"After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “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.”
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall. And from that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor.
The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.
Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!” Nehemiah 4:14-20
Over and over again, Scriptures remind God's people that the battle is the Lord's and that He will fight for them.
Many of us need to hear this now than ever before.
In the passage we read above, God's people were being discouraged by the work they had to do by the extent of what was to be done and by their enemies' taunting and threats.
Nehemiah's solution was six fold.
1. Encouragement - he reminded them of God's promises, pushing them to continue on instead of giving up.
2. Led by example - he joined them in what was needed to be done.
3. Half did the work (offense)
4. Half did the watch (defense).
5. All were ready either way (regardless of where they were).
6. Trumpet call
Take Away
Words they work both ways -- to discourage or to encourage.
The enemy uses it to dishearten, confuse, condemn, scare, hurt and stop people from doing what they are meant to be doing.
But the Lord uses it to achieve the opposite -- encouage, motivate, give peace, hope and clarity, bring joy, strength and direction, and to delight in continuing His work and not lose heart.
Trumpet Call
The bible uses the trumpet call many different ways, but mostly to call attention back to God and His Word -- His promises, and away from the distractions and deflections, and the smoke and mirrors -- back to what's important and out from the trivial.
It is used to give God praise and honor and to lift Him up.
It is used to call people together and rally them and signal the time to go defend or to attack the enemy.
Jesus Himself will come back with the sound of the trumpet. That alone is a good reason to continue His work and to not give up, in the face of daily or constant discouragements.
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