Workers and warriors
Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built (Nehemiah 4:17-18).
Nehemiah gives us a vivid picture of two critical aspects of the Christian life: being workers and being warriors.
Work was introduced at the beginning of creation: “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). I remember having a conversation with our Director of Public Health. He told me how having a job benefits people suffering from mental health problems. We were created to be occupied. But work is not merely activity; it is productive and has a purpose in view. Interestingly, our first occupation, gardening, was about growing and fruitfulness. It involved Adam’s body, mind and spirit. He had to work physically, he had to think about and plan his work, and it was done for the glory of God who placed him in the garden. Our work takes on a different dimension when we understand that God has placed us in it. This was the great understanding the men and women of the Exile had. They did not bemoan their plight; they accepted the circumstances God had placed them in, and they served Him there. Their spiritual lives were woven seamlessly into their work. And in that work they glorified God.
God’s people were also warriors. Nehemiah instructed the people to work whilst having swords in their hands. They were ready to defend themselves. Again, this was also true in a spiritual way of the faithful people who were exiled in Babylon. They suffered the loss of their land, their beloved Jerusalem, the House of God and their freedom. But this did not diminish their faith; they were warriors. They stood, by faith, to defend their faith against the most powerful monarchs in the world. They were not reckless, proud or arrogant. Their faith was displayed in simplicity and humility, and the sword they held in their hearts was the word of God: “For the word of God is living and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12).
God has called us to be workers and warriors. As workers, we are to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,” knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord (see 1 Corinthians 15:58). As warriors we are to: in our hearts “honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence” to anyone who asks us for a reason for the hope that is in us, “yet do it with gentleness and respect” (see 1 Peter 3:15 ESV).
God defeated the enemies surrounding Jerusalem without any violence taking place. But Nehemiah took nothing for granted. He knew God would protect His people, and in a hostile environment he ensured the people were prepared. Today we are called to serve God in our personal lives, relationships, marriages, families, fellowship and communities. We are also called to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) in a world which is hostile to our faith in Jesus Christ. This encourages us to look “unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
