Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

This is an amazing passage with a beautiful promise and a dreadful warning. God woos us and warns us far more deeply and vulnerably that we normally do with one another. A righteous man is like a tree that is planted by abundant water and he bears fruit to accredit his calling because he is about the Lords work.

Lianne and I have been so proud of the how the South Region has come together around us, around God and around a vision of an evangelized Southern Los Angeles. I’ve personally be so impressed with the hearts in the region. I can see clearly that the Lord has worked in the lives of a lot of people to get them ready for this battle! He has crafted them with kindness and also with tears to get them ready for this conquest.
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In 445 BC the residents of Jerusalem were building the wall with all their hearts. They knew that by having a fellowship of sold out Jews behind a wall of solid rock their nation could be restored and God’s plan revealed. They were threatened by violent enemies (Nehemiah 4:1-2), discouraged by lukewarm “friends” (Nehemiah 4:10), suffering from lack of resources and limited numbers yet they strived forward through hard work and faith. They had nothing but their faith and their mission. Below is the account of the remnant who rebuilt the southern part of Jerusalem’s wall. Their names are now immortalized in the Scriptures, their ordeal an inspiration for all generations. Try to get into their sandals and think about their names as you read through this; our family history:

Nehemiah 3: 10-27

Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. They also repaired five hundred yards of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.

The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Recab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.

The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-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. 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.
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