So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. Nehemiah 6:15
On the 25th day of each month, a Bible verse from the Christmas story appears at the top of the AssemblyLine.ca web page. So at least once a month, AssemblyLine.ca readers are reminded that Mary brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 That the Lord Jesus was born into this world is a wonderful truth that deserves to be brought to our attention frequently. Even once a month is not nearly often enough. Some 450 years before the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, another significant event occurred in Israel, an event that many of the people there noted carefully and commemorated for many years afterwards. It was not on the 25th of December – they didn’t use the same names for their months as we use – but the 25th of Elul that the people in Jerusalem finished rebuilding their walls. At long last, after many years of uncertainty and trouble from outsiders, they were safe from harassment. Finally, they could safely conduct themselves according to the laws that God had delivered to them through Moses. Temple worship and temple ordinances could safely be conducted. Every one of us who are saved has such a significant day in our lives.
If the 25th of Elul was a day to remember in Jerusalem, so is the day of our salvation. Until that day in our experience, we were like the people in Jerusalem before the walls were rebuilt; we were vulnerable to enemies and liable to disaster. We were unsheltered not only from the destruction of all of our spiritual enemies, but we were abiding under the sentence of death because of our sins. We were exposed to something that we had no control over, and that we had no remedy for. But the time came when the Holy Spirit moved in our experience, and brought us to faith in Christ. On that day and at that moment, a great wall of protection rose around us, and we were eternally safe from the judgment that we deserved. And that is well worth our celebration, well worth our marking that day on our calendars for a reminder.
When we sing Happy Birthday to children in our Sunday School, we sing ‘Happy birthday, yes two, only one will not do’. And we note not only those children (and adults) who are celebrating a birthday that week, but also those in the company who are celebrating a spiritual birthday. That spiritual birthday is of greater significance than the first birthday. None of us can remember the day of our birth. But all of us can remember the day of our salvation. Its events are clearly etched into our memories, and we recall them with deep thanksgiving. And when that day falls on our calendar, we celebrate. And we should do so with great joy.
When was the 25th of Elul in your experience? Will you celebrate its anniversary with great joy? -Jim MacIntosh