Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach” (Nehemiah 2:17).
For he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered (2 Chronicles 14:7).
Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls (Proverbs 25:28).
Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her to the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem (I Kings 3:1).
Why have You broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit (Psalm 80:12)?
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security (Isaiah 26:1).
I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one (Ezekiel 22:30).
It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:12–19).
The Word of God has much to say about walls. It informs us significantly about walls and how they were used, and why they were important.
A few truths about walls that we can learn from the Bible are these:
- They helped a city or nation to protect itself from enemies. Nehemiah 2; Isaiah 26:1
- They were to help provide security and a sense of security. I Kings 3; Isaiah 26:1
- An attacking enemy would often seek to destroy the walls of those who they were attacking and enter their city to kill its inhabitants and plunder it. II Chronicles 36:17-21
- A city without walls would be considered a city without protection, vulnerable, weak, and in distress. Nehemiah 2
- Those who are enemies of a city or country are unhappy and angry if someone seeks to build walls. Nehemiah 4 and 6
- New Jerusalem in heaven has walls. Revelation 21
From the wisdom of the Word of God, we can easily conclude that walls are not “immoral.” Walls typically reflect wise leadership that seeks to provide safety, security, and peace for its citizens (Isaiah 26:1).
Wise leadership recognizes that there are clearly enemies who would understandably oppose the building of walls (Read Nehemiah 4:1–8; and Nehemiah 6:1–12). And why would someone oppose the building of a wall for the people of a nation or city? Because they are enemies of the people of that nation and they recognize that walls hinder attack and destruction.
So does the Word of God have counsel for us as a nation in our present circumstance? I believe it has clear counsel. “Come and let us build the wall, that we may no longer be a reproach.”
