Worshipper and the Builder

Nehemiah 3:1Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel.

The high priest had the privilege of getting more closer to the presence of the Lord than anybody else. He alone had the blessing of going into the Holy of the Holies to offer worship to the Lord. What a joy is to dwell in the  sanctuary, in the very presence of the Lord! Even Psalmist felt jealous on the sparrow who built her nest near the altar in the sanctuary:

Psalms 84:3 Even the sparrow finds a home,and the swallow a nest for herself,where she may lay her young,at your altars, O Lord of hosts,my King and my God.

But Eliashib, the High Priest didn’t stop in the sanctuary, enjoying the presence of the Lord, he stepped into the world, to the people, got his hands dirty, built the wall with the other people. 

We can see lot of people who could dwell in His presence, in prayers, Reading the scriptures for hours. But when it comes to the world, they step back, they withdraw from people whom they can not mingle with, they avoid some, despise some. But is this a true mark of a worshipper? 

Jesus too spent lot of time in Father’s presence, He spent his nights and early mornings alone with His Father in mountains and wilderness. But the next morning, He touches the leper, heals the blind, goes to a sinner’s house, gets pushed and crushed in the crowd, yes, He spent His whole day going around and doing good.

Father, help us to remember Eliashib and our Higher priest Jesus, didn’t just dwell in your presence but also got into the world, to your people. Help us O Lord, it is so easy to think that we love you, when we find it very tough to love people who are made in your image. Help us to remember that the first commandment is to love you and the second equivalent command is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Help us to be a worshipper and also be a builder Lord, in Jesus name we pray, amen!