Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth- haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate.
He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. (Nehemiah3:14 ESV)
In the story of Nehemiah, the third charter talks about people building walls of Jerusalem. I often skipped this portion as it seemed to be a bunch of names. But recently at my Church (Christ Church London) David Stroud spoke from this portion. Only then had I realised that this portion I skip had a lot of interesting things to teach me. One of them is the story of how a Jewish leader named Malchijah had taken the responsible task of building the Dung wall. Now, we who live or have only lived in developed cities don't realise the blessing of the sewage system. I lived with my grandparents and few years ago in the village and mind you we did have a brilliant sewage system at our house but there was no plastic waste disposal and our backyard suffered very much.
I think it was the Romans who had good sewage system till then the gruesome task of cleaning the rubbish belonged to someone and so people being civilised had allocated the produce to come in through one entrance and the waste to go through another. You really would not want to have them entering and exiting at the same place do you? So, this place was dirty from human and animal waste and may have been mucky and sticky too. So, should we not build gates here? We should, but let me tell you no worker who is paid to do this does it any better than a volunteer wanting the good of the city. Sometimes, the task that God expects of us is for to reach out to places where we would not want to because it's below our comfortable working standards. Why does God wants us to do that ? I might have a clue but let me tell you it's your responsibility as a person who enjoys God to do it even if God doesn't reward you.
Many years ago, I had a dream that I was a travelling missionary and while travelling between villages & had come across a shower room. I went in to freshen up before I traveled on but found the shower covered with vomit. I stayed and cleaned the shower room so that others may find it clean. I woke up from this dream and have always wondered what it meant, but this is thing I took out of it, serve, no matter what happens or how tough the task is.
I agree that there is the pain or the un - honour that hold you back , yet if it glorifies God, do it.
I think it was the Romans who had good sewage system till then the gruesome task of cleaning the rubbish belonged to someone and so people being civilised had allocated the produce to come in through one entrance and the waste to go through another. You really would not want to have them entering and exiting at the same place do you? So, this place was dirty from human and animal waste and may have been mucky and sticky too. So, should we not build gates here? We should, but let me tell you no worker who is paid to do this does it any better than a volunteer wanting the good of the city. Sometimes, the task that God expects of us is for to reach out to places where we would not want to because it's below our comfortable working standards. Why does God wants us to do that ? I might have a clue but let me tell you it's your responsibility as a person who enjoys God to do it even if God doesn't reward you.
Many years ago, I had a dream that I was a travelling missionary and while travelling between villages & had come across a shower room. I went in to freshen up before I traveled on but found the shower covered with vomit. I stayed and cleaned the shower room so that others may find it clean. I woke up from this dream and have always wondered what it meant, but this is thing I took out of it, serve, no matter what happens or how tough the task is.
I agree that there is the pain or the un - honour that hold you back , yet if it glorifies God, do it.
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