The Broken Wall

by L. Bowman | Category: The Return From Babylon | Aug 1956

(Nehemiah, chapters 1 and 2).

In the first six chapters of the book of Nehemiah we have the rebuilding of the wall of the city. According to Daniel 9.25 it was stated Jerusalem would be "built in troublous times." This expression, I judge, accurately describes the period of Nehemiah's ministry.

Ezra closes with the people of God in a right position as far as it went, aiming also at a right condition by separating themselves from their heathen wives; but during the few years between the close of the book of Ezra and the beginning of the book of Nehemiah, things had not improved and the latter opens with a scene of much weakness and disappointment. Hanani, in response to Nehemiah's inquiry depicts a sad picture of the condition of things in the land. " Great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire." In other words trouble within and without, no separation from the world, no godly discipline among the people of God with no open testimony.

Separation was the divine principle for Israel and is for God's people today. Nehemiah realized that rule and government brought about by God, and carried out by those whom God placed to rule and guide, are absolutely necessary if the people of God are to give Him pleasure by doing His will. If we fail to maintain the separation which God desires and demands, the adversary will endeavour to use his devices to cause havoc and disaster in the Place of the Name.

While Hanani in his description of things in the land passes over in silence the building of the temple and the reforms of Ezra, his report on the whole proves to be correct. Nehemiah, whose official position was in the palace at Shushan, had a true heart for God's people and was able, like Timothy, to care truly for their state. This can be seen both from his earnest inquiry for their welfare and from the manner with which he received news of their sad condition. He wept for the affliction of his people, mourned for the cause of it, fasted and prayed to the Lord for His deliverance. This showed how much he was in communion with God and shared His thoughts.

Our prayers should be to have the spirit of the man Nehemiah who without doubt appreciated and loved both the people of God and the house of God (1 John 5.1-3).

In his prayer Nehemiah, like Daniel, confessed the sins of the people as his own. Although he takes a low place about their sins he does not forget who they are and for whom he intercedes. To Hanani he speaks of the Jews that have escaped, but to God he speaks of them as the "children of Israel," adding in verse 10, "Now these are Thy servants and Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy great power." This reminds us of the prayer of Moses in Deuteronomy 9.26: "0 LORD God, destroy not Thy people and Thine inheritance, which Thou hast redeemed through Thy greatness". In the presence of God the despised Jews become "Thy people whom Thou hast redeemed," while in contrast to this Artaxerxes is described in verse 11 as simply " this man."

Nehemiah's prayer was one of intercession for the children of Israel as a whole. We should pray for all the saints (Ephesians 6.18). It can be said of Nehemiah that he manifested the spirit of Psalm 122: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee." With the walls of the city broken down Jerusalem could never be a true pattern of the whole truth of God. David spoke on this strain in Psalm 51.18, 19. After his repentance and return to God lie cried : Do good in Thy good pleasures unto Zion;

"Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Thenshalt Thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,

in burnt offering and whole burnt offering:

Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar."

Nehemiah shows a real concern about the broken walls of the city, and' on the above promise he fell back on God as a sufficient plea for an answer to his prayer. This came after a period of at least three months, from the month Chisley to the month Nisan, a time of testing for the faith and patience of God's servant. It was just as his faith had apparently almost failed for he had not been before time sad in the king's presence, when God moved the heart of the king to grant his request to return to Jerusalem to the great grief of Sanballat and Tobiah " that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel."

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, though he realized that God had sent him for a special work, he went about with marked caution. Three days elapsed before taking any step and no one was informed as to what God put in his heart to do at Jerusalem. A man is on right lines when God indicates to the heart His desire for a work to be done. Moreover before even attempting to put things right Nehemiah desired to obtain first hand knowledge of what was wrong, and he made a close inspection by night in order to acquaint himself with the true condition of things. It was only then, by identifying himself with the rest of Israel and their sad state-" Ye see the evil case that we are in,"-that as one in the mind of the LORD he gave advice as to what should be done. Was it that they should return to Babylon, or destroy the remnants of the wall that were standing, thus giving up all distinctive testimony? For what use, it might be asked, could there be amid so much failure for separating themselves from the heathen people around? NO. The counsel of Nehemiah was "as if a man inquired at the oracle of God "(2 Samuel 16.23): "Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach."

What a response came from the people as soon as Nehemiah disclosed how God had led him, and spoke of the king's word! Then "they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work." Surely we can learn a lesson from this; firstly, to ascertain if God is leading us for a work to be done, and secondly to respond to His leading with purpose of heart. In 1 Corinthians 3.11, Paul writes to the saints, "Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." When he went to Corinth Paul determined to know nothing among them "save Christ and Him crucified." He preached unto them not man's wisdom, but Christ as God's foundation for their faith to rest upon and to be built upon. All saints are called to be in some way builders. The word "edify" is to build. All ministry is for edification or building up. So the apostle goes on to say, "But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon." In the same letter he writes, "let all things be done unto edifying " (14.26). Pulling down is the opposite of edifying. Dividing and scattering are the opposites of gathering stones together and building them. So according to the wisdom given to the apostle he gave to the saints special instruction as to the order of the house of God.

When the enemies of the LORD heard the news the evil one worked through them, to scorn, to despise, and question the authority to do this thing. How confident Nehemiah was in answering them!" The God of heaven, He will prosper us" (2.20). He was their God, they His servants, therefore the work would go on despite the opposition. Today there are the enemies of the Lord seeking to frustrate and hinder His servants in their labours for their Master. The Lord reminds us in Matthew 5.11, 12:

"Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and. persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

Nehemiah realized what Jerusalem meant to him and his fellows. With the wall rebuilt they would be no more a reproach, but a testimony for God. We see God's purposes brought before us in their fulness under the type of a city where divine rule is exercised ; from which they that have no portion nor right nor memorial in the divine thing can be excluded and the service of the house of God can be carried out to His honour and glory.

As far as Sanballat and Tobiah were concerned, they were informed by Nehemiah that they had no portion, nor right nor memorial in Jerusalem. They were not in the mind of God, and it can be said of them and of men like them, "The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: ... and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged "(1 Corinthians 2.14).

L. Bowman | Aug 1956
The Return From Babylon