Repairing The Wickets

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.