Hi All
Nehemiah teaches us many lessons about how communities can function when they work together shoulder to shoulder, side by side, for the common good, putting aside agendas and seeing a bigger picture. Life is like a jigsaw puzzle, we won’t know the final completion of the good work began in us until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1 v 6). At times the pieces don’t seem to fit but God is the master Jigsaw maker and knows every piece and where it fits, we need to trust him for the outcome.
The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing
It over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam,
Shallun ruler of the district of Mizpah got to work with his people to restore and rebuild even do weather-proofing
It was important to repairs the walls of the Pool of Siloam as it was the main source of water for Jerusalem
God is not only concerned about our physical thirst and need for safe water, he also desires our spiritual refreshing
That can sometimes come as we participate in the work of his Kingdom when we see him overcome problems
Things that seem impossible to us are not to God, he knew that in rebuilding Jerusalem he would fears be soothing
The people of Jerusalem could believe God’s plans for them were for good as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem
By the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David, beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk,
Ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool
Nehemiah describes in detail the scope of the works undertaken, each section of wall rebuilt is written in the book
We can get a sense of what was done and who did it, it is a historical account that can be relied upon and faith instil
In recent years archaeological digs have found portions of Nehemiah’s wall and you can on internet have a closer look
God’s word is verifiable and true, we can have faith in the recording of these events and is worth exploring in full
The book of Nehemiah as It can give us a hope and we can learn from Nehemiah and from the faith journey he took
To step out in faith having prayed and fasted is something we often don’t do, and is like looking into an artificial pool
And the House of the Heroes, next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani.
Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district.
People from all walks of life were involved, even the Priests got their hands dirty, the work was done by many
People took responsibility for their own neighbourhood, fixing what had been derelict
We can learn from this, often we say not our problem when we see tagging or decay, we’re not complimentary
Instead perhaps we should be complementary, working together to clean our district
Next to him, the repairs were made by their countrymen under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district
Of Keilah Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section,
Side by side, shoulder by shoulder people from various parts of Jerusalem too responsibility for repairs in their district
They knew no one else was available for the work and they did it section by section
Like a big jigsaw puzzle they put the pieces together, working out what didn’t fit and gradually the pieces did fit
Life is a jigsaw sometimes pieces don’t seem to fit yet God knows our every section
From a point facing the ascent to the armoury as far as the angle, next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired
another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
Our attitude towards what we do impacts on others, Baruch was determined to do his best, he zealously repaired
The wall he didn’t stint, he put a 110% into the work, he made sure he did his very best
Are we able to say the same about our commitment to God, are we overwhelmed by life, are we spiritually impaired?
Or do we simply try to do too much, are we better do a few things well and giving our best?
Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son Of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance
Of Eliashib’s house to the end of it the repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region.
Such was the scope of the work that people from surrounding regions did the repairs they took a stance
They understood that a stronger Jerusalem was good for them as well, not doing something was not a consideration
We too need to look outside our own interests and consider the needs of others and their lives enhance
For as we do we do we proclaim the Lord until he returns, he came to seek and save the lost and proclaim liberation
Mark Maffey, April 2009
(NIV)