They kept the ward of their God

Nehemiah 12:45

And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.

When Nehemiah restored Jerusalem and the service of God, there was one thing that kept it all going. He reinstated all the offices and duties of the priests, the Levites, the Nethinims, the porters, and all the others, but how would this stay in place? How would the service of God continue? How would everything not decay toward disorder as it had previously? The only way is by each person keeping their ward. The porters kept their ward. The singers kept their ward. The priests kept their ward, as well as the Levites, and all the servants of the temple. They all had to operate in their own way, in harmony with one another, and in unison of heart and mind and purpose. They kept their ward!

Now, I ask you a brief and simple question today: what is your ward? By that I mean, what is the charge, what is the office, what is the duty and responsibility that God has given you? It may not be to be a singer, but it might be. It may not be to teach and lead and administrate, but it might be. It might be to pray. It might be to help and serve in your church. Whatever that ward is, the watch that God has entrusted to you, keep it! Keep the ward! As the singers did! As the doorkeepers of the House of God did! Did not the psalmist say, “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness”? Yes! I would rather have a small task in God’s House than to dwell in the muck and mire of this world! I must keep my ward! Whatever it is God has given you to do, keep that ward until He returns! And if you’ll do that, the House of God and the service of God shall continue on without intermission or interruption. God shall then use thee to accomplish His work in this world. Obey His change! Fulfill the ward! And all shall work beautifully as He has so designed it to be.

“Father, we thank You for how You have given each of us a duty and a charge and a responsibility. If we have not yet identified what that is, show us, we pray, what it is, that we may serve Thee faithfully. Let us fulfill our charge, and keep our ward. And when You return, no doubt, You shall say, ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant.’ And that day will be a day of immeasurable joy. Keep us constant and faithful now. And we pray these things in Jesus’ powerful name, Amen.”