One of my guilty pleasures is watching home improvement shows on cable channels. The shows that have the catchier titles are always the most appealing to me. Titles like “Fixer Upper” or “Good Bones” always caught my eye. The only problem with most shows is that they focus on what the house looks like at the end. Still, every homeowner knows that the “bones” often are more significant than the polish when decorating the home. If the bones are bad, then the home is bad. Therefore, any restoration project should fix the home’s “bones” first and foremost. Since the greatest restoration project God wants to undertake is found within the hearts of the people, we must work to stop and correct sin in our lives; only then will we be able to help correct the sin that leads to people taking advantage of one another. With our hearts renewed, our eyes can open to the exploitation happening all around us, which needs eradication.
In the story of Nehemiah, the complete restoration of the walls held little significance if the people’s hearts remained distant from God. Without spiritual transformation, the physical rebuilding efforts would be rendered meaningless. The heart of the people is the core of the rebuilding effort and must be fixed for the rebuilding of the city to be successful. In Nehemiah’s narrative, the thorough restoration of the walls held minimal importance if the citizens’ hearts remained disconnected from God. If spiritual transformation were absent, the physical reconstruction endeavors would be futile. The crux of the rebuilding project lies in the people’s hearts, and their reformation is essential for the city’s successful reconstruction.
“So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.” Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.”
Nehemiah 5:9-13 ESV
The first step in our restoration project to bring God’s glory to our community is to stop the sin of exploitation for personal gain. But it’s not enough to just refrain from exploitation; we must actively work to end it. As Nehemiah prepared to entertain the idea of rebuilding, a reckoning had to be made within his heart to determine what he needed to repent from. The process of repentance allowed Nehemiah to become more aware of the things in the people’s hearts that would prevent the complete restoration of Jerusalem. Through listening to the people, he was made aware of the exploitative interest the wealthy were charging those in need. At this moment, he could call out the leaders and ask them to repent for their acts that took advantage of the people. To lead fulfilling lives, we must deeply reflect to identify and eliminate actions that may harm others. This process of repentance requires humility, acknowledging our shortcomings, and prioritizing the well-being of others over our pride. Additionally, we need to learn to listen to others’ needs, strive to understand the blind spots in how our actions harm others and work to stop the exploitation of others.
People who have been affected by unscrupulous people need more than just someone to stop the exploitation; they need a form of restoration to make them whole again.Nehemiah called the people to stop taking advantage of people, but didn’t just leave it there; but also called them to make the people whole again. They had to repair the damage done to the community through their sinful practices. For example, it is not enough to repair a leak in a home. Depending on how long the leak existed, some damage had probably been done to the home. Therefore, it is not enough to repair the leak; you must also repair the damage done by the leak. Recognizing that sin has inflicted damage on our community, we must acknowledge the extent of harm. The church is responsible for actively restoring this community, envisioning a place where sin’s detrimental effects are no longer prevalent. Our collective efforts should be directed at repairing the damage and bringing about a community that thrives in healing and wholeness.
In the final phase of the restoration project, a community covenant needs to be established and upheld to prevent further exploitation and work towards the redemption and restoration of all its members. Recognizing the need for ongoing care and commitment within the community, Nehemiah reminded the people of their covenantal relationship with one another and with God. In contrast, home improvement shows often end with the beautification of a house and the departure of the hosts, leaving the homeowner to manage any future issues alone. However, God calls us to be present not only during the repair and restoration but also afterward, living life together as a community. The covenant agreement ensures the longevity of community building, preventing it from disintegrating as time passes and shared experiences become memories.
In Jerusalem, Nehemiah recognized that restoring the community’s relationship with God was paramount. This process entailed repenting for exploiting neighbors, compensating those who had been exploited, and establishing a covenant to prevent future exploitation. Prioritizing people over structures, the church should be a place where God’s desire for wholeness and shalom in every heart is realized, allowing people to reconnect with God and removing obstacles in our communities that hinder individuals from receiving the blessings of God’s Kingdom. While your restoration journey with God may not involve dramatic transformations like on home improvement shows, it is filled with love. No task is too daunting or insignificant for God, and there is no need for preparation before submitting ourselves to God’s restorative hands.
Elpis and Shalom 