Ezra 9:9 (NIV®)
“He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.”
The temple in Jerusalem has been destroyed, but Ezra is saying that God will “rebuild the house.” God is in the business of rebuilding. He can rebuild your life. He can rebuild your hopes. He can rebuild your dreams. He can rebuild your relationships. Our God is able. He is powerful. He’ll take what’s been destroyed and repair it. And then comes a wonderful declaration: “God has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.” Ezra knew he was going into a difficult place. In fact, if you know the rest of Ezra’s story, you know what he faced wasn’t easy. But he said, “God has given us a wall of protection.” It is so important that we shake ourselves from the doldrums of thinking that we’re just good, polite folks who gather on the weekend to have theoretical discussions. That’s not it at all. The power of God is at work in the midst of His people as a demonstration to all creation that our God is mighty. We are God’s ambassadors in the earth. It’s through you and me that the Jesus-story is being displayed, and He will put His wall of protection around us. He is faithful!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are in the business of rebuilding—lives, hopes, dreams, relationships―even things that seem impossible in our eyes. Thank You for the wall of protection You have placed around us, even holding back things that we will never see. Use me to tell the story of Your love and protection, Lord, that Your Kingdom may be extended in the earth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
