Building Walls
"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls" Proverbs 25:28. The sense of having, of needing "rule" is without question. The consequences of being without rule are manifest in this Proverb. He that hath no rule: this must speak of unrighteousness (which is without rule). "No rules!" is the cry of the multitude. Conversely we should see that having rule is inferring a righteous rule, and this in no wise can be accomplished apart from the presence and power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. The matter of the Christian walk is ancient in controversy. Many are the church denominations that have employed rigid standards for themselves and their parishioners. Evangelicals are not exempt from this practice. In many cases, those who have been made free by the Lord Jesus are as it were, placed again under the bondage of many rules, restrictions and regulations; a volley of dos and don'ts. In this short proverb we are clearly instructed that man should have rule over his own spirit. It is to his peril if he does not, for the scripture says that he should be like a city that is broken down and without walls; obviously to be overrun, ransacked, and plundered by the wicked of this world. But there are those who would contend that by their many impositions and by burdening others they would to the contrary build them up; establish great walls around them. But these "walls" are superficial: there is the outward appearance of strength, but in essence they provide no protection. The implication is "stay within these walls; they are your defense; if you will follow the guidelines we have given, you will be all right." But the enemy without is subject to break through this cardboard veneer without effort. The walls of Jericho were thought to be impregnable, but they were not. Even so, there is a potentially greater danger. Know this: that there is the enemy of self (unrighteousness) dwelling within the walls of partition. Of what protection afford the outer walls to an enemy within? Conforming to the rules of men is woefully adjacent to being conformed to the world. "But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" Rom. 12:2. Adhering to mere rules of appearance and outward behavior will not suffice: one may conform to them but they have no power to bring about an inward transformation. A wall of self-righteousness is a wall that will turn aside any attempts of the Word of God to enter into the gates to woo the heart; to convict and convince of sin and cast down the old man of flesh who ever seeks to reign. Shall we desire to approach the Throne of Grace because we are in need of God's mercy and grace? Shall we confess our sins that He might forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness? Not if our hopes and aspirations are found in the walls of rules and regulations. Tell me: what joy, what abiding peace is to be found therein? No, more likely it will be the looming of clouds overhead; of fear and doubt; of uncertainties and not faith. . .The object of faith must be found in Christ alone: no works (however lofty they may seem) will suffice. Am I saying that you should refrain from following those guidelines set before you? Of course not! Just do not trust them to be your righteousness, your strength, your wall of defense. An alternative to rules and "standards." "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held with bit and bridle" Psalm 32:8,9. But how shall one be led with the eye of his Lord unless he be found seeking His face? And if we be held by the bit and bridle of a system of rules and restrictions imposed by men - are we not then to be found void of understanding? "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" Psalm 66:18. Yes, and it could be that the Lord will not hear me, for I surely will not be found "coming boldly unto the throne of Grace!" First things first - the Divine Order.
When Jehovah gave instructions to Moses concerning the Tabernacle, He began with the ark. It was first in order because first in importance. Before any details were communicated concerning the sanctuary itself, before a word was told Moses about its court and chambers, its priesthood and ritual, its furniture and garniture, minute instructions were given regarding the ark; without the ark the whole service of the Tabernacle had been meaningless and valueless, for it was upon it, as His throne, that God dwelt. . .yea, the whole sanctuary was built for no other end, but as it were a house, an habitation for the ark. Gleanings in Exodus, page 191, A. W. Pink
(A brief observation: the great veil that hung separating the Most Holy Place from the outer chamber served two purposes; it was a “wall,” yet a “gate,” the means of access unto God!)
If we were to consider building a house, the first order of business would be to dig, to lay, to pour a foundation. Next would be the framing, followed by the roof and walls. After all else was done, the fixtures and furnishings would be added. How different the plans of Jehovah! Lord, did you forget to lay the foundation for the Tabernacle? “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands” Psalm 102:25. And what of its framing? “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God” Heb. 11:3.
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" I Cor. 3:11. The Tabernacle in its entirety portrayed Christ. Its foundation is to be seen in the Presence of Almighty God who sits between the cherubim above the Mercy Seat.
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”
When Nehemiah would return to Jerusalem to build up the city and repair the walls and gates, king Artaxerxes agreed. Letters were given that resources needed might be supplied through the king’s governors. In Jerusalem the people responded to Nehemiah: “Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me. . .And they said, Let us rise up and build” Neh. 2:17,18. “But came to pass, that when Sanballet, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up. . .they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem and hinder it. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God. . .and God brought their counsel to nought” Neh. 2:17,18. 4:7,8,15.
Practical Christianity.
Important were the gates of the city, for on a daily basis the people went in and out of them in the ordinary performance of tasks. The very first to be mentioned concerning its restoration was the Sheep Gate. “The priests repaired the sheep-gate, so called because through it were brought the sheep that were to be sacrificed in the temple. . .It led to the temple. (Matthew Henry) “I am the door [or the Sheep Gate?]; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” John 10:9. Another mentioned was the Dung Gate. It was an avenue for the cleansing of the city. (Jesus washed the disciples’ feet; the need of a daily cleansing.) “Located at the southwest angle of Mount Zion. It was doubtless called so because of the piles of sweepings and garbage in the valley of Tophet below.” (Unger) “Of some it is said that they repaired over against their houses. When a general work is to be done each should apply himself to that part that falls nearest to him and is within his reach. If everyone will sweep before his own door, the street will be clean; if everyone will mend one, we shall all be mended.” (M. Henry) “Some of those that had first done helped their fellows, and undertook another share where they saw there was most need. Meremoth repaired, vs.4 and again, vs. 21. And the Tekoites, besides the piece they repaired, vs. 5, undertook another piece vs. 27. (M. Henry) (As members of the body of Christ we should be functional; working together as the one body that was are.) There were other gates, but the message we would see here is that they were all “gates of access.” “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” Eph. 2:17. “In [Christ] whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him” Eph. 3:12. “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” Rom. 5:2.
May I say that we would do well to focus on the “gates” whereby we do have access unto all that pertaineth unto godliness. Let us not be as the Jew and go to the wailing wall because we may feel encumbered by the many “standards” and rules implemented by men. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name” Psalm 100:4. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” Rev. 22:14.
What are we to repair first - the walls and gates - or something else?
Logic might tell us that the walls and gates must be first; and then the building up of the city, followed lastly by the restoration of the temple. But quite the contrary. Before one stone was moved, before one hand was raised in the repairing of the walls and gates: “The word of the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia. . .Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel” “Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem” Ezra 1:1-3,5. “The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and three score” (plus servants: grand total - 49,870!) The altar was built; burnt offerings instituted, the feast of tabernacles and all set feasts. Months later, the temple foundations were laid; the people shouted with a great shout. Time passed; the temple was finished and dedicated. Ezra, priest and scribe was sent of the Lord to Jerusalem. Ezra, as intercessor, prayed and confessed to God the iniquities and trespasses of the nation of Israel: they were called together unto repentance. . .fourteen years later Nehemiah came to build the walls and gates. . .but first, Jehovah would be sought; worshipped, and the temple of God restored.
Defense is not to be found in the building of walls, nor in the armour of men.
“And Saul armed David with his armour and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his [Saul’s] sword upon his [Saul’s] armour. . .And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him” I Sam. 17:38,39.
And the Lord armed David with His armour!David, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil [Goliath]. “having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” Eph. 6: 10,11,13-17. Neither Saul nor Goliath could see David’s armour. It was not a wall without, but the strength and power of a Sovereign God within! The armour consisted not of things perishable, but was Living Armour; Abiding Armour! David, rule your spirit in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ! Say as Paul, “Christ liveth in me!”
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” Rom. 6:11-13.
In Summary
In the rebuilding of Jerusalem, Nehemiah as such, “approached the throne of grace” asking of the king, letters, that his governors should provide for his safe passage to Jerusalem; also that Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest might provide timber for beams for the gates of the palace and for the wall of the city. Has not the King sent the Holy Spirit to provide for our safe passage and timber from the trees of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance for the walls? It is true: “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!”
Walls being fashioned of the fruit of the Spirit?
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. . .Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit” John 14:5,8. Nehemiah had said, “Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.” John 15 gives a fiery picture of “reproach:” “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned” vs. 6.
Walls that are made of wood, hay and stubble are good kindling material and will easily go up in flames. What of those composed of gold, silver and precious stones? Do they not suggest the “fire-resistant,” lasting materials of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance? Are not these moreover, gates of pearl, fashioned within the walls of jasper?
But love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance? Do not these portray weakness? What defense, what manner of strength is there to be found therein? Can the love of God do battle with fleshly hatred and expect to conquer? Is a Christ-centered faith able to subdue unbelief? May we as David receive the Living, Abiding Armour of God, our standard, our protection, our wall of defense! Selah!
