Nehemiah 7

“Then it was, when the wall was built, and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. And I said to them, ‘Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors; and appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and another in front of his own house.’” Nehemiah 7:1-3 (NKJV)

As noted earlier, the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem is both a historical account and a symbolic picture of the Church today. Therefore, one question begs to be answered: Why did God’s people have to leave the land in the first place? Answer: They departed from God’s Word and began to follow after idols. Jeremiah said it well:

“How lonely lies the city that once thronged with people! Once great among the nations, now she is like a widow! Once princess among the provinces, she has become a vassal. Bitterly she weeps at night, tears running down her cheeks. Not one of all her lovers is there to comfort her. Her friends have all betrayed her; they have become her enemies.” Lamentations 1:1-2 (CJB)

After repeated prophetic warnings, God’s great patience transitioned into His justice. God allowed Israel and Judah to be besieged by the Babylonians. Furthermore, the Babylonians plundered and destroyed the city of Jerusalem. Solomon’s Temple, which had stood for approximately 400 years, was burned to the ground. Lest we consider God a tyrant, we should note that Israel’s idolatry has been going on since the generation after Joshua.

“When that entire generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation arose that knew neither the Lord nor the work He had done for Israel. Then the people of Israel did what was evil from the Lord’s perspective and served the Ba’alim” Judges 2:10-11(CJB)

Israel had been on a slow yet steady departure from God’s Word for many generations. Since the history of Israel is also a warning for the Church, we must ask how a nation collectively becomes idolatrous. First, individuals depart from the Word. Then, those individuals share their non-Biblical word views within the assembly. Eventually, the whole community becomes saturated with idolatrous thinking.  

So, how does a nation become virtuous? The very same way. Individuals (you & me) must return to the Word! When those individuals assemble, a culture of holiness develops, and the walls surrounding God’s people begin to be rebuilt. Important to note: We are not building ghetto walls to enclose ourselves. The walls of “Jerusalem” are walls with gates so that we can go in & out, and others can enter as well! True, we need gatekeepers and watchmen, but the intent is to allow those seeking virtue to enter.