Therefore, I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives, and your homes.
Nehemiah 4:13-14
Nehemiah was sent to Jerusalem by God to build a wall around the city. The Babylonians destroyed the city and the Israelites were held in captivity for 70 years. Over a period of years, the exiles returned to Jerusalem, commissioned by Cyrus, King of Persia. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the temple was rebuilt. The next wave of exiles returned to rebuild the walls under the leadership of Nehemiah. There was great opposition to the building of the walls, and Nehemiah responded with a strategy. He told the people to continue to work on the wall with spears and bows. They held the spear in one hand and worked with the other hand.
The Holy Spirit desires to rebuild the broken places of our lives – the broken-down walls where the enemy has had access to us. The enemy does not want us to walk in freedom, so we must be willing to fight as we work with God to set ourselves free. His Holy Spirit is the “wall examiner,” and like David, we must also be willing to allow Him to inspect our broken walls:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)
Are you willing to allow the Holy Spirit to inspect the hurt, wounded, and broken places of your life? As long as there are wounds, the enemy has access into your life. The Lord is the Healer, and He desires to heal and deliver you from all afflictions. He has promised to be with you throughout the process of setting you free.
Heavenly Father, I am afraid to open old wounds. It may be easier to ignore the hurt, the rejection, and the fear. Grant me the courage to allow Your light to invade the places of darkness in my life and help me to be set free. In Jesus’ name, Amen
