Verse of the Day 2/24

Through the Bible - Numbers 13-15, Mark 6:30-56

 

Good moring,

Right now I am in Cartegena, Columbia on business.  It is an old city on the coast of Columbia, it is a shipping port and has been for centuries.  Several hundred years ago a wall was built around the city to hclp protect it as defense against pirates and foreign invaders that would fire canons against the city.  But through the ages the walls have stood and are still maintained, even if it is now primarily symbolic.

 

In Monday's reading the disciples were told not to go to the cities of the Samaritans.  One of the reasons may have been that the Samaritan's had tried to prevent the prophet Nehemiah from rebuilding the wall.  Nehemiah had been in exile in Babylon serving as the cupbearer to the king.  The king knew him well and was fond of him.  He asked Nehemiah what was wrong, Nehemiah prayed, then answered, his heart was downcast because his city and the walls surrounding it lay in ruins.  In his heart he desired to go back rebuild the walls and restore the temple for worship.

Today's verses describe what was going on as Nehemiah returned and began his work.

Neh 4:7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8 and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.    NKJV
In the book of Nehemiah, God can be thought of as the "Rebuilder" of broken walls and lives.

 

Nehemiah was a sort of missionary in reverse.  He had been in exile, but he prayed to the Lord, approached the king and his request was granted.  But his prayers did not end there.  He prayed in preparation of the work, for it's continuation, for it's completion, and praise upon completion.

We also notice in today's verses that his prayer was accompanied by action.  In this case posting a guard to keep the enemy from attempting to tear down portions of the wall which would discourage those involved in the work.

 

The passage, the book, the Bible can remind us that even if we, or others that we know, may fall away from God and our spiritual walls may be in  shambles, that they can be rebuilt.  It can be part of our missionary work.  All of it should be surrounded by prayer.

 

The walls here in Cartegena are still standing, the old part of the city behind the walls have been restored and are beautiful.  They are a symbol of what having forethought, having and carrying out the plan to rebuild the walls, and how maintaining the walls through generations are a testimony of the will of the people.

 

May it be the same for our faith.  It starts with being "shored up" in prayer and God's Word then doing His will.
 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Neh 4:1-10

The Wall Defended Against Enemies

4 But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish — stones that are burned?"

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall."

4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5 Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.

6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8 and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.   NKJV