A home without walls offers NO protection – not from storms, bad weather, thieves, or anything else. Walls are important as they stand in place to guard, fortify and shield us from harm.
When the Babylonians conquered and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, they broke down the walls and burned the gates with fire. However, God moved the heart of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, to allow Nehemiah, his Jewish cupbearer, to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah had prayed and fasted to God for 4 months before petitioning the King to return to his home and repair Jerusalem’s city walls. He successfully led his people to reinforce the walls through 52 days, while they were also watching the enemy and protecting the city from those who opposed them.
What is the significance of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall? The walls were a protection, but they were also an important physical symbol of the establishment of the Jews as a nation.
Have the walls of protection and safeguarding around your heart maybe also been compromised or broken? Do you sometimes feel as if nothing can rebuild your hopes or your life? Maybe you feel destroyed by outside opposition? Have you grown accustomed to living a life unprotected from the enemy?
When Nehemiah learned how vulnerable Jerusalem was, he started to fast and pray and seek heavenly wisdom from God. He was given the strength and courage to petition the King and was granted his request to rebuild the wall. We too can pray during our trials and difficult circumstances.
God says to us in Isaiah 49:15-16, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; YOUR WALLS ARE EVER BEFORE ME.” In the ancient days, people used to write all their history on walls, thus preserving who married whom, names of their children, and the number of animals they had etc.
Our ‘walls’ are our lives. God knew us before we were born, and He continues to see and know us every day and night of our lives. Our walls, our lives are open before Him. Thus, He can mend any broken walls we have and restore them with His oil of love, forgiveness, and healing.
Thank You precious Father God that You know our wounds, our sufferings, our sorrows, and everything about us. Jesus, Your body was wounded for us and our names are engraved on Your hands. Thank You that You are willing to rebuild and establish us like Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls. Please help me to be on the lookout for opposition from the enemy of our souls and to come running to You every time I need protection.
Myrtle Turunen