While Nehemiah and his Jewish brethren worked to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, they were being threatened by their enemies. However, they did not stop their work because of the possibility that they might come under attack. Instead, they continued to work while preparing to defend themselves.
There were a few things they did to ensure they were ready for a fight. First, the builders “wore [their] sword…as [they] built” (Nehemiah 4:18) so they could be ready to defend themselves immediately. Second, they cooperated with one another by having some build while others stood armed and ready to fight (Nehemiah 4:17). Third, they listened for the sound of a trumpet that would signal them to come to the aid of any of their brethren who were being attacked (Nehemiah 4:19-20). Not only did this allow them to defend themselves against their enemies, but it also enabled them to complete construction on the wall in just “fifty-two days” (Nehemiah 6:15).
We are in the midst of a spiritual battle as we also strive to carry out the work of Christ. To be successful in this, we need to do as Nehemiah and his brethren did – put on the armor of God, work together with our brethren, and help one another when any of us come under attack.
So be ready for the enemy. The devil is like a lion hunting its prey (1 Peter 5:8), so we must not let our guard down. Instead, we must help each other stay faithful as we serve the Lord together.