As you probably recall, last week we discussed our current study in one of our Old Testament classes on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.  There are many valuable lessons in the Old Testament for the New Testament Christian, as most anyone could verify that are participating in the three adult classes on our Old Testament studies.

We’ve seen in Ezra the fall of Babylon after 70 years of captivity of the Israelite people.  Zerubbabel, the Governor of Judah, has led a group of 50,000 people back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the walls of the city.  This is the first of two returns discussed in Ezra.  The second return under Ezra took place in 456 BC, 80 years after the first, and 60 years after the completion of the Temple, during which no work seemed to take place.    

Ezra was a priest and a scribe who wanted to go to Judah to teach the Law of God and reform the people, to beautify the Temple and to restore the Temple Service.  Ezra found spiritual confusion in Jerusalem.  During the 60 years between chapters 6-7, the Jews had intermarried with the idolatrous Samaritans, and were neglecting the Law of Moses.  The intermarrying was a thing that God had repeatedly forbidden the Jews to do.  It helped lead them into idolatry, and finally into captivity.  God used Ezra to rebuild the people morally and spiritually, so they would again be committed to Him. 

Throughout the book of Ezra, we read of various times the people were either troubled or misguided in their attempts to get the Temple rebuilt and walls of the city in place.  Whenever good begins to take place, Satan’s efforts to foil it seem to be doubled.   Spiritual stumbling blocks seem to be even more prevalent today.    

When we begin to study the book of Nehemiah, the last of the historical books, we are taken to within 400 years of the birth of the promised Messiah.  The Temple has been rebuilt, but the wall around the city of Jerusalem still lay in ruins.  Many of the same struggles that befell the Jews as they built the Temple also opposed them as they were building the wall.  Without fortified walls, Jerusalem could hardly be considered a great city.

Finally, in 444 BC, Nehemiah saw that the walls were completed, albeit with much difficulty and opposition.  God had hastened their efforts and the construction of the walls took only 52 days, a miraculous accomplishment at best.  It is clear that Satan was opposing them at every turn.  It was also clear to the enemies of God’s people that God’s hand was indeed in this rapid rebuilding effort.  As we enter chapter six, we see that only the 10 gates needed to be hung to complete the project. 

Can we see ourselves in this story of Ezra, Nehemiah and the people of Israel as they struggled against the many obstacles that confronted them, some of their own making?  Today, we may purpose in our hearts to complete some goal or some great task that we want to do to encourage one another, but often barriers abound that seem to keep us from our intended objective.

But now, the end is in sight.  Only the gates themselves need to be hung for the city to be secured and fortified at every turn.  Their goal is soon to be reached.  Let’s look at this Old Testament example of the perseverance of the servants of God and how God helped them and can help us to accomplish His will. When we reach our objective, and see it before us, let’s press on to the conclusion of it.  Let’s see our goal accomplished, not to our glory, but to God’s.  Let’s not let the walls themselves be the end of our efforts. Let’s give the final glory to God.  Let’s hang the gates!   

                                               

                                                                                                                               ~ David Beltz