“15 The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. 16 Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes.17 Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. 18 Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui  son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. 19 Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle of the wall. 20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 Next to him, Meremothson of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the end of it.” NIV

It strikes me that this whole chapter is a kind of ‘House of heroes.’ It’s a documentation of the efforts and contributions of many, who worked so hard to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, whilst facing a barrage of opposition and difficulty.

But among all those who worked willingly and well, it is only said of ‘’Baruch son of Zabbai’’ that he ‘’zealously repaired another section’’ (20). Warren Wiersbe points out that the Hebrew word means ‘to burn or glow’ and he says it suggests that ‘Baruch burned a lot of energy!’ I think of Jesus’ words about John the Baptist: ‘’John was a lamp that burned and gave light…’’ (John 5:35). I believe there is the idea there of burning up. John gave his all in his testimony to Jesus.

‘’Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…’’ (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

‘’One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys’’ (Proverbs 18:9).

Remember, the Lord finds lukewarmness distasteful.

PRAYER: ‘Lord, help me to not live on a ‘low light’. May I give my very best to and for you.