We cannot change the past, but God is changing us for the future.

我们不能改变过去，但上帝能改变我们，以面对未来。

Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. Nehemiah 2:17

来吧！我们重建耶路撒冷的城墙，免得再受凌辱。-尼希米记2章17节

When Edward Klee returned to Berlin after being away for many years, the city he remembered and loved was no longer there. It had changed dramatically, and so had he. Writing in Hemispheres magazine, Klee said, “Returning to a city you once loved tends to be a hit-or-miss proposition . . . . It can be a letdown.” Going back to the places of our past may produce a feeling of sorrow and loss. We are not the same person we were then, nor is the place that was so significant in our lives exactly as it was.

陈先生离开家乡多年，一天他重回旧地，发现记忆中深爱的城市已经不复存在，沧海桑田，人事全非，就连他自己也变了很多。在与老同学聚会时，他说：“回到曾经深爱的城市，看不到昔日的街景，难免令人不胜唏嘘。”的确，旧地重游，往往让人百感交集，带来的多半是失落与伤感。我们的年华消逝，而曾经对我们意义非凡的地方，也不再像以前那样了。

Nehemiah had been in exile from the land of Israel for many years when he learned of the desperate plight of his people and the devastation in the city of Jerusalem. He received permission from Artaxerxes, the Persian king, to return and rebuild the walls. After a night reconnaissance to examine the situation (Neh. 2:13–15), Nehemiah told the inhabitants of the city, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace” (v. 17).

尼希米在被掳之地生活多年之后，听说以色列的耶路撒冷遭到毁坏，被掳归回的人遭逢大难，他便请求波斯亚达薛西王的允许，返回耶路撒冷，为要重建城墙。到了那里，他在夜间察看情况后（尼希米记2章13-15节），便对城中的百姓说：“我们所遭的难，耶路撒冷怎样荒凉，城门被火焚烧，你们都看见了。来吧！我们重建耶路撒冷的城墙，免得再受凌辱。”（17节）。

Nehemiah did not return to reminisce but to rebuild. It’s a powerful lesson for us as we consider the damaged parts of our past that need repair. It is our faith in Christ and His power that enables us to look ahead, move forward, and rebuild.

尼希米重返故土不是怀旧，乃是为了重建。当我们要修复过去生命中的伤害和裂痕时，这是很好的学习功课。只要信靠基督和祂的能力，我们就能面对困境、勇往直前，并开启重建之路。

Thank You, Lord,

 for the work You are doing in 

us and through us.

主啊，感谢祢，因为祢在我心中动工， 

更藉着我完成祢的工作。

Nehemiah 2:11-18New International Version (NIV)

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. 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.

13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal[a] Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 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; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 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.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

尼希米记 2:11-18Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

11 我到了耶路撒冷，在那里住了三日。 12 我夜间起来，有几个人也一同起来，但神使我心里要为耶路撒冷做什么事，我并没有告诉人。除了我骑的牲口以外，也没有别的牲口在我那里。 13 当夜我出了谷门，往野狗[a]井去，到了粪厂门，察看耶路撒冷的城墙，见城墙拆毁，城门被火焚烧。 14 我又往前，到了泉门和王池，但所骑的牲口没有地方过去。 15 于是夜间沿溪而上，察看城墙，又转身进入谷门，就回来了。 16 我往哪里去，我做什么事，官长都不知道，我还没有告诉犹大平民、祭司、贵胄、官长和其余做工的人。

劝民重建城垣

17 以后，我对他们说：“我们所遭的难，耶路撒冷怎样荒凉，城门被火焚烧，你们都看见了。来吧，我们重建耶路撒冷的城墙，免得再受凌辱。” 18 我告诉他们我神施恩的手怎样帮助我，并王对我所说的话。他们就说：“我们起来建造吧！”于是他们奋勇做这善工。

整理：于姊妹