A Heart Broken for Broken Walls
Text: Neh. 1
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Introduction
The book of Nehemiah is a historical narrative that records how God revived His people. This revival began with the reconstruction of the wall that lay in ruins around the city of Jerusalem. The broken wall was a great social need, as it left the people vulnerable to attacks from their enemies. However, the revival did not stop there; it continued with the restoration of the people's lives according to the Word of God.
Nehemiah is found in what we refer to as the Old Testament. Often, I may assume that people fully understand the structure of the Bible, particularly the structure of the Old Testament. Here is a breakdown of its divisions:
It is important to note that the Old Testament is divided based on literary genre rather than chronology. Although Nehemiah appears before the halfway point of the Old Testament, historically, it took place near the end of the Old Testament era. In fact, it was one of the last Old Testament books to be written.
Now, let’s explore a little more background on this significant book.
The Background of Nehemiah
The book of Nehemiah opens by establishing the time period in which these events took place. It begins with these words:
"Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year..." (Neh. 1:1a).
For modern readers, this phrase may seem unclear. We may not immediately know when the month of Chislev falls or what "the twentieth year" refers to. The month of Chislev corresponds to November–December in our calendar. As for the twentieth year, Nehemiah provides further clarification in chapter 2:
"In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him..." (Neh. 2:1a).
Here, Nehemiah specifies that he is referring to the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign. Historical records indicate that Artaxerxes began ruling around 465 B.C., meaning these events took place around 445 B.C.
This situates Nehemiah's story in the post-exilic era. By this time, the Jews were no longer in Babylonian captivity. The Medo-Persian Empire had conquered Babylon and allowed the Jewish people to return to their homeland.
To provide a clearer historical perspective, here is a diagram of Old Testament history.
Now that we have a better understanding of the era in which Nehemiah lived, let’s consider his occupation. Unlike some of his fellow Jews, he did not return to Israel but remained in the Medo-Persian Empire. He notes, “as I was in Susa the citadel” (Neh. 1:1c), indicating that he lived in the royal city of Susa. His occupation was that of a cupbearer to the king:
"Now I was cupbearer to the king" (Neh. 1:11f).
A cupbearer was not a lowly position; in fact, it was one of the most trusted roles in the kingdom. The cupbearer was responsible for tasting the king’s wine to ensure it was not poisoned, which meant the king placed immense trust in him.
At the time Nehemiah received word from his brother about the plight of his people, he was personally successful and lacked nothing. If he had been self-absorbed, the news he was about to hear would have made no impact on him. However, Nehemiah was not indifferent. Despite his own success, his heart was moved when he learned of the suffering of his fellow Jews. It was in that moment that the vision for what he was called to do was born in his heart.
The Birth of a Vision
Nehemiah’s brother brought him the news. This may have been his biological brother, but at the very least, he was certainly his Jewish brother. Here is the message Nehemiah received:
"Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, ‘The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire." (Neh. 1:2-3).
This was a defining moment—a test of Nehemiah’s heart and character. Would he truly love his neighbor as himself, or would he continue living in comfort, focused on his own success? His response reveals everything:
"As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven." (Neh. 1:4)
Nehemiah was broken. He wept. He mourned. He fasted. He prayed. The suffering of his people weighed heavily on him. His concern wasn’t just for himself; he recognized that this broken wall left the people in a vulnerable position, unable to defend themselves from the enemies around them. Among them were women, children, orphans, and widows—many helpless and defenseless. This was the moment when the vision was born in Nehemiah’s heart: he had to use his influence to protect those who had none.
Nehemiah had a broken heart over the broken walls. He mourned. He cried. He prayed.
I wonder—are there ever moments in our lives that bring us to this point? As American Christians, we can become skilled at going through the motions of faith. But do the needs of others ever break us in this way?
Not too long ago, there was another Nehemiah-like figure: William Wilberforce. He was the catalyst for ending the slave trade in England. God gripped his heart as he considered the suffering of his black brothers and sisters, and he used his position in Parliament to pass legislation that abolished the slave trade.
Do the injustices that oppress our neighbors grip our hearts? Or are we content to say, "As long as it doesn’t affect me, everything is okay"?
May God grant us a compassionate heart like Nehemiah and Wilberforce.
The broken walls of Jerusalem were a real problem for the people. But they also serve as a powerful illustration of the broken walls in our own lives. Charles Swindoll, in his book Hand Me Another Brick, makes this application:
"Quite frankly, I think the walls of our lives often lie in ruins through neglect. The leader who brings us to rebuild the walls is the Holy Spirit, and it is He who continues the work or reconstruction inside us. He tries His best to bring to our attention the condition of our walls, but sometimes we don’t hear what He is saying. Yet, we are not hard of hearing; we simply don’t listen.
Some of you are living with the walls of your life surrounded by ruin, and it all began very slowly. First there was a loose piece of stone or mortar. Then there was a crack that appeared in the wall. And then it broke into pieces, and their was a hole. Because of ruthere neglect, the weeks of carnality began to grow through the wall. By and bay, the enemy gained free access to your life.
You may be known as a good Christian. But you know in your heart that although you are a Christian in the same sense that Jerusalem belonged the the Jews, the wall around your spiritual life that protects and defends you is in shambles. Such things as selfishness, lack of discipline, procrastination, immorality, no time for God, compromise, and rebellion have come and sowed their ugly seeds. And they have begun to bear fruit for death.
The neglected heart, the life with crumbled walls, will soon be overrun by the world and chaos will prevail. Don’t just repent. Rebuild! Persevere! Never give up!"
If the walls of your life are crumbling, I plead with you—start rebuilding. Don’t fall into the mindset of simply “letting go and letting God.” Instead, grab hold of God and watch Him rebuild.
I know I can sometimes be accused of being a bit intense in how I preach and lead. In fact, a friend I played high school football with once attended one of our services. Afterward, he said, “You preach just like you played football.” I’m still not quite sure if that was a compliment or not!
But the truth is, I preach this way because I am deeply concerned. Many of you have broken walls, and I fear that if they remain that way, the enemy will come in and destroy you. If all I do is bring a “feel-good” message, that won’t help rebuild your walls.
By God’s grace, may we strengthen our walls—so that we are not left vulnerable to the enemy’s attack.
This Vision Was Birthed in the Heart of One Man
Nehemiah was just one man when he received this vision. What could one man possibly do? Many of us wrestle with the same question, feeling insignificant and thinking, "I’m just one person. What impact can I really have?"
But if we speak in these terms, we fail to grasp the power of the gospel. The plan of salvation itself reveals the significance of one person’s actions.
By one man, sin entered the world.
By one man, righteousness was brought into the world.
“12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass[f] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[g] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:12-19).
This establishes a precedent for how God works—He works through representatives. He plants the seeds of His vision in the heart of one person.
The problem? Too often, we are either too disobedient to follow the vision God has given us or too reluctant to partner with someone else whom God has called.
But one man in Christ can make a difference.
Conclusion
We can’t make a difference if we are chasing a self-centered, Adamic vision. We can’t make a difference if we believe we are the key to making the vision a reality.
Only a vision from God—one that we humbly submit to—will be met with true success.
A couple of years ago, I was at an abortion clinic (which I call a “mill”) with Justin Phillips, sharing the gospel and pleading with mothers to choose life. The Lord did some extraordinary things that day.
It began when a woman named Eboni drove up to us, weeping. She shared how alone she felt. God used us to minister to her, and by His grace, she chose life for her baby and later got plugged into a local church.
Then, God opened another door—we spoke with another woman and gave her a bag filled with resources. As Justin and I sat there, praising God for His incredible work, He sent yet another woman our way—one who also chose life for her baby.
The very topic of our conversation that day was this: God does not need us. But He will use us—if we are fully surrendered to Him.
Unconditionally surrender before God today.
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Introduction
The book of Nehemiah is a historical narrative that records how God revived His people. This revival began with the reconstruction of the wall that lay in ruins around the city of Jerusalem. The broken wall was a great social need, as it left the people vulnerable to attacks from their enemies. However, the revival did not stop there; it continued with the restoration of the people's lives according to the Word of God.
Nehemiah is found in what we refer to as the Old Testament. Often, I may assume that people fully understand the structure of the Bible, particularly the structure of the Old Testament. Here is a breakdown of its divisions:
- The Pentateuch (Books of the Law): Genesis–Deuteronomy
- Historical Narrative: Joshua–Esther
- Wisdom Books: Job–Song of Songs
- Major Prophets: Isaiah–Daniel
- Minor Prophets: Hosea–Malachi
It is important to note that the Old Testament is divided based on literary genre rather than chronology. Although Nehemiah appears before the halfway point of the Old Testament, historically, it took place near the end of the Old Testament era. In fact, it was one of the last Old Testament books to be written.
Now, let’s explore a little more background on this significant book.
The Background of Nehemiah
The book of Nehemiah opens by establishing the time period in which these events took place. It begins with these words:
"Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year..." (Neh. 1:1a).
For modern readers, this phrase may seem unclear. We may not immediately know when the month of Chislev falls or what "the twentieth year" refers to. The month of Chislev corresponds to November–December in our calendar. As for the twentieth year, Nehemiah provides further clarification in chapter 2:
"In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him..." (Neh. 2:1a).
Here, Nehemiah specifies that he is referring to the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign. Historical records indicate that Artaxerxes began ruling around 465 B.C., meaning these events took place around 445 B.C.
This situates Nehemiah's story in the post-exilic era. By this time, the Jews were no longer in Babylonian captivity. The Medo-Persian Empire had conquered Babylon and allowed the Jewish people to return to their homeland.
To provide a clearer historical perspective, here is a diagram of Old Testament history.
Now that we have a better understanding of the era in which Nehemiah lived, let’s consider his occupation. Unlike some of his fellow Jews, he did not return to Israel but remained in the Medo-Persian Empire. He notes, “as I was in Susa the citadel” (Neh. 1:1c), indicating that he lived in the royal city of Susa. His occupation was that of a cupbearer to the king:
"Now I was cupbearer to the king" (Neh. 1:11f).
A cupbearer was not a lowly position; in fact, it was one of the most trusted roles in the kingdom. The cupbearer was responsible for tasting the king’s wine to ensure it was not poisoned, which meant the king placed immense trust in him.
At the time Nehemiah received word from his brother about the plight of his people, he was personally successful and lacked nothing. If he had been self-absorbed, the news he was about to hear would have made no impact on him. However, Nehemiah was not indifferent. Despite his own success, his heart was moved when he learned of the suffering of his fellow Jews. It was in that moment that the vision for what he was called to do was born in his heart.
The Birth of a Vision
Nehemiah’s brother brought him the news. This may have been his biological brother, but at the very least, he was certainly his Jewish brother. Here is the message Nehemiah received:
"Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, ‘The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire." (Neh. 1:2-3).
This was a defining moment—a test of Nehemiah’s heart and character. Would he truly love his neighbor as himself, or would he continue living in comfort, focused on his own success? His response reveals everything:
"As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven." (Neh. 1:4)
Nehemiah was broken. He wept. He mourned. He fasted. He prayed. The suffering of his people weighed heavily on him. His concern wasn’t just for himself; he recognized that this broken wall left the people in a vulnerable position, unable to defend themselves from the enemies around them. Among them were women, children, orphans, and widows—many helpless and defenseless. This was the moment when the vision was born in Nehemiah’s heart: he had to use his influence to protect those who had none.
Nehemiah had a broken heart over the broken walls. He mourned. He cried. He prayed.
I wonder—are there ever moments in our lives that bring us to this point? As American Christians, we can become skilled at going through the motions of faith. But do the needs of others ever break us in this way?
Not too long ago, there was another Nehemiah-like figure: William Wilberforce. He was the catalyst for ending the slave trade in England. God gripped his heart as he considered the suffering of his black brothers and sisters, and he used his position in Parliament to pass legislation that abolished the slave trade.
Do the injustices that oppress our neighbors grip our hearts? Or are we content to say, "As long as it doesn’t affect me, everything is okay"?
May God grant us a compassionate heart like Nehemiah and Wilberforce.
The broken walls of Jerusalem were a real problem for the people. But they also serve as a powerful illustration of the broken walls in our own lives. Charles Swindoll, in his book Hand Me Another Brick, makes this application:
"Quite frankly, I think the walls of our lives often lie in ruins through neglect. The leader who brings us to rebuild the walls is the Holy Spirit, and it is He who continues the work or reconstruction inside us. He tries His best to bring to our attention the condition of our walls, but sometimes we don’t hear what He is saying. Yet, we are not hard of hearing; we simply don’t listen.
Some of you are living with the walls of your life surrounded by ruin, and it all began very slowly. First there was a loose piece of stone or mortar. Then there was a crack that appeared in the wall. And then it broke into pieces, and their was a hole. Because of ruthere neglect, the weeks of carnality began to grow through the wall. By and bay, the enemy gained free access to your life.
You may be known as a good Christian. But you know in your heart that although you are a Christian in the same sense that Jerusalem belonged the the Jews, the wall around your spiritual life that protects and defends you is in shambles. Such things as selfishness, lack of discipline, procrastination, immorality, no time for God, compromise, and rebellion have come and sowed their ugly seeds. And they have begun to bear fruit for death.
The neglected heart, the life with crumbled walls, will soon be overrun by the world and chaos will prevail. Don’t just repent. Rebuild! Persevere! Never give up!"
If the walls of your life are crumbling, I plead with you—start rebuilding. Don’t fall into the mindset of simply “letting go and letting God.” Instead, grab hold of God and watch Him rebuild.
I know I can sometimes be accused of being a bit intense in how I preach and lead. In fact, a friend I played high school football with once attended one of our services. Afterward, he said, “You preach just like you played football.” I’m still not quite sure if that was a compliment or not!
But the truth is, I preach this way because I am deeply concerned. Many of you have broken walls, and I fear that if they remain that way, the enemy will come in and destroy you. If all I do is bring a “feel-good” message, that won’t help rebuild your walls.
By God’s grace, may we strengthen our walls—so that we are not left vulnerable to the enemy’s attack.
This Vision Was Birthed in the Heart of One Man
Nehemiah was just one man when he received this vision. What could one man possibly do? Many of us wrestle with the same question, feeling insignificant and thinking, "I’m just one person. What impact can I really have?"
But if we speak in these terms, we fail to grasp the power of the gospel. The plan of salvation itself reveals the significance of one person’s actions.
By one man, sin entered the world.
By one man, righteousness was brought into the world.
“12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass[f] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[g] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:12-19).
This establishes a precedent for how God works—He works through representatives. He plants the seeds of His vision in the heart of one person.
The problem? Too often, we are either too disobedient to follow the vision God has given us or too reluctant to partner with someone else whom God has called.
But one man in Christ can make a difference.
Conclusion
We can’t make a difference if we are chasing a self-centered, Adamic vision. We can’t make a difference if we believe we are the key to making the vision a reality.
Only a vision from God—one that we humbly submit to—will be met with true success.
A couple of years ago, I was at an abortion clinic (which I call a “mill”) with Justin Phillips, sharing the gospel and pleading with mothers to choose life. The Lord did some extraordinary things that day.
It began when a woman named Eboni drove up to us, weeping. She shared how alone she felt. God used us to minister to her, and by His grace, she chose life for her baby and later got plugged into a local church.
Then, God opened another door—we spoke with another woman and gave her a bag filled with resources. As Justin and I sat there, praising God for His incredible work, He sent yet another woman our way—one who also chose life for her baby.
The very topic of our conversation that day was this: God does not need us. But He will use us—if we are fully surrendered to Him.
Unconditionally surrender before God today.
Recent
Archive
2025
2023
No Comments