Mothers that help 'rebuild the walls'

Before I start, I am so excited at God's goodness that He would speak to us, through His Word! I am in awe, to say the least. This is for us mothers, sweet fellowship with our Lord through His Word.

As you read through the book of Nehemiah, I encourage you to look at the “wall” as your adopted child(ren). Although their past has been “broken” and “destroyed” because of the sin of another, there hope still lies in Jesus Christ, the true “repairer of the breech.” The world wants to label them as “rubble” and “burned ones” but we know better.

Open up the book of Nehemiah with me. And pray that the Lord would allow the "eyes of your heart to be opened" to see the precious treasure therein.

A little background into the book of Nehemiah. Jerusalem was in destruction and the Jews desired to rebuild the walls in order to protect the city.

"The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire. “

Nehemiah responds, “When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for many days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” 1:3

Note here that Nehemiah went straight to the One who was able to equip him for the tragedy at hand. He did not consult man, professionals or un-believers.

“I beseech You, O Lord of heaven the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, let your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night on behalf of the sons of Israel which have sinned against you; I and my fathers house have sinned.” 1:5-6

After praying and seeking the Lord, Nehemiah goes to the king for permission to travel and rebuild the walls. He even had courage enough to ask for materials needed for the re-building.

“And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.” 2:8

What a beautiful picture of us going to our King….John 14:14 says, “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Once permission was granted, Nehemiah was sent off with officers of the army and horsemen. We too have the ‘assistance’ of the Holy Spirit as we venture out in the Lord’s work.

When Nehemiah arrived he began “inspecting the walls which were broken down and its gates which were consumed with fire.” 2:13

Soon after evaluating the situation, Nehemiah said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work” 2:18. This should encourage us to begin the Lord’s work just as soon as we are through evaluating the “damage.”

Almost instantly opposition began to attack. After the three men heard about what Nehemiah and his people were doing, “they mocked us and despised us” 2:19. This will almost certainly happen when we begin to do those things which please our Lord. But Nehemiah answered them in a way that we should take note of, “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore His servants will arise and build” 2:20. Beautifully put!

The following chapter goes into detail those that helped in rebuilding the walls. It is interesting that once one part of the wall was repaired by a particular man it says, “after him…” It is important for us to rebuild our children’s lives bit by bit. When we see victory and healing in one area, we need to make sure that “after” that we continue on the next “section’ of their hearts and minds.

As the three mocking men saw that great progress was being made on the wall, they started their ridicules again but this time it was more than mocking, “he became furious and angry…”4:1. It is an interesting progression when people have set themselves against us (or rather our God), what once may have irritated them will progressively make them angry. Read verses 4:7 and 11.

They spoke out and said, “can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?” 4:2. The enemy will often try to place doubt in our minds, do you really believe that the Lord will be able to “revive” that which was once destroyed and burned. Yes He can, “for all the promises of God are yes and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

“But, we prayed to our God and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night” 4:9. It is always important that we take hold of 1 Peter 5:8, to “be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

The re-building continues as do the threats from the enemies. In all of this, “the nations surrounding us saw all of this, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that his work had been accomplished with the help of our God” 6:16. What an amazing testimony of the power of the living God.

In chapter 7 the wall is finished. Nehemiah sets faithful guards up to protect the people, makes a census of all who reside therein, and gathers all the assembly together to listen to the “book of law.”

“Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose…Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the great God. And all the people answered, Amen! Amen! While lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground” 8:4-6

Humbled indeed.

Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites go on to say, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” 8:10. The people go on to restore that which the Lord instated, and more importantly they begin to confess their sins. “The descendants separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers…they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God” 9:2-3

In chapter 10 the people even go as far as signing a document promising to “walk in God’s law…and observe all the commandments of God our Lord” v 29. We too should strive to be like the people in this way, “as you have therefore received Christ Jesus, so walk in Him.” Col 2:6

Finally, a dedication of the wall is made, “celebrating with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs” 12:27

Remembering that Jesus Christ alone is the “repairer” of the breech.”