Nehemiah : WK 5 - FRI
Strategic Planning
Nehemiah 4:13-23
So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.
Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”
When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.
Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”
We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.
As our builders enter the final phase of construction on the wall, things are clearly serious. The enemy's plans are well known, but so is the job at hand. Nehemiah calls the workers together and gives a couplet of instructions: “Remember the Lord, and fight for your family.”
Occasionally, a situation arises that prompts someone to exclaim, “Just pray about it.” Prayer is always a vital component in addressing our challenges. In fact, we should pray without ceasing. Nonetheless, we can mistakenly treat prayer as a lucky charm that allows us to disregard the abilities God has already bestowed upon us… minds capable of careful, effective planning.
Nehemiah might as well have said, “Remember God, come before Him, and plead with Him through prayer. Also, strategize, make careful provisions, anticipate the enemy, and prepare appropriately.”
It is quite impressive how thoughtfully these followers of Yahweh approach their circumstances. They will build and protect. While it may take longer and introduce more complexity, they will get the job done. If they experience losses, it won’t be due to spiritual laziness or cavalier attitudes. They will engage in the mental work needed to match their sweat and sore muscles.
When the church encounters challenging tasks, we should always remember to pray. We must also acknowledge that God has already answered some of our prayers by granting us clear minds, tactical options, and His word of truth. The followers of Christ should excel in strategic planning.
Nehemiah 4:13-23
So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.
Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”
When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.
Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”
We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.
As our builders enter the final phase of construction on the wall, things are clearly serious. The enemy's plans are well known, but so is the job at hand. Nehemiah calls the workers together and gives a couplet of instructions: “Remember the Lord, and fight for your family.”
Occasionally, a situation arises that prompts someone to exclaim, “Just pray about it.” Prayer is always a vital component in addressing our challenges. In fact, we should pray without ceasing. Nonetheless, we can mistakenly treat prayer as a lucky charm that allows us to disregard the abilities God has already bestowed upon us… minds capable of careful, effective planning.
Nehemiah might as well have said, “Remember God, come before Him, and plead with Him through prayer. Also, strategize, make careful provisions, anticipate the enemy, and prepare appropriately.”
It is quite impressive how thoughtfully these followers of Yahweh approach their circumstances. They will build and protect. While it may take longer and introduce more complexity, they will get the job done. If they experience losses, it won’t be due to spiritual laziness or cavalier attitudes. They will engage in the mental work needed to match their sweat and sore muscles.
When the church encounters challenging tasks, we should always remember to pray. We must also acknowledge that God has already answered some of our prayers by granting us clear minds, tactical options, and His word of truth. The followers of Christ should excel in strategic planning.
- What strategy games do you enjoy playing?
- Are you more inclined to act without careful planning, or spend so much time planning that you miss the chance to act? Why do you believe this is the case?
- What task do you need to plan today? Who would be a good strategic partner for this planning?
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