Day and Night

Day and night

At that time I also said to the people, “ Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.”

Nehemiah 4:22

Nehemiah tells the people to stay inside Jerusalem after the day’s work has been completed.

❓Why does Nehemiah tell this?

🛡 To serve as a guard for the people and for the wall. 

When I read this verse, it was quite difficult for me to grasp it.

❓How can a man work 24x7?

🔨 Building in the day

🛡 Guarding in the night 

But it was very important for that crucial situation.

In the previous verse , we saw that the builders worked before the break of dawn and till the stars came out. That is a tough task! Then, they are called to stand guard!

The Proverbs 31 woman 

🌕 She gets up while it is still night 

🌑 Her lamp does not go out at night

Proverbs 31: 15,18

These verses have also been very difficult to follow.

❓How can the Proverbs 31 woman stay up late and wake up early? But she has managed to do it. She has also managed to reap the benefits !

Application

🏢Building the wall is a tough task. Nehemiah and the builders did not waste their time. They worked during the day and stood guard during the night.

🏠Building a home is also a tough task. We are called to work during the day and stand in prayer during the night.

🙏🏻May we ask God for strength and wisdom to build and protect our homes!

From Dawn to Dusk

From Dawn to Dusk

☀So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out .

Nehemiah 4:21 🌟

☀ FROM DAWN TO DUSK 🌟

Building can be done only when there is light. The sun was their light source. They started working as soon as dawn broke.

☀ From the first light of dawn ☀

Dawn refers to the transition from night to day as the sky gets brighter and the morning twilight heralds the beginning of a new day.

✨Dawn occurs before sunrise!

The people were ready to work even before the sun rose! 

🌟 Till the stars came out 🌟

The stars come out in the night, a long time after the sun has set!

The sun shines faithfully in the sky! But the builders were more dedicated! Their working hours was more than the sun’s working hours!

They knew that they cannot work during dark. So they utilised their time to the maximum.

☀ APPLICATION 🌟

🌑யோவான் : 9 : 4 - பகற்காலமிருக்குமட்டும் நான் என்னை அனுப்பினவருடைய கிரியைகளைச் செய்யவேண்டும்; ஒருவனும் கிரியை செய்யக்கூடாத இராக்காலம் வருகிறது .

Night is coming, when no one can work.

(John9:4). 🌑

⏰ A time will come when our children will leave our homes to colleges/work place etc. In the given time, we are called to build them up! 🧒🏻

⏰A time will come when the times will be hard and it will not be suitable to do ministry. Let us work hard to spread the word of God. 📖

⏰A time will come when a chance will not be given to ask forgiveness for sins/correct our hearts. Let us make use of this time to analyse and set our hearts right. ❣

May we always remember the builders who worked from dawn to dusk!

Give ear to warnings

Give ear to warnings

Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bow.

Nehemiah 4: 12, 13

Nehemiah has been hearing

😠Warnings

😡Threats

🤨Ridicule

😏Mockery

😒Discouragement

For a very long time! He had so much to do. But he was always there for the people who wanted to talk with him. When the Jews who lived near the enemies came to Nehemiah, he did not push them away.

🔺He was ready to hear their words

🔺He took their words seriously 

🔺He took necessary measures

As humans, we don't like negative words, negative criticism. But, here we see Nehemiah, a man of God, who was always open to suggestions.

A good leader is always there for his people 

A good leader always listens to the suggestions of his people 

On that day, as he listened to the Jews,

💖He won their hearts

👍He gained their confidence

⚔He was able to provide better protection

APPLICATION

💑As a wife, are you there for your husband even when he is negative? 
❓Do you patiently listen to his problems and offer suggestions? 
❓When your husband wants you to do something for him or change something, are you willing to do it?

👩‍👦‍👦As a mother, do you give ear to your children's problems, doubts, confusions?

❓Do you take measures to comfort them, show them the path?

🏡When people criticize your parenting skills, house keeping skills, do you shut your ears?

❓Do we take time to think about it and consider their suggestions?

🙏 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.

Proverbs 19:20🙏

👂 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

Proverbs 12:15👂