“Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs.”
Nehemiah 3:29
Last time we met the priests who built near their own homes – and focused on ways in which the internal state of our soul affects our outward reach. Today we see two new builders, Zadok and Shemaiah, working on their sections.
First, Zadok (Tsadoq) whose name comes from tsedeq, meaning rightness, righteousness, to be just. What a word for us in our day. It seems that to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God is a necessity right now as Believers. And again we see our rebuilder working right near his house.
But today let’s expand that. Because the truth is those of us who have decided to let go of living for ourselves and committed to follow Jesus are all family. Members of the household of God. We belong to each other simply because we are human beings made in the image of our Creator. But how much more those of us given the right to be called His children?
What if we asked God to enlarge our hearts so that anything affecting our brothers and sisters would translate to something very near our house? In our own strength and capacity, it would overwhelm. But in His strength and by His Spirit? We could look like the global Body of Christ caring for one another that we were designed to be before a watching world.
Our second rebuilder listed is Shemaiah (Shemayah) which means “Yah hears.” It is from the Hebrew word shama – to listen intently, diligently discern, completely comprehend. Oh yes, this must happen for the above to be our reality. If we want to care about others we must listen. If we truly want to understand how we’re all connected, we have to ask for discernment. If we are going to weep with those who weep, we need proximity and His Spirit to completely comprehend what we are each going through.
But the most beautiful part? It is Yah Who hears. Ultimately, only He can handle every bit of our concerns. Only praying to the One in control can we release our need to fix or manage in our own strength. With this room for the Spirit to move among His people, we will actually listen more attentively. We can lay down any guilt and simply be present to each other. We can lay our guards down and ask Him to show up.
Did you catch what our rebuilder Shemaiah’s job is? He’s the guard at the East Gate. Feel free to scroll back up to the map to see this gate’s location. I have to remind myself that on this map, North is to the left. And our East Gate would be the one facing the rising sun each day. In fact, the Hebrew for east is mizrach – the place of the sunrise. It comes from the root word zarach – to rise, come forth, shine. And Shemaiah’s job? To guard this place. Guard is shamar – to keep, to watch, to carefully attend.
That we as God’s people would carefully attend His glory in this way. What rises and shines forth on this broken, weary planet. And may we guard our calling to reflect His light in this world.
It is a hope desperately needed.