Reflection V

After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the
musicians and the Levites were appointed . . . all the people came together as one in
the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out
the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. So on the
first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly,
which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He
read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate
in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the
people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. (Nehemiah 7:1; 8:1-3)

Nehemiah was in exile when he heard that the Babylonians conquered the city of Jerusalem and destroyed its walls. Upon his return to Israel, he organized the people to rebuild the destroyed walls around the city. And though he had been tempted to leave the project before its completion, and faced with a lot of resistance, Nehemiah was tenacious and determined. He and his men completed the project in fifty two days, and when the walls were rebuilt, they realized the need for a spiritual awakening without which there can be no revival. Ezra the priest read to them the book of the Laws of Moses and they listened. They listened, understood, worshipped, and wept.

Nevertheless, Nehemiah would not let his people stay in their state of grief, he said to them, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (10)

George Barna said: “Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a real leader to chart the course.” Nehemiah is an example of a real leader. Not only he guided his people in building the walls and defying obstacles, but he also gave them hope. Nehemiah had a vision, he had an eye on the horizon; a firm grasp of the present and yet a never-ending hope for the future.

Without a vision, the scriptures say, people perish (Proverbs 29:18).

What do you wish this ministry, council, committee, etc. could be with and for this Presbytery?

This is the fifth of five devotionals intended for reflection published by the North Central California Presbytery as part of the Connectional Revitalization process. We invite you to share your reflections with us by emailing pastor@parkviewpc.org and pastoralresident@parkviewpc.org.