Vulnerable

Nehemiah 3

(vs 6) The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doos and bolts and bars in place.
(vs 15) The Fountain gate was repaired by ... He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place.

The wall of Jerusalem had been burnt and torn down when the Israelites were taken into exile. This meant that Jerusalem was now extremely vulnerable as it doesn't have its protection. The walls of cities were extremely important as they protected the city was enemies, not just rabbits. All the Israelites were doing their best to rebuild the wall.

Do you sometimes feel like Jerusalem? Your wall of protection has been torn down or your world shaken. It makes you feel so open and vulnerable. Or maybe you can relate with the gatews, broken and burning and in great need of a massive fix up and repair. I sometimes feel like that. So what do we do?

Heaps of people came and woked on Jerusalem, fixing it and making it safe again. God can do the same with us. He can refresh us, clean us, repair us and give us sparkling new nuts and bolts (metaphorically). But, it's not always an overnight job. Jerusalem was not repaired over night. The temple alone took years. Someone once told me a story of a stone. It doesn't get smooth without first being constantly rubbed a lot in a current. It can hurt but we grow through it. Take heart and wait for the Lord. The Psalms has a lot of verses on waiting for the Lord and as the song says, 'Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.' [Strength will Rise (Everlasting God)
Brown and Riley]

Blessings

Psalm 37:7 Psalm 38:15 Psalm 40:1 Psalm 135:5-6