For a couple of weeks, recently, I kept hearing this phrase, Repairer Of The Breach, so I decided to investigate and see where this was. I knew it was in the Old Testament, but where? Lo, and behold I found it!
Here’s our key scripture in the series from the Old Testament, “Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell.” Isaiah 58:12, NKJV
This Repairer and Restorer is Jesus, the Messiah.
This verse is found within Chapter 58, which speaks of true fasting and worship.
As we begin, I think it’s important to point out that the chapter is revealing guidelines that are acceptable to God. He even brings forth some corrections that are needed. Not only does He list corrections, but He releases promises and rewards that will be released when His children obey Him.
I’m not going to list all the guidelines, but I do recommend you read the entire chapter on your own. You will see clearly that God is very specific about what is acceptable and what is not.
I know some are asking,
What Does This Have To Do With Being The Repairer Of The Breach?
It’s all connected; but more importantly, we are being reminded that God is in the repairing and restoring business. However, there are some things He asks of us as He repairs and restores.
He’s always trying to transform our hearts, why?
For it is “Out of the heart flow the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
God wants to change the heart issues that have damaged or hindered our walk and our life.
He doesn’t want us to just go through our Christian motions, our duties, our rules and regulations. In this chapter, God’s children were going through the motions of fasting, but their hearts were not in it.
He even said at one point, “Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.” Isaiah 58:4
Let’s look at our key scripture again:
“Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, (Repairer of Broken Walls) the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.” (Isaiah 58:12, NKJV)
In our scripture, the very first couple of words are the promise of building the old waste places.
Metaphorically speaking, those “old waste places” symbolize desolation referring to the cities and places that were destroyed.
Jerusalem was destroyed, yet given the promise of being rebuilt.
The temple of God, where they worshiped and honored the Lord, was ruined.
Their lives were centered around the temple in Jerusalem. It was the heart of Jewish religious life, serving as the place where God’s presence dwelt among His people.
So, we ask, how is that relevant now?
Here’s the analogy:
If our lives seem desolate and seem like they have been wasted and ruined, He still promises to rebuild us.
God is promising that He will not forget us, just like He will not forget Israel.
Yes, He promises to redeem us, just as He did His children of Israel. We just celebrated that our Redeemer lives!
It’s time to position ourselves to be rebuilt and restored in His way.
Aren’t we, God’s children (who house the temple of the Holy Spirit), being rebuilt through the foundation of His written Word and by the Word (Jesus) as His very life is within us?
Yes, I repeat, it’s time to position ourselves to be rebuilt and restored by Him in His way.
Some may ask, “How do we do that?”
Here Are Some Steps To Help:
- To position ourselves, we first need to recognize that only through Him and by Him can we be rebuilt and restored.
- Be willing to identify those old waste places, leaving regret behind, so the rebuilding can take place.
How do we surrender and position?
There’s a question that was asked long ago that may help us to position ourselves.
As we come to a close, I’ll ask the same question Paul asked years later when he was speaking to the Corinthian church,
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
LET’S PRAY: Lord Jesus, we come before you and recognize that only through YOU and by YOU can we be rebuilt and restored. Jesus, we’ve tried it our own way, and it didn’t work.
So, as we position ourselves before you, would you have us look at those “old places of waste” so you can rebuild and restore us?
We choose to remember, not for the sake of just remembering, we choose to Zakhar, to forge ahead in the remembering, not being stuck.
We choose not to look back in regret, but to look ahead in expectation.
We no longer want to stay stuck where we are.
We no longer want to rehearse what went wrong.
We are choosing for you to reveal to us in a deeper way that we, as a Christ-follower, are the temple of God, your Spirit is inside of us, and your power resides within us to move ahead in your ways and in your timing.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on My Beloved’s Voice
KINGDOM ASSURANCE
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