Nehemiah 4:17-18 They which built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands worked in the work… This is well set forth by the occupations of a builder and a soldier. 1. There are heaps of rubbish to be removed. There must be a true repentance, a confessing and forsaking of sin. 2. Foundations deep and strong must be laid. Christ the one Foundation. 3. The wall must be carried up, little by little, etc. There must be a growing up into Christ, an advance in grace day by day. 4. This must be done according to the settled plan, by rule and square. Our rule is the written Word. 5. The Christian has to carry on his work in troublous times. He must stand bravely at his post, like a sentinel on watch. He must stand where his Captain has placed him. Obedience to Christ is the glory of the Christian soldier. We must believe where we cannot see, and trust where we cannot trace. The end will justify all His dealings with us and by us. In the Peninsular War, the captain of a division was placed by Wellington at a point remote from the field where s battle was about to be fought. He was expressly ordered to remain there, and on no account to quit his post. When the battle was raging fiercely the captain could no longer endure the inaction of his position, and so left it and joined in the fight. The enemy were driven from the field, and fled in the very direction that Wellington had anticipated, and where the captain with his men had been posted. The general felt confident that their flight would be cut off; but great was his anger when he found that his orders had been disobeyed, and the post vacated. It is said that he never again employed the captain in any important affair, and that the latter died of a broken heart through the loss of his reputation as a soldier. (J. M. Randall.) Parallel Verses KJV: They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. |
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