What role does remembering "the Lord, who is great and awesome" play? Setting the Scene Nehemiah rallies the builders facing hostile opposition: “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:14) Key Phrase: “Remember the Lord, Who Is Great and Awesome” • “Remember” is an active, ongoing call, not a passive recollection. • “The Lord” fixes the focus on His person, not our problems. • “Great and awesome” highlights His unmatched power and majesty, dwarfing any threat. Why Remember? • Replaces fear with faith—when the mind is full of God’s greatness, it has no room for paralyzing dread (Isaiah 41:10). • Fuels courage for obedience—Nehemiah links remembrance directly to taking action (“fight for your families”). • Guards against discouragement—seeing opposition through the lens of God’s sovereignty shrinks enemy intimidation (Psalm 46:1–2). • Keeps motives pure—remembering God’s character aligns our work with His glory rather than personal acclaim (1 Corinthians 10:31). Practical Ways to Practice Remembrance Today • Rehearse His deeds: recall specific answers to prayer, providences, and past deliverances (Deuteronomy 8:2–4). • Speak His attributes aloud: declare His holiness, faithfulness, justice, mercy (Psalm 77:11–12). • Saturate study and conversation with Scripture: let God’s Word reset perspective (Colossians 3:16). • Sing truth-filled hymns and songs: music embeds memory in the heart (Ephesians 5:19). • Mark reminders: journal entries, verse cards, visual prompts that point back to His greatness (Joshua 4:6–7). Fruit That Flows from Remembering • Steadfast resolve under pressure—builders kept working with trowel and sword (Nehemiah 4:17). • Unified community—shared focus on God draws people together (Philippians 1:27). • Persistent joy—confidence in an awesome Lord produces rejoicing despite opposition (Habakkuk 3:17–19). • Holy fear of God outweighs fear of man—leading to bold witness (Acts 4:19–20). • Assurance of final victory—memory of God’s past faithfulness assures future triumph (2 Corinthians 1:10). Additional Scriptures that Echo This Call • Exodus 14:13 — “Moses said… ‘Stand firm and see the LORD’s salvation.’” • Deuteronomy 7:18 — “Do not be afraid; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh.” • 1 Samuel 17:37 — “David said, ‘The LORD who delivered me… will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’” • 2 Timothy 2:8 — “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.” • Revelation 2:5 — “Remember how far you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first.” When opposition looms large, Scripture’s answer is simple and powerful: remember the Lord—great, awesome, unchanging—and live boldly in light of who He is. |
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