Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. – Nehemiah 3:4

Today's Scripture Reading (October 1, 2020): Nehemiah 3

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." J.R.R. Tolkien, in "The Fellowship of the Ring," places these words in the mouth of the veritable elf, Gandalf, the Grey. Time, is the one equalizer with which all of us have to contend. We are all given the same amount of time. The difference is all in how we decide to spend it. Time is a currency that we often undervalue in our lives.

The walls and gates of Jerusalem had to be repaired or even rebuilt. The work crews are lined up and given the task of making the repairs that needed to be made to secure the city. And because time was of the essence, the work crews worked bedside each other to get the job done.

But not all of the work was concentrated on the walls and gates of the city. The Hebrew word that is translated into "made repairs" is "chazaq," and the Hebrew word is used thirty-five times in this chapter alone. While it does carry the meaning of "making repairs," the connotation of the term extends beyond the simple mending of an object like the wall. It also carries the meaning of strengthening and encouraging, and making something strong. It was part of the process that these men used their time to reinforce the walls, but the encouragement didn't stop there. As they worked together at a joint project, they also spent their time encouraging and strengthening each other.

It is a concept that the Apostle Paul would have well understood. He reminded the Christian at Ephesus that -

Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).

It is the purpose of the church, as it was the purpose of these men as they made repairs to the wall, set about the task of repairing the walls as well as strengthening and encouraging the men with whom they worked so that once again, they could experience the fullness of what God had for them.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4