This is the first on this series. We had already defined brokenness as the painful process of training and discipline it takes to be totally kept under God and fully submitted to Him. They are those actions taken by God in order to produce character, self-control and habits of obedience in His child. God does not only deal with the visible habits but also the hidden thoughts, attitudes and intents of the heart.
We are going to see examples that illustrate brokenness so that we have better and broader understanding of the subject. They will be discussed exhaustively. Brokenness, no matter how painful it may be, is inevitable to every life that will be useful in God’s hand in bringing divine virtues to this broken world.
Shaping of costly stones in the Quarry for use in God’s building (1kgs 5: 17-18; 6:7)
“And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.” ( I Kings 5:17-18 KJV).
“And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.” ( I King 6:7
KJV)
A quarry is an open excavation from which stone is cut, usually for building purposes…while building stones were occasionally finished at the quarry, the final dressing was usually completed at the building site. (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
The stones are cut into desired shapes. Rough edges are removed. If a piece of stone is taken to the site and it is discovered that it did not go through the quarry, the workmen will reject it and send it back. Why? Working on it in the building is going to cause noise and extra energy. This is because the tools for preparing the stones are in the quarry. The building site is for finished products to be fixed so as to bring out the beauty of the house. It shows that any stone that did not go to the quarry will be useless to the builders at the site.
From 1 Kings 5:17, we learn that the stones were great ones, costly and expensive, yet they had to go to the quarry. They had to go there if they would fit into the plan for the building.
Now, “we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.” 1 Cor 3:9 (KJV)
“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Heb 3:6 (KJV)
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet 2:5 (KJV)
We are God’s building and at the same time God’s co-builders. We are the instruments God uses to build His house, the Church. God wants to make us able instruments in His hands. However, we must be willing to go to the quarry so that we can fit into God’s plan. All of us are raw materials but our usefulness depends on how we yield and consecrate our lives to God.
There is so much ‘noise, completion, confusion and quarrels’ today in the building site because men have refused training and discipline. We are all here giving reasons why our failures are legitimate and our weaknesses have no help. As we continually submit ourselves to God’s dealings, we grow everyday to become the kind of vessels He wants us to be fit for His use.
The next time you begin to pass through some difficult situation, ask God to help you see whether it is a ‘quarry experience’ for your training or not.
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