Douglas F. Frank
Repairer of the Breach
Repairer of the Breach
One of my favorite Bible books is Nehemiah. This Cupbearer
for King Xerxes was a man of prayer and courage. He knew that the walls,
literal and spiritual, of Jerusalem were broken down. Disbelief and exile had
contributed to disrepair. He knew that when the ramparts we watch are not
gallantly streaming so goes the country, down the drain. “Frankly Speaking,”
which is one of my bywords, this country seems to be in rubble in terms of
attitude and heart. I have written and will continue to about the sorry state
of media angst and darkness that seems to both mask reality and foment
discouragement and willingness to be helpful to anyone. Perhaps this is similar to the state of
Israel when Nehemiah asked his king for permission to go on mission on behalf
of his people.
Nehemiah prayed fervently and received great favor from a
pagan king. He prepared optimistically and was given materials, gold and papers
of passage to make his journey. He surveyed, studied and made a dramatic plan.
His enthusiasm caused many to rise up out of their stupor and join in. He was a
true leader. Then he organized teams and went at it. His teams had good leaders
and each man carried tools and swords. He understood that he would have
resistance from evil-doers who were getting rich from a fallen nation and
discouraged people. He brought teams and men together in body, mind and spirit.
That was a key to his success. He was an encourager and courageous.
The wall was rebuilt and the people too. He recruited Levites,
Rabbis and the Prophet Ezra to reintroduce the people to God’s Word and His
promises. He brought them to repentance and then revival in a Sacred Assembly.
All of this was done through a God inspired leader. The next book, Esther,
speaks of another Jewish woman who was chosen. “And who knows but that you have
come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). Her courage
saved her people from extinction. First Nehemiah and Ezra and then Esther to
restore, revitalize and save the people. God wants and expects us to be
courageous in times of trial. He wants us to be “Repairers of the Breach” (Isaiah
58:12). God is calling each of us to step forward to be “Rebuilders of broken walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Isaiah is admonishing the people to rebuild
spiritually and physically. God is restoring His people, Israel. He is sending
a Messiah to save and redeem. He wants us to return to the Word and
righteousness. He wants to bring a “cup of warmth,” and “streams
in the desert.” This messianic
book speaks of Jesus coming to “bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim
freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to
proclaim the year of God’s favor” (Isaiah 61:2,3). This is about joy and gladness, the splendor
of the Lord’s faithfulness to His people. He is bringing a New Heaven and a New
Earth prophesied here and again in Revelation. He is also the avenger and will
judge and punish those evil ones who will not bow their knee.
So, all this to remind us that God is working and He will
vanquish. Rejoice and share the good news with those who are angry and selfish.
True, as the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:18, that as hard as we try,
there are those who will not be at peace with us. In other words sadly, they will
not be at peace with God. So as Luke told of the angels’ announcement of Jesus’s
birth, do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy that will be
for all the people. Go out and help repair or rebuild the broken walls.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.