The Encourager
“Stones Out of the Rubbish by Mike Richardson”
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?” -Nehemiah 4:2
(i)STONES OUT OF RUBBISH Jerusalem had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Twenty years later, due to Zedekiah’s insurrection, the city was besieged and burned again. The walls were torn down and there were rocks everywhere. The city had been totally destroyed.
(ii)NEHEMIAH RETURNS TO REBUILD THE WALLS OF THE CITY AND IS MET WITH OPPOSITION Nehemiah and Ezra return from Persian exile to rebuild the Temple, the walls, and the city of Jerusalem. However, there was a tribal leader with ties to the Samaritan army (Neh.4:2) who selfishly opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The man who vehemently opposed the rebuilding of the city is a man named Sanballat the Horonite (2:19). The men of God, Nehemiah and Ezra, saw the need for a revival amongst the people of God. They, along with a remnant of the people, came back from captivity to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and restore worship as God directed. Can you imagine how they felt when they arrived in the city and saw it burned, with one stoned turned on top of another? Imagine the beautiful city of David now lying in a heap of rocks as a reminder of a more glorious time for the Jewish people.
(iv)SABALLAT MOCKS THE PEOPLE OF GOD Notice how the wicked man mocks and belittles the Jews for their efforts to rebuild the city. Notice what he says about them: (1) He looks at the people and calls them FEEBLE JEWS. No doubt, compared to the enemies around them they looked like a feeble military that would not have the strength or means to fight off an attack. (2) He mocks them for INACTIVITY. Before Nehemiah came to the site it seems the Jews that had remained in Jerusalem had been inactive. They had made no efforts to rebuild the city. Sanballat and the other enemies of the people of God were permitted to do as they pleased.
(iv)THE NEED FOR REVIVAL WAS REVEALED When the people saw the ruins of the city of Jerusalem their hears must have been broken. Their homeland had been destroyed. However, take note they did not quit, they went to work to restore the city and the worship of God. Their broken hearts were revived with hope. (1) Revival was needed because Israel had failed to renew the forms of worship God instituted. They needed to sacrifice to God as He had directed to atone for their sins and worship in the old way that God instructed. (2) They needed revival because they were living in the past. Remembering days when the nation was stronger instead of trying to revive the work they just let their minds dwell on past days that seemed better.
(v)NEHEMIAH’S PLAN OF REVIVAL How was Nehemiah to meet the need of these defeated Jews? (1) First, he had a broken heart (Neh.1:3). He had a personal interest in his people and his home. He did not shrug it off or act indifferent, but cried. (2) Second, he prayed earnestly, genuinely, sincerely, and persistently. The Bible says for “certain days he mourned and fasted.” He prayed till he got an answer. (3) He prayed a pointed, passionate, penitent prayer (Neh.1:4-11). (4) He had a triumphant faith. Notice his faith was based upon the work of the word of God (Neh.1:8). He was willing to work (Neh.2:5). He was willing to tell others about his faith in God (Neh.2:18). He had a working faith (Neh.2:20). He had a winning faith…the walls were rebuilt, the city had a
revival!
LESSONS FOR US:
(i)PEOPLE MAY SEE US AS FEEBLE RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS. They may say we are insignificant in number and in work. Sometimes such criticism is justified when we act indifferent and display little faith, no prayer, etc.).
(ii)WE NEED TO REVIVE AND RESTORE OUR WORSHIP AND WORK FOR GOD. We need to follow God’s pattern not man’s way. We must also do the work God calls us to do today. So often we just think about the good old days and no longer are active in making the work great again. We need to be revived and refreshed. Don’t say, “I have put in my time” and quit working for the kingdom, then bemoan the fact the church is not growing like it once did.
(iii)PRAY FOR REVIVAL. Be persistent, pointed, and penitent in our prayers for revival in our land and in this community. When was the last time you prayed for revival for this church and in your private life?
(iv)GROW IN FAITH. When our faith is based on His Word, we are willing to obey and tell others what God has done in the past. We work to glorify Him (Matt.5:16). That is winning faith.
(v)CAN THIS CHURCH GROW? Can these stones that were rubbish be used to God’s glory? (I Pet.2:5). When we are inactive the devil will do his best to tear us down to a pile of rubbish. Let us grow, revive, and rebuild the work here.
