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.
HOMILIES BY R.A. REDFORD