I hadn't read the book of Nehemiah all the way through in years. This week, however, I recalled how Nehemiah and Ezra and all the others who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem worked together. And I recalled how they worked during part of that project: with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other.
With Nehemiah, who became governor, and Ezra, the priest and scribe, in mind, I read all thirteen chapters of Nehemiah this week. Of course there are some real doozies in the names of folks who played roles in their restoration drama. And, once you get past the difficult pronunciation realities posed by those monikers, the story is quite compelling. Do you identify any parallels to our current situation at St Paul's?
The vast majority of the children of Israel had been living as captives outside Israel for a very long time. A comparative handful of them had evaded captivity and stayed in the land of Israel and in and around the burnt-out city of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah, still in exile, caught a vision to restore the walls of Jerusalem. He was cupbearer to the king of Persia. He asked the king's permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls of the city.
With the king's blessing, he returned. Ezra the priest and scribe had already returned to Jerusalem. They mobilized resources together. They organized groups of people to do different types of work, building and otherwise. They reached out to people near and far for help with the formidable work of rebuilding. And people responded and lent their aid.
The walls had been in need of repair for many years. The project at times seemed beyond what they would be able to do. They each did their part. Many times people worked to repair the portion of the wall nearest where they lived.
There were a handful of naysayers who said it couldn't be done. As the work progressed they fell silent.
Nehemiah and Ezra and those working with them asked God's help and blessing before they began, all along the way, and gave thanks and recommitted themselves as God's people when the work was complete.
They went home. They called upon others to join them. They found a place for each person to labor and make a contribution.
They restored. They rejoiced. They revitalized the walls of Jerusalem and the religious life of the Jewish people.
The work of restoring, rejoicing, and revitalizing that lies before us as a congregation is a tall order. And God is working on our behalf in so many ways already to make this work possible. People are joining in the work from near and far. And many more will continue to join us in this important endeavor.
St Paul's has been a vital and winsome Anglican witness on Key West since 1832. Together, as we restore and rebuild, with God's help, we ensure that work and witness will continue for many years to come. God be praised, always and everywhere.
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