Broken Walls

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Broken Walls
Broken Hearts
Studies in the Book of Nehemiah
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Broken Walls

• Nehemiahs circumstances (v. 1)
• Israels circumstances (v. 2)

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• 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 kings 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 5212-16)

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Broken Walls

• Gods people faced a significant challenge (v.
  3)
• DistressIt was painful for the people to see
  their circumstances.
• ReproachThe Israelites were the subject of
  embarrassment or ridicule. They felt disgrace and
  shame.

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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
  Jerusalems broken walls and restore the dignity
  and faith of his broken people.

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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 1941-44)

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• 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 91-3)
• 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
  2031)

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It is sometimes out of painful and distressful
circumstances that Gods 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 1265-6)