Continuing with the theme of tearing down and building up …

“Meanwhile the people in Judah said, ‘The strength of the labourers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall’.” (Nehemiah 4 : 10).

Read Nehemiah 4 for my devotions this morning.  The Israelites discovered that while it was easy to reject God, it was much more difficult to restore what they rejected, and rebuild what they had destroyed (as symbolised by the broken walls of Jerusalem).  Their enemies taunted and plotted against them as they worked.  They even had to allocate half of their already limited manpower as guards to protect themselves from attack.

“From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and arrows … so we continued the work with half the men holding spears from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.” (Nehemiah 4 : 16 - 21).

It is easier to uproot trees than to replant them.  It is easier to open doors than to shut them.  It is easier to rend garments than to knit them.  It is easier tear walls down than to rebuild them.

It is easier to reject God, or dispense with tradition, than to restore our a lost or broken faith.

There may be times in life when we are tempted to take a shortcut by treading on the dark side (ie. sin), because it just seems more fun or the easier thing to do.

Or there may be other times in life when we are tempted to tear down hallowed traditions because they seem so antiquated and stifling.

We forget that the walls are there for a reason. 

Some of these walls (moral laws) are established by God to keep us from sin.  They should never be torn down.

Other walls (tradition) were erected by our Christian fathers, as they saw that the Christian spirit would be poorer without it.  It may be that some of these walls are antiquated and stifling.  Nonetheless, it is only wise to think carefully before we tear these walls down.

Perhaps this is why Proverbs 22:28 counsels “do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers” ?

Perhaps this is where the modern church has gone wrong.  Perhaps, in our bid to be relevant and popular, we have been too quick to dispense with the wisdom and tradition of the Word and of our forefathers.  And so we preach a message of grace without judgement, project a modern form without substance, and popularise an expectation of prosperity without spiritual discipline.  Have we thought of the legacy (or lack thereof) that we will leave for those that come after us, if we persist in this way ?

Although the work ahead is difficult, Nehemiah 4 holds out a hope that the walls can be rebuilt, because our Lord is great and awesome.

“Don’t be afraid if them [the enemy].  Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4 : 14).