In 1622 Louis XIII of France armed his light cavalry with muskets and summarily named them "The Musketeers of the Guard".  This battle unit fought both on foot and on horseback. They formed the royal guard for the king while he was outside of the royal residences.  In 1844, the French novelist Alexandre Dumas wrote a novel chronicling the adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan after he leaves home and travels to Paris to join the Musketeers of the Guard. D'Artagnan is not one of the musketeers of the title; those are his friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, inseparable friends who live by the motto "all for one, one for all".  

 

This Musketeer motto reminds me of the call of Nehemiah to the people of Judah as he rallied them to rebuild Jerusalem's ravaged walls (Nehemiah 2:17).

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work."

Around 445BC Nehemiah called the people to UNIFIED ACTION, "Come, let us rebuild".  Each one was to have a part, no one was exempt, and everyone was called to participate.  Nehemiah called them to a UNIFIED GOAL, upon completion "we will no longer be in disgrace".  Jerusalem's broken wall and burned gates were a mark of shame to the nation of Israel.  For 142 years, the rubble of Jerusalem had been a daily, visible reminder of God's punishment, meeted out by the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon in 587BC on Israel for their sins of unfaithfulness.  Under Nehemiah's leadership, the people joined as one and completed the wall in 52 days - and this in spite of serious opposition!  Upon completion of the newly built wall, Nehemiah called the nation to UNIFIED WORSHIP as Ezra read the The Law before all the people (Chapter 8).  The people mourned as they heard God's Word and measured their actions against its holiness.  Nehmiah then called the nation to UNIFIED REPENTANCE (Chapter 9).  The nation put on sackcloth and ashes and acknowledged their sins before God (Nehemiah 9:36-37).

“But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. ³⁷ Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress."

Finally, Nehemiah called the nation to UNIFIED RECOMMITMENT, Chapter 10 chronicles the signing of a covenant by the people before God.  The covenant pledged a commitment to purity and exclusive worship of the one true God.

If God wills and the Lord tarries, we will soon embark on construction of a new place of worship for the R&C family.  As we approach this task, let's take the opportunity to build anew our spiritual house as well.  Let's be UNIFIED in ACTION as we build together with each one having and doing their part, UNIFIED in GOAL as we construct a building of living stones who reach outward into our communities and whose lights shine for all to see and be drawn to the Lord, UNIFIED in WORSHIP as we uphold God's Word as our only standard and guide and the mirror by which we judge only ourselves, UNIFIED in REPENTANCE for sins that have held us captive in the past, and UNIFIED in RECOMMITMENT to purity, worship, thanksgiving, praise and service to the one, true God.

As we build together, let's give our all for the One who gave His all for us!  Praise be to God!

Gordon