“…and the rest of our enemies heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein…” Nehemiah 6:1
When Israel was taken captive by the Babylonians, and into exile for seventy years, it was basically because she committed two errors which led to her abandonment of God. The first thing she did was to neglect the imperative of true worship of God. This was seen by her abandonment of the Sabbaths of the Lord. That seventh day was a day specifically set apart by God for the people of Israel. It was to be a day of rest, but also a day of worship, where she would remember God, and her responsibility to Him. It was also a time of readjustment, or realigning of the heart, mind, and soul to God. To neglect the Sabbath was to slowly embrace godlessness, becoming captive of an unbelieving mentality of the nations around her. Without worship, the concept, and truth of God would not remain in her mind and heart. Therefore, Israel began to slip, and gradually turn away from God, His truth, commandments, and His commentary on what would occur if they departed from Him. It must be said that God never wanted for Israel to depart from Him, but she did so because she followed her own “way” to the exclusion of God’s wise and blessed counsel. Just as someone jumping off a cliff will prove the certain reality of the law of gravity, so Israel, jumped from the “Rock of All Ages,” to begin her descent, and destruction. However, God would preserve a remnant of those who chose to follow Him fully.
The second thing that Israel did not attend to was to protect that which had been entrusted to her. Jerusalem had been chosen by God to the place on this earth where he would place His name or associate His name with it. He did so in order that all the nations of the earth could look at Jerusalem, and see something of the glory of God, revealed in the people, but also in the structures, specifically the temple. Jerusalem was to be a testament to the Almighty, Sovereign power of God, but also, of His mercy, and the way by which sinful men, and nations could know Him. Not only did Israel cease to truly worship God, even though His name was placed there, but she did not protect that which had been entrusted to her, the knowledge of His ways. The temple spoke of worship. The walls around Jerusalem would speak of protection, both spiritually and physically. When Nebuchadnezzar came and besieged Jerusalem, his objective was to bring down its walls. He knew that to make a breach in those walls was essential for its conquest. After the city had been taken, the walls in great part were destroyed. There were many breaches. There was nothing remaining to protect the temple, or the worship of God in that temple. The true worship of God can only be maintained if those who worship are vigilant, and committed to the protection of that which has been entrusted to them concerning the truth.
After the exile, some of the exiles under the reign of Cyrus the Persian, were allowed to return to Jerusalem, Cyrus even gave the commandment to rebuild the temple. Amid much opposition, persecution, and delay in the rebuilding of the temple, it was completed by Zerubbabel, with the aid of the prophets, Haggai, and Zechariah. However, the wall remained with massive breaches in it. It would be many years after the rebuilding of the temple, that Nehemiah, himself an exile, would pray together with others of the remnant in a foreign land, seeking God’s intervention for the rebuilding of the walls of the city. This would miraculously occur in answer to prayer and faith. The walls of protection were rebuilt, and the new gates at its entrances were hung. Jerusalem had become again a city of testimony to the grace, power, and goodness of God.
Dear Father, Enable us to guard that which has been entrusted to us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.