The previous series told of how God’s people had sinned against Him. Beginning with Solomon, they had allowed in many cultures and incorporated idolatry into their worship. This lead to a division between the ten tribes of the Jewish nation from the other two. The ten tribes making up the Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians first. Ignoring the warnings of God, the Southern Kingdom fell to the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar after His overthrow of the Assyrians. As a divided nation, their strength to withstand evil had been diminished. Just as God promised, after seventy years of exile; the remnant of faithful believers began to return to Jerusalem to rebuild. Under Zerubbabel, a descendent of David; the first group returned and built the temple. Then Ezra, a priest, lead the second group. Years later, God called a layman, Nehemiah, to “build that wall.”
Why was a wall needed? According to the report Nehemiah received, the remnant in Jerusalem was shamed. A city with broken walls revealed a defeated people. The Jews who had returned to their homeland were both in unsafe conditions and humiliated at living in a destroyed city…. rebuilding the walls showed that God was with His people.1
Nehemiah 6:16 refers to this fact, after the wall was completed. “And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.”
A BROKEN WALL
When Nebuchadnezzar took Judah captive, he destroyed the temple and destroyed the wall.
And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
Therefore, he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.
And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof (2 Chronicles 36: 15-19).
God had pleaded with His people. He knew that continuing down the path of sin and idolatrous living would destroy any hope of happiness. Happiness could only be found in God, their creator who knew exactly what their hearts needed to be satisfied. But alas, they did not heed His warnings. In order, to save the few that were faithful; judgment would have to come upon them all. The righteous would suffer, alongside the unrighteous; that the nation could be cleansed.
FEARFUL AWAITING OF JUDGMENT
For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries (Hebrews 10: 26-27).
This is not saying those who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, can lose their salvation. It is saying, those who have heard the truth and reject it; have no hope.
For the nation of Israel, they awaited the Messiah. However, the majority were seeking worldly pleasures; doing whatever they wanted. Having been given the truth, they rejected it. Now judgment would come. Unfortunately, the righteous would also suffer; however, theirs would be the sweet redemption one day. God promised that, they believed it. In this world, Christians will suffer or even die for the name of Christ. But one day, He will return for His own.
GOD COMMANDED NEHEMIAH TO BUILD THAT WALL
Well back to the story at hand. The first group of faithful returned to Jerusalem as soon as they heard the decree of Cyrus. Of the millions scattered, only a few returned. Many chose to stay where they were in new lands among their former captors. They had grown comfortable in their new lifestyle. “The people who returned to the land of promise were publicly acknowledging that they believed God would reestablish the nation and usher in a time of kingdom blessing”2
Those who returned still faced many challenges. Many enemies still entered their city. Their temple was always at risk of being attacked. That is, until God Commanded Nehemiah to build that wall.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FOR YOU AND ME
What could all this possibly mean for us? Everything! We must turn our eyes to the only one who can provide hope amid the turmoil and evil we see around us. Just as God preserved and re-established His people in the Old Testament, He will today. If only we would trust Him. Oh, yes; we may face continued trials on this journey. However, we can trust He who promised to provide us His best. He is the treasure we seek. Take time to read your Bible and sit alone with God. If you do not know Him, I urge you to consider Him today. Below is a link to how to be saved.
CONCLUDING TWEETS
[tweetthis]When God called Nehemiah to build that wall, it symbolized His protection[/tweetthis]
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.
OR ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
1 “Why Was It Important to Rebuild the Walls of Jerusalem?”, Got Questions Ministries, accessed November 6, 2017, https://www.gotquestions.org/rebuild-walls-Jerusalem.html.
2 Martin, John A., “Ezra”, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty: Old Testament, John Walvoord and Roy Zuck, eds., (Colorado Springs: CO: Victor, 2004), 651
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