Some Few Men
Today’s Verse:
And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. ~Nehemiah 2:12
Nehemiah took on the risky project to rebuild the broken walls and burnt-down gates of Jerusalem. These walls and gates had been unattended for more than 70 years. The people who returned after the captivity got used to seeing the rubbish, decay, and ruins. They just assumed that things would never change. When Nehemiah got to Jerusalem, he did not have a large delegation of men with him to deal with this large task. We are told it was “I and some few men with me.” This morning, let us be reminded that God just needs a few good men.
We see that the few were anonymous.
Nehemiah said, “…Some few men with me.” We are not told their names, but it is likely that this included Hanani, his brother, and the men who were with him when he gave Nehemiah the report. These were men who preferred to stay in the background. These were men whom nobody knew, but God knew. These were men whose names were not on marquees, neither had they accomplished anything monumental. They were few in number, but they were there with Nehemiah. When I think of how God uses His church to build His work, it is with the few who get no recognition and don’t come up on anyone’s list. Don’t be someone who seeks to do something for God to get your name out there: do it because it needs to be done.
We see that the few were aroused.
These men shared the same concern and burden as Nehemiah. He took men with him who prayed and shed some tears with him before they got there. These were men who waited with him for four to five months before they entered Jerusalem. As the day came for them to enter Jerusalem, Nehemiah wanted them to see the ruins so that what they prayed about would become an even more-urgent matter in their hearts. The few were aroused. Joshua and Caleb were few and aroused. The three soldiers of David were few but aroused to go to Bethlehem and bring David water from the well. The Apostles were few but aroused to do the work of preaching the gospel and starting churches. They were few, but they were on fire!
We see the few and their allegiance.
These were loyal men. In recruiting for manpower, nothing can be done for God unless there is loyalty. Loyalty means unswerving commitment and allegiance. It means unwavering submission. It means being faithful, no matter what. It means that you will be like Uriah the Hittite, who said to David, “The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing” (2 Samuel 11:11). It means that you will not allow distractions and distrust to come between you and your leader. It means that you can be trusted in everything.
We see the few and their advantage.
“And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6). The advantage for the few is the Lord! The few know that with God, they have the majority. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” God uses the few.
We see the few and the absence. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” There are not enough men who are loyal and who are faithful. God needs a few good men.
Have an allegiant God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 13-15