Working Together
6 The Jeshanah[b] Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. 7 Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. 8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section.
10 Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters. (Nehemiah 3:6-12, NIV)
This chapter is so interesting, because as they rebuild the wall, everyone works on a smaller portion and then it becomes complete. The city of Jerusalem becomes safer, and what God had promised to do was complete.
I am a Project Manager and this passage sounds both like my day to day life of organizing people, and like a heavenly dream where everyone is invested and truly pitching in to help! I also love that in verse 12, Shallum's daughters help, and we see women in the bible. Maybe he had no sons or maybe they were women who were great at building walls! It's unusual in the Old Testament to see women at work, but they do exist.
I think a logical application is: We can't do everything. We can only do the small thing that God has put in front of us to do. However, when we all work together and do our tiny parts, they add up to a large city wall.
The church should be like this, all working and pitching in together. Our society should be like this, people caring about other people and supporting one another in the ways that we have talents for. We shouldn't be cruel and force extra labor on one group. We should pay a living wage to migrant workers who are doing the hard work of picking our produce. We should care about those around us.
Reflect: What has God put in front of me to do? How am I a part of the bigger picture of what's going on? What am I trying to do that I should allow God to take care of, that's not my role?
Pray: Lord of all, you are the one who helps us to build walls and work together. Our nation feels like it's falling apart and not working together. Help us to repent of places where we have not been kind to humans around us and to do our part. Help us to repent of ways we have ignored the part we have to play in your church. Help us also to leave behind places where we are trying to do too much, and build a whole wall on our own, instead of asking for help and trusting others to come alongside us. Thank you that you are patient with our failings. Walk alongside us. Amen.
May you feel God's presence with you,
Sarah Visser-Kincaid