Published in 1797, Humpty Dumpty is considered the best known rhyme in the English language. In case you’ve forgotten it…
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men.
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
I have bad news, and I have good news.
Bad news first. Ever since the Garden of Eden there have been days we feel like we’ve fallen off our wall (or maybe feel like we’ve been pushed off). Not able to get up, and with no one who can put us back together again, we can lose heart. This is bad news indeed.
Now the good news. While all the king’s horses, or the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again – our King can!
Maybe different – but always better, and stronger for the fall.
David, who was called and anointed to become the great king of Israel, was shoved from his wall on more than one occasion. He was hated by King Saul who was jealous of David and God’s call on his life. Saul tried to kill David more than once. God was with David and made sure the murderous plans didn’t succeed. David had many enemies—but God was David’s expert restorer. Always able to put David together again.
Through all David’s off-the-wall falls, when He yielded to God, God put David back together. God did this even when it was David’s own fault. As it was in his adultery with Bathsheba, and the killing of her husband. David was eventually confronted by the prophet Nathan for his sin. David repented. From the broken glass of David’s spirit and life, God put the pieces together again.
What seemed like useless, broken glass only good for the trash, God carefully welded it together by the Holy Spirit. God’s finished project became a beautiful stained glass window for the glory of God to shine through.
Unfortunately, King Saul in the fall from his wall didn’t repent or surrender to God as did David. Therefore,it became a life ending change for him and his family. (1 Sam 31:3-4; 2 Sam 12:1-13),
Naomi, with her husband and 2 sons, went to Moab (the land of the gentiles) for what they hoped would be a better life. Her two sons married. Eventually, her husband and her two sons died.
Naomi catapulted from her wall. But, God wasn’t finished yet.
Her two daughter-in-laws also were thrown off the comfort of their walls.
Naomi wisely decided to go back to God’s country Judah. One daughter-in-law decided to stay with what she was comfortable. Ruth, the other daughter-in-law, put her faith in the God of Naomi and by faith followed Naomi.
Both Naomi and Ruth were on the way to restoration. That would turn out —way way better than before their wall fall!
For those who don’t know the rest of the story of the book of Ruth, when they were back in Judah, God lead Naomi to advise Ruth how to properly approach a near kinsman, Boaz. He was a very wealthy, and well respected man. Boaz became Ruth’s husband. Naomi was now the loved mother figure to Ruth. She was well taken care of, and became the nursemaid to Ruth and Boaz’ first son Obed. Ruth’s son would become the great grandfather of King David who is mentioned in the lineage of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter one.
Ruth and Naomi had disastorously fallen from their walls, splattered for all to see. But, God came as the King of kings and did what all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t.
If your heart and life seem like shattered glass strewn on the ground—take heart. The God of David, Naomi and Ruth is your God too. As you seek Him, and give Him your broken pieces, He will make a beautiful stained glass through which His glory will shine for all to see, and you’ll be sitting strong and secure again on your wall.