courage in defending themselves and at the same time reminds them that it is the Lord who fights for them. These were the very words that Moses reminded Joshua of in Deuteronomy 31:8 which reads, “the Lord is the One who will go before you, He will be with you, He will never leave you or abandon you, do not be afraid or discouraged.” This hope anchored Nehemiah and the people and it must do the same for us.

Apply:

In many ways, we must live as these Israelites did. We are in the process of rebuilding what has been broken down. In our home, in our church, in our own lives there are broken down places that need to be repaired, and yet at the same time we face a very real enemy that seeks to attack us where we are most vulnerable. We have to ask ourselves, where are we weakest, where are we most vulnerable. We have to fortify those areas with one hand and prepare to fight in the other.

Above all, like Nehemiah we have to remember that for which we are preparing to fight. We have to remember that our families, our children are at stake. If we succumb to the enemies attacks or if we stop the work of fortifying our lives with the strength of God’s word. If we aren’t prepared for an attack ourselves, the enemy will hit us unaware and we will be vulnerable. When we lose these battles, it is our kids that will be at stake. When we lose the battle with gossip, or temptation, or selfishness. These areas in our lives are the battle grounds the weak spots in our lives where the enemy attacks our lives, our families, and our church. We have to be ready to resist the enemy while at the same time fortifying our lives with God’s word.

The other part of this that must be remembered is that we are too weak to fight these enemies on our own. We need the help of those around us. When the trumpet sounds for battle, we need to have such a relationship that they run to our aid, as we would run to theirs when they are attacked. We can’t fight selfishness, or bitterness, or gossip, or temptation alone, we need to walk in accountability together so that we can assist each other when we find ourselves attacked. If we hold one another accountable they are the reinforcements that protect us and our children. What if we looked at accountability as a reinforcement to protect our kids for our own vices?

The final application here, is that God is on our side. If we live vigilantly and don’t give up the work, the Lord will fight for us. Over and over Nehemiah doesn’t respond to the threats or the ridicule or the division, He lays it out before God believing that He will fight for them, we must learn to do the same. We must be dependent on our Defender, He will fight for us, if we will be faithful to Him

Respond:

Jesus thank You for these truths. Help me to live with a hammer in one hand and a sword in the other. Help me to be ready for attack in the places where I and our church are most vulnerable. Help us to run to each other’s aid when we are attacked and not try to defeat the enemy in solidarity. Help me to remember that You fight our battles and there is no need to fear the enemy, be it ridicules or threats.


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Drew Tankersley -
Husband, Father, Pastor 

 Committed to faithfulness personally, in the family, and in ministry with a desire to

“feed the flock of God as a good shepherd” and “equip the saints for ministry.”

I'm blessed to be married to my incredible wife, Georgia, and honored to be dad to Colby and Carly.  I serve as Lead Pastor at South Seminole Baptist Church in East Ridge, TN.

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