Broken Walls… Broken Hearts Studies in the Book of Nehemiah

Broken Walls… Nehemiah’s circumstances (v. 1) Israel’s circumstances (v. 2)

Now on the tenth day of the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, who was in the service of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. And he burned the house of the Lord, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every large house he burned with fire. So all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away into exile some of the poorest of the people, the rest of the people who were left in the city, the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the artisans. But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen. (Jeremiah 52:12-16)

Broken Walls… God’s people faced a significant challenge (v. 3) Distress—It was painful for the people to see their circumstances. Reproach—The Israelites were the subject of embarrassment or ridicule. They felt disgrace and shame.

Broken Hearts! Nehemiah wept and mourned for days (v. 4) Yet, it was this sorrow that drove him to God and began a chain of events that would rebuild Jerusalem’s broken walls and restore the dignity and faith of his broken people.

Great works begin with tears! And when He approached, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. “For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you, and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44)

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, (Romans 9:1-3) “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. (Acts 20:31)

It is sometimes out of painful and distressful circumstances that God’s people arise to do their greatest work! Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5-6)