Rebuilding Broken Down Walls
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Intro:
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.
Today, the title of my message is, [Rebuilding Broken Down Walls].
I recently read about a many who has a son-in-law who is on track to become a master stonemason. The proud father-in-law wrote about it in a book, as he described the rigorous process of possessing the title of MASTER stonemason.
The process takes ten to fifteen years. First, he was an apprentice, learning from a master of the trade. Then he graduated to a journeyman. He had some skill about masonry, but had to work for someone else.
Then, after seven or so years, he will become an official master stonemason. Equipped with the skills to build buildings, walls, and projects that will stand the test of time.
The concept of applying time and talent to build something to last is all but forgotten in our society. On January 3, 2022 an article came out about Habitat for Humanity.
For the first time ever, they built a 3-D home, where a machine constructed the exterior of a 1200 square foot home in twenty-eight hours. The innovative work will enable more homes to be built, but time will tell how long the quality lasts.
In our text, we read how God’s people built walls around the entire city in fifty-two days. Now, over 2,500 years later, some of these walls still stand in Israel.
But this message is not about the actual process of constructing walls that last thousands of years. Instead, I want to see WHY cities needed walls.
Why did the Holy Spirit dedicate thirteen chapters to a man named Nehemiah, who rallied God’s people to rebuild the broken down walls?
In the Old Testament, the walls around a city signified identity and security. A city without walls was vulnerable to their enemies advances and attacks.
The walls were anywhere from twelve to eighteen feet thick and tall enough to keep the enemies from climbing over and into the city to attack.
These walls were important and required continuous repair and maintenance. It is interesting how years later, walls are often the only remains of these ancient cities.
They were thankful for their walls.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.”
Walls were not unique to Jerusalem, but they did serve a unique purpose. The walls were there to PROTECT something. In Israel’s case, the guarded something sacred— the Temple.
It is my aim in this message to make a spiritual connection to our lives from the physical attributes of walls and the work of Nehemiah who rebuilt the broken down walls.
As follower of Christ, we need walls of protection around THIS Temple. Remember:
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
God will help us rebuild the walls and protect the temple of the Spirit for:
28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.
Let’s look at one of the most important building projects of the Old Testament— the rebuilding of the broken down walls.
I have four points, [The Burden for Walls], [The Building of Walls], [The Battle over Walls], and [The Blessing of Walls].
Let’s begin
1. The Burden for Walls
1. The Burden for Walls
3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah lived in a fascinating time in the history of God’s people. We focused a lot on the Old Testament in 2021. Remember, God promised to be with His people if they would obey Him.
They did not and as a result went into captivity. Their awful exile began when Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar ransacked Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and burned down the walls.
After seventy years and a change in power, a new king from another empire things started to change. King Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem.
First they worked to rebuild the Temple. It took time, but God promised that the glory of the latter house would be greater than the glory of the former.
After a few years and the encouragement of the prophet Haggai, they completed the work on the Temple.
Seventy years later, we find Nehemiah, living far away from Jerusalem. In fact, he had an important position in the palace of the King Artexerxes in Persia.
He was a cup bearer, which meant he had to drink from the king’s cup first to make sure no one tried to poison him. Someone recently returned from Jerusalem and began visiting with Nehemiah.
He discovers that live was not that great in Jerusalem. People were distressed. Why?
They did not have any walls.
That might sound insignificant to us, but it was devastating for Nehemiah. He knew what it meant. No walls equaled no protection from their enemy’s attacks.
Without walls, they did not have any identity or security. They lost the Temple once, they could not bear to lost it a second time.
Upon hearing this news, Nehemiah was distraught. He went into a state of fasting, mourning, and praying for God to help. God gave him a burden for walls.
Nehemiah shows us why we need a burden for spiritual walls. If he was so concerned about the physical temple, how much more should we have concern for our spiritual temple?
It is essential that we survey our walk with God, are we vulnerable to temptation and the attacks of the enemy?
Are there weak spots where we could not defend a spiritual attack?
God wants to give us a burden for walls. But the burden is not enough, we need...
2. The Building of Walls
2. The Building of Walls
17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”
18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.
Nehemiah continued to pray and fast for four months. One day, King Artexerxes took notice. He asked him what was wrong?
It took boldness for Nehemiah to say anything. He could have lost his life even showing sadness in the king’s presence. God softened the king’s heart and listened to burden on Nehemiah’s heart.
Boldness came upon Nehemiah and he requested time to go to Jerusalem, survey the damage, and rally the nation to rebuild. God’s favor was upon him, and the king gave him permission and agreed to give him whatever he needed to get the job done.
The king made Nehemiah governor over Jerusalem. He kept his burden to himself and at night, he snuck out to survey the damage.
After seeing the extent of the work needed, he summoned the priests, nobles, officials, and all administrators to paint the picture of their trouble.
He acknowledged they were in trouble because the walls were gone. He then relayed how God gave him favor to come to Jerusalem and help fortify the city.
He called on them— LET US ARISE AND BUILD.
Having a burden over brokenness is not enough, we have to take ACTION. In our walk with God, we need to get serious about protecting our relationship with God.
It is more than praying the prayer and going around life unprotected and vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.
But notice, Nehemiah did not bemoan his situation forever. He took his God-given authority and began to do the work God appointed him to do.
Spiritual walls are never built on talk alone. It is not enough to talk about:
prayer
fasting
reading our Bible
depending on the Holy Spirit
Anyone can discuss:
having faith
reaching the lost
working for God
But talk is cheap. Our burden and talk has to translate into DOING SOMETHING FOR GOD.
Nehemiah had a burden to rebuild the broken down walls, but he took action and started to make plans to BUILD the walls. But building walls often leads to...
3. The Battle over Walls
3. The Battle over Walls
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”
20 So I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah’s presence caused problems for Judah’s enemies. As he began his plans to build the walls, we read of three people:
Sanballat
Tobiah
Geshem
Nehemiah 2:10 tells us they were deeply disturbed that a man came to help God’s people. Notice power of ONE person with a burden and a plan to build.
Nehemiah was as threatening to them as a large army. And it was ALL because he wanted to build the broken down walls.
The three men were governors over their cities/nations. If we had an ancient map, we would find that:
Sanballat led the people to the north of Jerusalem
Tobiah led the people to the east
Geshur led the people to the south
Nehemiah and God’s people were surrounded by enemies on all sides. At first, they did not like what Nehemiah did, but as time went on, they grew concerned over the progress the people of Judah made in rebuilding the walls.
Sanballat was furious and belittled the Jews with questions about their motives. He accused them of a feeble work, the burned wall will never stand again.
Tobiah was even pettier as he told everyone even a fox will be able to topple down the walls they rebuild.
We must never underestimate the power of spiritual warfare when we determine to do what God has called us to do.
Notice, their enemies were not as harsh when they rebuilt the Temple, it was when they sought to PROTECT the temple that the enemy came in full force.
The enemy of our souls has a problem when we get serious about our walk with God. When we determine to protect the Temple of the Holy Spirit, he will:
question us
intimidate us
mock us
But we can learn from Nehemiah. He did not recoil at their attempts to stop him. What they did not realize was God can do more through a person with a burden.
16 So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah.
17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.
20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
The people grew weary and some were discouraged by the threats of the enemy. But God spoke to Nehemiah and led the people to pray.
Here was a critical juncture. They could have stopped and given up because of opposition. Instead, they chose to dig their heels in, square their shoulders, work even harder.
He did not deny that a battle could start, but he equipped them to do the work. They carried their tools and their swords. Then he promised them— if you hear the trumpet blowing, our enemies are close, but GOD will fight for us.
Nehemiah had a made up mind. He was committed to building walls to protect the Temple. Therefore, he knew nothing or no one could stop him.
If we survey our lives and determine we have some weak spots, we should pray for God to give us a burden to build a wall. Then, we have to get serious about it and build, knowing the enemy will take us to battle.
But we must not quit, for once the wall is built and the battle is won, we will discover...
4. The Blessings from Walls
4. The Blessings from Walls
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem did all they could to stop Nehemiah, but it did not work. God protected and helped the men of Judah to build the walls.
In fifty-two days the walls were finished and the gates were hung and Jerusalem was safe.
The walls were more than a physical protection, they also provided a spiritual blessings. Ezra, the priest, gathered all the people to celebrate what God did.
Then he took the book of the Law, the writings of Moses, and read them to the entire crowd. From morning to afternoon, he read in front of both men and women, so that they could know what God wanted.
After he finished reading, everyone cried out AMEN and AMEN. They lifted their hands. They bowed down. And they fell to the ground in worship.
I wonder how Ezra felt during this. I believe the completed walls was something God revealed He would do long before Nehemiah got to Jerusalem.
Prior to Nehemiah, Ezra led a group of people back to Jerusalem. Then they arrive, he led them in prayer.
7 Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been very guilty, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day.
8 And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.
9 For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
He confessed their sins before God. Then he thanked God for His grace and commited to rebuild the ruins. But what was a connection between their return and their rebuilding— REVIVAL.
He believed that with the walls in proper order, God would revive and renew God’s people. They were not fully free. They still had a foreign king leading them.
They were still under the curse of sin. But God gave them a measure of REVIVAL!
When we get serious about protecting our relationship with God over EVERYTHING else, God will bless us with His pouring out HIs Spirit.
We cannot become nonchalant, cavalier, or selfish in our relationship with God. Instead, we must rebuilding the broken down walls.
Close:
Who would have thought walls were so important in our walk with God.
It was a couple of weeks ago that I listened to a message. Briefly the pastor mentioned walls, and I felt the Spirit speak to me to look into walls.
I am glad I listened. For now is the time that God’s people MUST rebuild the broken down walls in our walk with God.
We live in a day where we are recipients of YEARS of the enemy chipping away at the walls of protection God’s people have:
the wall of morality seems gone
the wall of commitment seems nonexistent
the wall of Biblical living has disappeared
the wall of faithfulness to Church weakens
the wall of holy living is fallen and people conform to the world
and I could continue to list more and more walls
But I feel a burden like Nehemiah, God HELP us rebuild these broken down walls.
And I come with a word from heaven to declare, God wants to give us a burden— so that we will arise and build— even when the enemy battle against us— we will enjoy the blessings of these walls!
For the prophet Isaiah spoke:
1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks.
2 Open the gates, That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
18 Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, And your gates Praise.
Our WALLS Salvation
Our GATES Praise
We cannot have gates to praise God, if we do not have walls of protection around our salvation. The Lord wants us to keep our mind stayed on Jesus and continue trusting in the Lord.
Who wants to rebuild these broken down walls?
Husbands and wives— every time we go to church together, pray together, read the Bible together, and live for Jesus together— we’re building walls of GRACE around our marriage.
Parents— every time we pray over our kids, tell them about the Lord, bring them to God’s house, and MODEL how to live for Jesus— we’re building walls of PREPARATION around our children.
As a pastor— every time I pray and hear from God, and obey Him, and preach truth— I am building a wall around our church
Teachers, be it in Sunday School, Kid’s Church, or on Wednesday— every time we study our lessons, show up to our post, and present truth— we’re building walls of TRUTH around those who need to learn the WORD.
Worshippers— every time we sings, play our instrument, or worship God— we’re building walls of God’s PRESENCE in our congregation.
And if we keep building these walls, protecting our salvation, we will come to God and open the gates of PRAISE and the KING OF GLORY SHALL COME IN!
So what about the walls in our lives?
Are they broken?
Are we building them?
Are they built but need repair or maintenance?
Let the Spirit that was upon Nehemiah come upon us and give us a:
burden to
build and to fight in
battle so that we might enjoy the
blessings of these protecting and spiritual walls!
