So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” -- Nehemiah 6:3
I am mistaken if I think that God does not know how to get His work done. To me it may look like things are pretty desolate, but I am not aware of the subtle movements, the warp and woof of circumstances that will create the perfect tapestry of the Lord’s intent. Who can project Sunday morning from Friday night apart from revelation?
The Jews were gradually being allowed to return to Judea from their exile in the various provinces of the Persian Empire. One highly placed Jew was Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king. When Nehemiah learned through his sources the disreputable condition of Jerusalem and its walls, he was allowed a leave of absence to serve as governor of the city for a time in order to begin a restoration.
Walls represent separation. That can be bad – as we are told in Ephesians that Christ has torn down the dividing wall of hostility to make for Himself one people. Yet the Lord also calls us to be separate from the world and to be able to distinguish between the holy and the profane. We need that wall to both protect and define us.
Nehemiah had been successful in his work and was well on his way to raising the walls of his beloved city, but his efforts were not without opposition. There were others in the region that preferred the Jews be vulnerable, who pushed for assimilation. They feared a strong, well-defended city with its own unique identity. The city on the hill was a threat to their desires and intentions, as well as a constant reminder of the presence of God and His favor upon His people.
The defenders of Jerusalem under Nehemiah’s leadership were quickly becoming stronger as the walls and gates went up. The enemy, Sanballat and Geshem, sent a message to Nehemiah requesting a meeting with him in the villages of the Ono Valley. Nehemiah understood right away that outside the walls he would be subject to attack and possible assassination. He rejected the repeated challenges they sent him, choosing instead to remain with the great work of restoration.
As we look out upon the world today we see many challenges, many problems that call to us to leave our walls and go down into the valley. It’s easy to see that vulgar, petty, and trivial things need to be let go while we work on the walls of our New Jerusalem. But we also must be careful of the nobler and more important issues that challenge us. The Lord does call some of us to become involved in politics and governance. He will grant us access to those in authority, just as He did with Nehemiah, but it is always for the purposes of the kingdom. Politics, technology, finance, business, or any other worldly endeavor is never an end, but merely a means to an end. We must be sure the Lord has directed us to those things, and our primary focus must always be the “great work”. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness….
As Jesus said, we are in the world but not of it. Our separation is not physical but of the heart and its intent. Everyday as I go about my business in this world, I can remain safe in the stronghold of Christ, using every trouble as another brick in the wall, every trial as reinforcement of the gates.
Our efforts are likely to be unimpressive in the world’s eyes – even perhaps in our own. Their enemies derided the people of Jerusalem, saying that if a fox ran over their walls, they would fall. What the scorners and mockers fail to perceive or take into account is that the walls are not the issue. It is what they protect. In the heart of the city is a temple wherein the Lord of Glory dwells.
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in His holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not set his mind on what is false,
And who has not sworn deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the LORD,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Such is the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, you gates!
Rise up, ancient doors!
Then the King of glory will come in.
(Psalm 24:3-7)
5 comments:
Our separation is not physical but of the heart and its intent. Everyday as I go about my business in this world, I can remain safe in the stronghold of Christ...
Daunting!
Lift up your heads, you gates!
Rise up, ancient doors!
Then the King of glory will come in.
(Psalm 24:3-7)
[Jesus]: "When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."
~ Luke 12:11-12
Great post, Mushroom.
“I am mistaken if I think that God does not know how to get His work done. To me it may look like things are pretty desolate, but I am not aware of the subtle movements, the warp and woof of circumstances that will create the perfect tapestry of the Lord’s intent.”
Twice this week I’m reminded of George Bailey. The other time was at OC. I forget which post. But the scene (about 5:30 into this clip) is when Bailey is at the bar and all his fight is gone. All the sacrifices and hardships before this point were the bricks too, and the last one is placed on him here. Only after that one it seems that George is finally shown the Tapestry.
“…and our primary focus must always be the “great work”.
From time to time, and more so lately the old voice shows up to say again, “It’s getting too hard to remain a good man.” I don’t want my son to hear that voice. Not in himself. Not yet. And certainly not from me. I remember when it was easier, when I was younger, more energy and naive. But that old voice is despair. And that is a sin. And thank God He gives us a break to recover from it and push again, to keep going the good man.
Yes, it is easy to fall into despair. I'm just not sure what to do these days. On the one hand, I think we should be involved in standing up for freedom and the Constitution, but we have to be able to do it with a certain amount of -- I don't know what you call it -- "detached trust?"
I find it analogous to dealing with my daughter's alcoholism. I love her and I desperately want to help her, but I cannot be drawn into the insanity. I have to maintain some detachment. The great mistake of the left the previous eight years under Bush was their total loss of equilibrium. They were so entrenched in their resistance to him that they actually damaged the country and cost American lives. The world now sees us -- and has since 2006, as weak and vulnerable appeasers.
I don't want to make the same mistake in the other direction, and I don't want to despair. I guess we just keep on praying, trusting, and truckin'.
“I find it analogous to dealing with my daughter's alcoholism. I love her and I desperately want to help her, but I cannot be drawn into the insanity.”
This is something my father can’t seem to resist with my oldest brother, who I mentioned has serious mind parasites. My brother has treated him so terribly so many times – and my father takes him right back. Probably too soon, has been some of the mistake. But I don’t blame my father and have told him I don’t. It’s his job. And he is 75 now. What to do. But one difference is, my father genuinely believes my brother has changed “this time.” But this is easier to see from where I stand. I probably wouldn’t have the strength my father has. At least I hope I’m learning from it by witnessing it. My brother has not been the best older brother to me either, but he didn’t have two older brothers ahead of him like I did. I was fortunate to be the youngest, in that sense.
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