Isaiah 58:12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls (wickets), Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
Introduction:
Two of the best-known companies in this city have a slogan that catches my attention: 1) The Salvation Army: “Working with you to repair the broken lives. 2) AdventHealth: "Continuing the Healing ministry of Christ on earth." It seems to me that the founders of both entities were very clear about their purpose here on earth when using these slogans for their respective companies.
Also, Northside A / C & Duct cleaning company advertiser sign has a slogan that says: "Glorifying Christ since 1980" This is great as long as that is actually your main goal or purpose in life. Many of the good Christian habits and principles in our society have been disappearing. The fundamentals have been “diluted” and in many businesses and companies (homes as well) the original motives, values and intentions have faded away with the new generations. There are now many wickets within the original structures of homes and businesses.
Explanation:
What is a wicket? Opening or entrance made in a wall.
I.e., "the soldiers entered the walled city through the wicket"
Or, a small door that opens to a larger one. "You entered and left through the wicket.”
In order for a wicket to exist, there must be a foundation. On that foundation there must be columns that support the structure of a building. When a foundation is attacked, only ruin, desolation and devastation remain and wickets are opened in those columns.
In Biblical times, wickets were cracks that opened in the columns that were at the city gates. This happened when the enemy came and attacked the city and made derision. They were large holes where a person could pass and enter comfortably, but not his horse or other bigger things.
The well-known story of Nehemiah tells us of his discontent when he found out about the condition of Jerusalem and the temple. We all know that he consulted with the king and went out with other young people to rebuild the city. And they built ... they built ... they built: All Nehemiah 3 is about work - how individuals cooperated and did the work together, coordinated and directed by Nehemiah.
And they built the Sheep Gate: The work is described in reference to the doors of the wall. The gates were the critical entrance and exit points of the city, and the places most likely to see an enemy attack. Therefore, the work began at each door, and progressed from there. The Sheep Gate was so called because it was the gate where the shepherds brought their flocks to sell. Until a few years ago, this same gate was being used for the same purpose in Jerusalem. Later they continued to build the other gates and areas devastated by enemy attacks. Now we see in NEHEMIAH 4: 7 But it came to pass that when Sanballat and Tobiah, and the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdod, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being repaired, because the gates were already beginning to be closed, they were very angry.
Whenever a man or woman of God rises to repair and to reconstruct the ruins, the enemy rises up in anger.
As representatives of Jesus Christ, we have been called and appointed to repair the gap
Although we want to see our nation healed, we must acknowledge our current circumstances. Today there is a big gap in the United States! Paul Harvey (1965) was right. We have become a society in disarray, removing God from all aspects of our national life: schools, businesses, the media, government, and even our churches. Thomas Jefferson, 1785 said: "In fact, I tremble for my country when I think that God is just: that His justice cannot sleep forever." We have turned our backs on the living God and provoked him to anger. Therefore, you must execute judgment. However, we sincerely cry out to God on behalf of this nation to stop His holy hand and restore us to Him. We do this so that unborn generations can praise and know the Lord! We simply cannot rest while we are on our way to self-destruction.
2 KINGS 12: 2 And Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the time that Jehoiada the priest directed him. 3 However, the high places were not removed, because the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. 4 And Joash said to the priests: All the consecrated money that is usually brought into the house of Jehovah, the ransom money of each person as stipulated, and all the money that each of his own free will brings to the house of Jehovah 5 Let the priests receive it, each one from his relatives, and repair the gates of the temple wherever cracks are found.
It should be noted that this king Joash made a complete halt so that the gates and the wickets of the temple were repaired. All special offerings were designated for that project in its entirety.
Application:
Today God is calling believers to be gatekeepers. The attacks of the enemy, the storms of life and spiritual carelessness have caused cracks in the columns and in the foundation that we have. These gates are like little foxes that make you lose the vineyard. The enemy has entered through those gaps or cracks and we have allowed many things to have entered into the church and the families. This has greatly weakened the church. That is why on this day he is giving us the recipe to be gate restorers. If we see in Isaiah 58: The situation / condition of the people was that they were fasting and seeking God but they were not living a holy life and they were complaining. 1“Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.
1. (They wondered) v3 Why, they say, did we fast, and you didn't listen; we humbled our souls, and did you not understand?
2. (Doing things with another intention) Behold, on the day of your fast you seek your own taste, and you oppress all your workers. 4 Behold, for strife and debate you fast and to strike wickedly with your fist; do not fast like today, so that your voice may be heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I chose, that by day a man afflicts his soul, that he bow his head like reed, and make a bed of sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, and a day pleasing to Jehovah?
3. (The correct way before God requires…) 6 Is it not rather the fast that I chose, loosening the bonds of impiety, letting go of the burdens of oppression, and letting the broken go free, and that you break every yoke?
4. (A call to meet human and spiritual needs) 7 Is it not that you break your bread with the hungry, and the poor wandering shelters at home; that when you see the naked, you cover it, and do not hide from your brother?
5. God's Longing: Ezekiel 22:30 And I looked among them for a man to build a fence and stand in the gap before me, in favor of the earth, so that I would not destroy it; and I did not find him.
A true attitude and search for God brings forth promises ...
Isaiah 58: 9Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
AMOS 9:11 In that day I will raise the fallen tabernacle of David, and I will close its gates and I will raise its ruins, and I will build it as in the past time;
Conclusion:
God wants his people to submit to his will. He longs for our foundation to be strong and sound. He wants us to do the job the way he wants. We have to stop acting indifferently towards others. If we begin to remove ourselves from our lives and act as God wants, we will become repairmen of gates in our families and in our entire generation. Not only that but there are also promises associated with this attitude. Also, there is a prophecy about your generation: Isaiah 58: 12 And yours will build the ancient ruins; You will build the foundations of generation and generation, and you will be called a repairman of gates, a restorer of roads to inhabit.
There are many gates and wickets to repair. In the nation, in cities, in homes, in families, our sons and daughters. Because in this wounded world there are many desolate places. There are many people in spiritual ruin. For this reason, we must step into the gap for those fragmented lives and be a repairman for gates. For this, we must be intentional and have a correct and sincere attitude before God.
God Bless,
Ruthie Velazquez-Paredes
