Rebuilding the Wall

The Book of Nehemiah records the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem.

…Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river. Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of [one of] the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall. And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah. Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces. And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters… Neh 3:6-12

In order to accomplish this awesome task, each family built the section of wall that was in front of their house. Some were in charge of installing gates, complete with locks and doors. Others were responsible for building a solid structure of wall, which would fortify and protect the city. But everyone had their part to do and they did it.

They worked collectively to accomplish a common goal for the common good.

This section of Scripture was in my One Year Bible for August 12th. The Lord spoke to my heart about the wall our family is building.
A spiritual wall to guard and protect the hearts and minds of our family. Some of our “building materials” are educating our children at home.


Neh 4:6 says, “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.”

The work that God calls our family to do as part of body of Christ only gets completed as we make-up our minds to do the hard work of building.

But as the Nehemiah and the remnant of Jews that returned to Israel learned, the building of the wall doesn’t happen without resistance.

The enemies of Israel came and “conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.” Neh 4:8

Our enemy, Satan, conspires to hinder our work too. We can learn from Nehemiah and his response to his foes.

Neh 4:9: Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
They prayed to the Lord and set guards up to watch against the enemy day and night. Nehemiah reminded the people to: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. Neh 4:14

We are called to do our part as watchers and builders as believers. But we must never forget that: In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. [emphasis mine] 4:20
God is with us. He never sleeps nor slumbers. He is guarding our family. He is faithfully guiding us and giving us wisdom for the decisions we are making.
He has already given us victory through the work of His Son Jesus.

As Philippians 2:13 reminds us, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

While Nehemiah and his crew worked, one hand did the building while the other hand held a weapon. (see Neh 4:17) I am grateful for the reminder that my weapon, the Word of God, needs to be in my hand as I work, building that wall, with my children this school year.

In addition, to each person holding their own weapon, as

“we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.” 4:21 & 22

They assigned people to guard the people that worked. As we go about our home schooling day, my husband and close friends are covering us in prayer. They are protecting the work we are doing by faithfully praying for protection and blessing for us.

All you servants of the Lord, never forget the power of prayer. We are praying to a God whose pleasure it is to bless us. I encourage you to:

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” Matt 7:7

May we have a mind to do the work we are called to do.
May we have our hands on the sword of God’s Word.
May we have a heart to pray with confidence to our Lord and our God who loves and cares for us.