Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. - Neh. 2:17-18 KJV
This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him. - Ezra 7:6 KJV
Ezra and Nehemiah may or may not have been contemporaries but they were both instrumental in restoring the destruction that occurred when the Jews were exiled to Babylon. Ezra was a priest and Nehemiah was an administrator, but they both answered the call of the Lord and persuaded the Babylonian rulers to give them permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild. Both of them were saddened by the destruction around them and called the people to repentance.
How is it that the pagan rulers gave permission to these two men to restore what had lain in ruins for almost 500 years? Simple, it was God that destroyed Israel and it was God that rebuilt. God destroys when his people forget him and he rebuilds when there is true repentance. I pray that God would raise up an Ezra and a Nehemiah in this day. Lovers of God who would see how the walls have fallen around us, who would see how God's temple has been destroyed and call the people to repentance and rebuilding. Leaders who are not in it for their own advancement or reputation but humble, penitent priests and administrators who would weep for the destruction and cry out to God on our behalf. It may be if such men arise, even the leaders of this country will recognize that they have been appointed by God and will bless them to carry out the work.
No comments:
Post a Comment