Walls are designed to keep people safe. But walls also divide, keeping people apart. The 96-mile (155 km) Berlin Wall kept the East Germans in. The Great Wall of China, which was believed to be 5,500 miles long (8,850 km) and is now estimated to be 13,170 miles long (21,196 km), kept enemies out.
In 586 BC, the Babylonians tore down Jerusalem’s walls and destroyed the city. Nehemiah experienced many sleepless nights as he considered the ramifications of the broken-down barriers (Nehemiah 1:4). But what was all the fuss about a broken wall? (Nehemiah 1:3). Without the safety and security of the wall, very few Jews wanted to live in the city.
So Jerusalem, the city of God, remained a deserted and dead city, a disgrace and a shame. Her enemies taunted and mocked the people saying that Israel’s God was too weak to protect her (Psalm 79:1-4; Lamentations 2:15-16; Joel 2:17). In fact, lots were cast to force people to relocate to the city (Nehemiah 11:1-2). So it was imperative that the wall be rebuilt so that Jerusalem could once again be the glorious city of God (Psalm 48:1-14).
Today, we need to be wall-builders if we’re going to survive and thrive in the broken and dangerous world around us. We need to build . . . a wall of protection to keep us from the attacks of Satan, giving us safety and victory; a wall of separation to keep worldliness out, excelling in our purity and integrity; a wall of devotion to keep and protect our fellowship and communion with God, growing in our spirituality and maturity; a wall of unification to keep God’s people together, dwelling in unity and community.
What about your “Jerusalem”? Are your walls torn down and in need of urgent repair? “Let us rebuild the [walls] and end this disgrace!” (Nehemiah 2:17).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 3:22-36
More:
Ezra 4:6-23 tells of an earlier attempt to rebuild the walls that ended in failure. What might hinder or stop you from rebuilding the walls in your life?
Next:
What are you trying to keep in and what are you trying to keep out with your walls? What walls do you need to rebuild?
Aganos on June 20, 2013 at 2:52 am
Thank God for you Kim. i started rebuilding my walls yesternight. to keep off wourdliness and devote more time in fellowship with God. to teach my son the word of God and keep off from unneccesary disruptions. am encouraged to know the wall of jerusalem was finally rebuild through Nehemias devotion and commitment to God. this was my message. God bless you.
jimgroberts on June 20, 2013 at 7:53 am
Though it is true that we should not be influenced by the world yet our work is to influence the world thus we cannot build walls but allegiance to God.
Often it is called a battle of the mind. Even Jesus was able to be tempted yet built no walls but communication through love with the lost of the world. In fact he went out of His way to be amongst them. Hate the sin but love the sinner.
Jesus had few good things to say about the church in Revelations 2-3. With the church of Ephesus who had built a wall of righteousness He said “you have lost your first love, remove it or I will remove it” [paraphrased]. And what He instructed the church then applies to us all. “He who has an ear hear what the spirit is saying to the church”.
This is our protection and our strategy. Do as Jesus did “I only do what I see my Father do”
At Grace Christian Fellowship we have learned to accept the sinner and by love and encouragement and the word of the Spirit fight the sin. Ears, heart and eyes open with discernment.
When It comes to personal sin – God allows temptation and trials to come your way FOR YOUR GOOD [James 1:2-4]. Jesus tells you to fight them or escape [flee lust] for He will not allow anything that you cannot overcome [it is no good becoming a monk – we are to be in the world but not of the world.]
mike wittmer on June 21, 2013 at 11:08 am
Amen! I’m reminded that we need walls of protection on the Internet. There are so many dangers and temptations in this culture.