WORDprints

places where God's Word has touched my life and left it's impression

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

by night

"I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work."
Nehemiah 2:11-16
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By night...... then, as now, that seems the time for examining the deep things of cities.... the walls.... the gates......... as well as a time for examining the deep things of our lives. Maybe the dark obscures the details that so often bog us down.... leaving us more free to see the bigger picture. And maybe in the quiet of the night, we can better hear God's voice..... leading, guiding, and encouraging.