Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem

https://odb.org/2025/03/10/resting-in-christ

Nehemiah 4:1–9 (NIV): 6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.
7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

If Moses is known for bringing the Israelites out of Egypt and the introduction of the Mosaic law and Joshua is known for his conquest of Canaan (especially the fall of walls of Jericho), then Nehemiah is known for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem after the return of the Jews from Babylon during the period of the Second Temple. Nehemiah, a high official in the Persian court, sought and was granted permission by King Artaxerxes I to return to Jerusalem as the governor to rebuild not only the walls of Jerusalem but also the Temple. He faced opposition and ridicule from the surrounding enemies of Israel but persevered through. With the people united in strength and vision, they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in fifty-two days, doing masonry work as well as posting armed men to keep guard. They displayed both diligence and bravery, working tirelessly to lay the bricks and stones and yet willing to take up arms to fight if they were attacked by their enemies. They prayed to God at the same time, and perhaps because they stood guard and the LORD protected them, none of their enemies attacked them. Although their resources were divided (stonework and brickwork/armed guards), they finished their work in record time!

Nehemiah teaches us an important lesson in rebuilding our spiritual lives. When we are rebuilding, we need to be vigilant at the same time. With prayer and by committing our spiritual lives to God, we have Him on our side to help us rebuild our spiritual lives. Yet, we must remain vigilant to protect ourselves from the evil one. Practically even as we devote time to pray and dwell in His Word, we mustn’t do anything that may allow room for the enemy to attack or distract us. We must stand strong in the midst of the devil’s vile schemes and temptations.

Nehemiah also speaks of rebuilding our natural lives in the sense that God is able to restore what the locusts have devoured. The Lord will rebuild our lives if we have been devastated by events or circumstances, the same way He sent Nehemiah to do so for Jerusalem. As He did not allow Jerusalem to lay in ruins, He will not allow our ruins to overcome our resolve to rise again both, spiritually and naturally. Our Lord will pick us up and carry us through the storm, and then we will walk again, in the splendour of His love and grace. The LORD our God is the rebuilder of Jerusalem and is the rebuilder of lives! Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life! Amen!