Nehemiah 4:1-23 - Homilies By J.s. Exell

The work and warfare of the Church.

I. The weak of the Church.

1. Derided. "And mocked the Jews" ( Nehemiah 4:1 ).

2. Under-estimated. "These feeble Jews" ( Nehemiah 4:2 ).

3. Misrepresented. "If a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall" ( Nehemiah 4:3 ).

4. Prayerful. "Hear, O our God" ( Nehemiah 4:4 ).

5. Hearty. "For the people had a mind to work" ( Nehemiah 4:6 ).

6. Advancing. "Heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped" ( Nehemiah 4:7 ).

II. The WARFARE of the Church.

1. Defensive. "And conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it" ( Nehemiah 4:8 ).

2. Watchful. "Set a watch against them day and night" ( Nehemiah 4:9 ).

3. Judicious. "I even set the people with their families" ( Nehemiah 4:13 ).

4. Courageous. "Be not ye afraid" ( Nehemiah 4:14 ).

5. Religious. "Remember the Lord" ( Nehemiah 4:14 ).

6. Self-denying ( Nehemiah 4:23 ).—E.