Rebuilding Our Broken Walls

Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors.” – Nehemiah 3:1

Rebuilding a broken wall is no small task, especially when it represents the brokenness of a society. Nehemiah 3 gives us a detailed account of individuals and groups who rose up to rebuild different sections of Jerusalem’s walls. It shows us that, while the work was vast, each person had a specific part to play. Nehemiah made sure to record their contributions because every effort mattered. This chapter reminds us that, just as in Nehemiah’s time, society today is also broken in many ways. While we know Jesus is the ultimate answer, each of us has a part to play in fixing the “wall” closest to us.

Take, for instance, Eliashib the high priest, who rebuilt the Sheep Gate. This was no ordinary gate—it was where shepherds brought their flocks, making it an essential part of the city’s economy. Today, we have economic “gates” that need rebuilding, but it doesn’t stop there. Whether it’s in politics, education, healthcare, or the military, the walls are in disrepair, and we need individuals who are willing to rise up and rebuild. God calls each of us to different sectors of society, and it is up to us to seek His guidance on where He wants us to work.

Just as Nehemiah carefully recorded each person’s contribution, God sees and values every effort we make to restore what is broken around us. The work is not limited to pastors or leaders—everyone is called to contribute. Some may be called to reform policies in government, others to heal broken bodies and minds in medicine, or to shape future generations in education. Each of us must ask God, “Which part of the wall are You calling me to fix?”

The societal breakdown we see today is overwhelming, but when we take our place and focus on rebuilding the section of the wall that God has assigned to us, real change can happen. It’s easy to feel like our contribution is insignificant, but Nehemiah shows us that when everyone comes together, even the largest walls can be restored. Your work matters. What you rebuild may not seem large, but it’s a crucial part of the bigger picture. God is calling us to rise up, take action, and rebuild what has been torn down.

PRAYER