Hello. I suddenly tried to get up from my chair, but I couldn't put strength into my back. Suddenly. So sitting down is fine. Yes. Now today we will look at the latter part of Nehemiah. Chapters 1 to 6 are all about completion, right? So up to this point, we have built the temple, right? And after building the temple, since there were no walls, enemies invaded, and Nehemiah prayed to God and completed the walls. But what happens when the walls are completed, everyone? When the walls are completed, can we just leave the walls alone? No, right? Who is needed for the walls? Who is needed? We need watchmen to guard the walls. That is what this is about.
In today's verse 3, it says, “I said to them, ‘Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot, and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors and bar them. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their posts and some near their own houses.’” Right. Nehemiah is telling the people living in front of their houses to be watchmen for the walls. Everyone, we need watchmen to protect us. Especially in our faith, in our families, and in our church, what is absolutely necessary is a proper watchman. Nehemiah knew this precisely, and so he tells all the people of Israel to be watchmen for the walls in front of their houses.
Everyone, we also want to be proper watchmen. So we want to be those who can protect the church, the family, and ourselves that God has entrusted to us. Therefore, today's sermon title is 'We Must Be Proper Watchmen.' However, to become proper watchmen, first, we need to check our priorities. We need to know what to do first, right? Yes. But in chapter 7, we see what Nehemiah does as a spiritual watchman and what his priorities are.