I will raise up his ruins

Amos 9:11

In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old.

Although Israel in their sin wandered and backslid many a time, and although they disregarded His commandments and often despised His laws and prophets, yet God’s promise to Israel has never been annulled. It cannot be redacted, rescinded, or revoked. The promise is to all generations. And Amos reiterates again that they shall dwell in their own land; they shall inhabit the place that once belonged to them. Although they would be scattered throughout the world, God would gather them again to assemble in the holy land. And the promise given in this verse is quite a wonderful promise. “I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen!” He says that He would “close up the breaches thereof!” And “I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old.” He will raise up His ruins! Is there anyone else that can bring renewal out of ruin and beauty out of desolation? Is there anyone else who can rebuild a fallen tabernacle, and close up the breaches? The Lord is a healer of wounds; He is a repairer of breaches, and a restorer of paths to dwell in. Nothing with Him is beyond repair and beyond hope. When placed in His hands, it can be saved and transformed to be a wondrous beauty. He raises up the ruins!

The Lord will raise up the ruins for Israel, and in the end of all things, will completely restore them to salvation and peace. But dear friends, let us never look at this as speaking only to Israel. This speaks of the character of God. He it is that doeth these things. And if He can do it for His people Israel, what reason could there be that He could not do it for us? And is this not what He does for many on a daily basis? He raises up that which was fallen. He restores families and repairs relationships if we will allow Him to do so. He closes up the breaches of long-time hurts and bitterness. He heals tender wounds that found no other balm. It is possible! It can be done with the Lord! But we must allow Him to heal. We must look to Him for the restoration that is needed in our lives and in the life of our great nation.

“I will raise up the ruins!” says the Lord. “And I will build it as in the days of old.” Are there ruins? Is there desolation? Has there been destruction? The Lord can fix and renew it. The Lord can raise it up again. Beloved, there is nothing beyond His power to change and transform. Let us look to Him to build the old waste places. Let us look to Him to create beauty in the place of destruction, and life in the place of death. He is the Savior and He is the Redeemer. He can build it as in the days of old. Let us take courage today, for the Lord can raise up the ruins!

“Dear Lord, as we look about us, we see ruins on every side. We see many things that have been destroyed in our nation. And this grieves our hearts. But we will take comfort that it is not beyond hope. In your hands, it can be rebuilt. And with the ruins that we see in the lives of those we love so dearly, and indeed, in our own lives, we look to you for healing and restoration. May you work in each situation to bring the best out of the worst, and glory out of shame. Please hear our prayers, Lord, and build again the ruins that have come down. And we shall praise you! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”