"Great privileges involve great responsibilities. National sin brings national ruin. Nations are rewarded and punished in this world."
"Sin ruins a kingdom...There is a tendency in the very nature of sin to injure and ruin a country. God's dealings with guilty nations are confirmed both by His word and all human history...God always gives previous intimation of His coming to judge a nation. When a nation is under corrections of the Almighty, they are eminently sinful if they disregard the tokens of His wrath. Shameless sinning is a sure proof of general corruption."
Now, ask yourself - how important are "walls" to a nation of people?
In relation to the city of Jerusalem, "walls" have always been extremely important.
The Scriptures (as well as history) tell us that David took Zion (Jerusalem) by force from the Canaanitish tribe of the Jebusites - making it the capital of his kingdom. In order to secure his position, he threw a "wall" round the entire city. When his son Solomon took the throne as king, he greatly strengthened this "wall" - erecting towers at intervals upon it as well as increasing its height.
For nearly two centuries it remained intact. That is, until the reign of Amaziah - when a breach was made in the "wall" by Jehoash, the king of Israel. Through the gap in the "wall," Jehoash drove his chariot into Jerusalem - taking Amaziah captive.
The succeeding king of Judah - Uzziah - repaired the breach made by Jehoash - even building additional towers. In fact, he went so far as to equip the "walls" and their towers with powerful engines that could hurl stones and other "missiles" at enemy invaders. His son Jothan also strengthened the "walls" with new massive towers.
When the tide of Assyrian invasion was sweeping over Israel, it met with a check in Judah because Hezekiah had earlier repaired the "walls" (wherever broken down) and erected an additional one. Manasseh, his son, after his repentance, not only repaired the old "walls," but he also added a new one to the former.
It was 60 (sixty) years later when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, entered the city of Jerusalem. After the succession of three (3) kings - Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah - a breach was finally made in the "wall" and the Babylonian army poured into the city - burning the royal palace, the temple, and all of the principal buildings. The stately and massive "wall" was leveled to the ground - with only vast heaps of rubbish remaining.
We ask you once again - how important are "walls" to a nation of people?
In ancient days, it was the "walls" that made the nation. Any town was at the mercy of every roving, plundering army. However, when it was surrounded with strong "walls," it became a picture of "might" - with its power rapidly increasing and the oppressed from other parts seeking refuge there from their oppressors. Also, when surrounded by strong "walls," it was then that the people felt secure to accumulate property and enact laws and government for their own well-being.
With this background, we now move to the first text for this Bible Message -
"The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire." (Nehemiah 1:1-3)
It is surmised that some who lately returned from Judea were conversing in the Hebrew tongue and Nehemiah just happened to overhear what they said. In answer to his eager inquiries, he was informed by them of the defenseless state of the returned exiles and the desolate condition of Jerusalem. Apparently, Zerubbabel and Ezra were given a commission by the kings of Persia to repair the temple and the private dwellings. This left the "walls" and gates of the city still in a mass of shattered ruins - since the Babylonian invasion.
Hanani - one of Nehemiah's relatives - told him that the people of God were "in great affliction and reproach." In other words, they were being harassed and distressed... miserably trampled on and abused...insulted and scorned on all occasions by those who were at ease. On top of that, Hanani also told him that Jerusalem was exposed and in ruins - "the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire." This condition was very dangerous for it made them an easy prey for their enemies.
Read what the Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary had to say in comment - "Life was difficult for the people in Jerusalem. This difficulty was due in large part to the condition of Jerusalem's wall. In the ancient Middle East, a city wall provided protection for the inhabitants. The condition of a city wall was also seen as an indication of the strength of the people's gods. The ruined condition of the wall of Jerusalem reflected badly on God's name."
Nehemiah 1:4 tells us of Nehemiah's response to the evil tidings of Hanani - "And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven."
Here we see that - although he was enjoying a comfortable prosperity - he allowed these tidings of the most terrible calamities to cloud his life - to disturb the day's enjoyment - making the sufferings of his brethren his own misfortunes.
How would you have responded? Would you have done the same? Why or why not?
Now, allow us to take you over to our next and final text for this Bible Message -
"Now will I sing to My well-beloved a song of My beloved touching His vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt Me and My vineyard. What could have been done more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down." (Isaiah 5:1-5)
Herein we find a righteous sentence passed upon Judah for their rebellion toward God - "And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard ...I will take away the hedge...and break down the wall thereof..."
Vineyards needed a "double" enclosure. They needed a "hedge" - a fence of thorns - thorn-bushes so thick that nothing could pass through them. They also needed a "wall" - a strong defense to keep out wild beasts.
Because of sin, God would withdraw His presence, power, and protection from the Jewish nation - His "hedge" and "wall" - leaving them naked, destitute, helpless, exposed, and defenseless - to be overrun and trampled upon by their enemies.
Notice that, in this case, God did not allow the "wall" to go to decay. He merely "broke it down" - destroyed it - leaving His "vineyard" - His people - defenseless and an easy prey to every invader - who were waiting for a long time to do them a mischief.
As in the days of Nehemiah, the "wall" mentioned here in the book of Isaiah made the nation. It was a picture of "might." Its preserved condition told all outsiders that God was surely in their midst. The ruined condition of it - on the other hand - depicted a different story.
Read what the Pulpit Commentary had to add in comment -
"Every protection and every blessing shall be withdrawn, and the thankless nation shall earn its appropriate wages. Having deserted God, God will now desert her. So must it ever be with the nation and the individual. Unless there is a constant disposition to redress discovered wrong, to reform manifest evil, the doom must be felt."
"God's message to the guilty nation, Church, family, individual soul, is this solemn one - the abuse of privilege will be visited by terrible tokens of Divine displeasure; all that was promising will be removed; the signs and the sources of life will be taken away; from him that hath not (that does not use what is in his power) will be taken his present privilege. He who (that which) is exalted to heaven in opportunity will be cast down to hell in condemnation and in ruin."
We ask you once again - how important are "walls" to a nation of people?
When Nehemiah heard the report that "the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire," he "sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven."
Every day, you see the nation of America move further and further away from God and His Holy Word. You see Churches, families, and individuals deserting God.
There is a breach in the "wall." It is caused by sin. But it is also caused by a Holy God Who is lifting His protection!
Knowing this, what will your reaction be?
Like Nehemiah, will you allow the soberness of this "word" from the Lord to "cloud your life" and interrupt the enjoyment of your prosperity - in order to weep and pray before the God of heaven for "change" (repentance) to come?
We ask you once again - how important are "walls" to a nation of people?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved