As we rebuild, be prepared to be mocked. In our reading of Ezra and Nehemiah we see the builders of the wall and temple mocked. They ridiculed them as they built but the builders prayed; hear us oh God for we are despised and insulted. They also tried to frighten them by saying your hands will get to weak for the work and it will not be completed. They prayed Lord strengthen our hands. They tried to discourage them and frustrate them, but to no avail because we are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and we are rebuilding his temple. We will rebuild the house of the Lord.
We need to remember if they mocked Jesus at the cross they will mock us. Matthew 20 “They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Matthew 27:41 “In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.Psalm 89:50 “Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations, 51 the taunts with which your enemies, Lord, have mocked, with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one. 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Psalm 35:19 “Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye. 20 They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. 21 They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha! Psalm 35:25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!” or say, “We have swallowed him up.” Psalm 40:15 “May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame.
So we join with David as say, (Psalm 70 A petition) 1 Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, Lord, to help me. 2 May those who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 3 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” turn back because of their shame. 4 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!” 5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay.” “My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!”
Even though we are being mocked we need to be right before God. We need to rend our hearts before him. Joel 2:12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God. 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Joel 2:16 “Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. 7 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
The Lord then gives us his answer to all who are mocked. Joel 2:18 “Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. 19 The Lord replied to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. Although we are mocked, the wall and temple will once again stand strong. Micah 7:8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. 9 Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord’s wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.10 Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame, she who said to me, “Where is the Lord your God? “My eyes will see her downfall; even now she will be trampled underfoot like mire in the streets.
David again sums this up by saying Psalm 27:11 Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. 13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. So as we wait let us turn to God for (Psalm 46:1) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
