Help Us Build the Wall

Help Us Build the Wall

“So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.” Neh. 13:3. Dear soul, have you separated all the mixed multitude from Israel? Can you hear the word of the Law, God’s holy commandments, in the innermost depths of your heart? Is the Spirit able to reveal holy things to you, and have you received a love for His voice so that in order to hear it, you are always willing to separate yourself from everyone whose words and conduct are only of this earth?

There is a deep peace in the heart of a listening ear, but he does not make an outward show of that peace because he knows that the kingdom of God does not come with outward observation. It thrives in the secret place, and it is nourished by hidden sacrifices. There is a saying: Empty barrels make the most noise. And these religious people make a horrible commotion by beating on their empty barrels. What is important for them is how things look outwardly. Everything is calculated to make a good appearance for the religious public who have such a desire to see outward results. When people are baptized, they make such a production of it that even ungodly people consider it strange and foolish. They try to unite themselves with the mixed multitude in Israel by means of all sorts of ropes and bonds. There should be no doubt that in their hearts these people are seeking a unity and a relationship with the mixed multitude of Israel and with the citizens of Gibeon who deceived Joshua and the elders of Israel with their covenant and their offer of peace. Josh. 9, from verse 3.

The word of the Law written on the fleshly tablets of their heart has become a plague to them. They consider the voice of the Spirit in the church to be bondage. But their great swelling words about themselves and their own importance are gladly swallowed by the undiscerning public who have never been exercised in discerning between what is holy and what is defiled. They accept these words as if they were words spoken from the mouth of the Lord.

“Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads. Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one-fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God.” Neh. 9:1-3.

If the spiritual Israel would emerge from the wilderness that they are now in, it would be very beneficial for them to follow the example of ancient Israel in this. Separate yourself from all foreigners, cover yourself with spiritual sackcloth and ashes and mourn over your wretchedness. Stand quietly in your place, and read and meditate in the Law of the Lord your God and confess your folly—that you have allowed yourselves to be led by blind guides.

Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light. Join us in building the wall, but first throw all of your enemies over the wall—those who boast of their liberty when in fact they are merely religious sluggards. “Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.” Neh. 4:17. Perhaps up until now you have not understood or had your eyes opened to the fact that you should bear burdens and build with one hand while swinging the sword with the other. That is to be expected, because you have been trained to be a sluggard, trained to just pass the day mocking those who are working on the wall. But beware that the wall does not become so high that there is no way you can get over it and into the city. Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. Verse 18.

You have probably been taught that only the leader is to build, and that you should just sit quietly and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. The leader is to swing the sword and you are to just hide behind him. The Israel of old was taught something else. They all had to build and swing the sword, every single one of them.

The priests built the sheep gate. The sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. Next to them, Meremoth made repairs, and next to them, the Tekoites made repairs. “But their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.” Neh. 3:5. These nobles were enjoying their “liberty” just like the hired priests of our day who will not put their shoulders to the work of the Lord.

“And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.” Neh. 6:16. Just endure, dear soul, you who have put your shoulder to the work and borne burdens, you who are building with one hand and swinging a sword with the other. The day is coming when the wall will be completed. On that day, all our adversaries will sink in their own eyes and acknowledge that this work was of God.

Endure opposition and mockery for a little while from those who say that it is hopeless to try to build the wall. Neh. 4:11-12. The wall is already going up. Do not be terrified by the religious leaders, and do not let them entice you. They are like competitive businessmen who cannot stand to live together in the same house. This is the testimony against them: They seek their own and not those things which belong to the Lord, He who said that they should all be one, even as the Father and the Son are one. John 17:22.