Rebuilt with Gemstones
Isaiah 54:11-12
Poor Jerusalem, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I will set your stones in black mortar, and lay your foundations in sapphires. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling stones, and all your walls of precious stones.
I love jewelry and gemstones, so, naturally, I’m attracted to these verses. In this passage, God looks upon Jerusalem in her ravaged, exiled state and promises to rebuild her. In her current condition, she is not valued and has been ravaged by the enemy. No one looks in pity upon her to comfort her or to try to make things better for her. The enemy has taken from her and now that she is storm-tossed with nothing to offer, she is of no use to anyone of influence or means to help her.
I think most of us have felt that way at some point. Regardless of our ability, passion, desire, or efforts, we don’t feel valued, and no one seems to care. Doors are closed, and no one is concerned for our well-being. We may feel alone and on our own to survive in a cruel world that sees no value in what we have to offer. God, however, chose Jerusalem for His own, and He has chosen us. He promised to rebuild Jerusalem with sapphires, rubies, and precious stones. He would make her valuable once again. He can make our life valuable once again when we let Him rebuild us and are willing to become someone new for His glory.
God promised to lay Jerusalem’s foundations with sapphires. In ancient times, blue sapphires held the promise of honesty, loyalty, purity, and trust. They were and still are popular stones used for engagement rings. When we turn to God, He rebuilds us after our storms with a foundation of honesty, loyalty, purity, and trust. We must remember that He is the builder, and these are symbols of His loyalty to us.
Built upon such a solid foundation, God promised to make Jerusalem’s battlements of rubies. Battlements were like towers in the wall that had open windows from which to shoot an approaching enemy. Rubies were a symbol of love, passion, courage, and emotion. God’s heart is toward us, and He will defend us against any enemy that threatens our relationship with Him or our well-being. We have His great love for us as our defense!
God takes what is not valued and makes it something of great value. He takes what is used and thrown away and makes something beautiful of it. He takes what has been ravaged by the enemy and clothes it with His great love. Turn to Him and let Him rebuild you into a fortress of great value in His kingdom. He gives us our worth, and we must find it in Him.
Have a blessed day!