Neh 12:31 | KingComments | STEP | By climbing the wall and walking over it, the wall becomes the property of the people (cf. ). In this way the people take possession of what lies within the wall. The walk on the wall is not meant to look at everything outside the city, but to look at everything inside. Separation is not negative, but positive. It is about what is dedicated to God. This can only be done by separating it from what is not dedicated to God. Going over the wall therefore gives the people a wide impression of the location of the city and how glorious God’s temple is. The wall of separation around our lives has the same purpose. It is intended that we walk on it with thanksgiving for all that God has given us. Then we will not fall into sour sectarianism, but our lives will be a testimony of what God has done in it. In the first place for our children, as well as for all those around us. Let us listen to the son of Korah in Psalm 48. After their jubilation for the salvation of Zion is their call: “Walk about Zion and go around her; Count her towers; Consider her ramparts; Go through her palaces, That you may tell it to the next generation. For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death” ( ). If we go over the wall like this, we will see the city of God as God sees it. We will then see the church as it is according to God’s counsel. That elicits expressions of thanks and these in turn are a testimony for all who see and hear it. That is the effect of separation according to God’s thoughts. The first choir of thanksgiving departs from the west, near the Valley Gate. Their route runs on the southern part of the wall in the direction of the Refuse Gate. Ezra is at the head of this procession. Nehemiah makes way, as it were, for the Word of God in the person of Ezra. That must lead and be followed by all. We then come to the Fountain Gate, to draw fresh water, to be revived and encouraged by the Word of God on our way. Our gaze is lifted up, through the steps, to the dwelling place of David, a picture of our Lord in heaven to Whom all authority is given in heaven and on earth ( ). When we fix our eyes on the Lord Jesus, we come to the Water Gate in the east. The east speaks among other things of the future, of the expectation of the Lord Jesus. Water speaks not only of refreshment but also of cleansing ( ). We are looking forward to Him and this will have a purifying effect on us, because “everyone who has this hope [fixed] on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” ( ).

‏ Nehemiah 12:31

The First Choir of Thanksgiving

By climbing the wall and walking over it, the wall becomes the property of the people (cf. Jos 1:3). In this way the people take possession of what lies within the wall. The walk on the wall is not meant to look at everything outside the city, but to look at everything inside. Separation is not negative, but positive. It is about what is dedicated to God. This can only be done by separating it from what is not dedicated to God. Going over the wall therefore gives the people a wide impression of the location of the city and how glorious God’s temple is.

The wall of separation around our lives has the same purpose. It is intended that we walk on it with thanksgiving for all that God has given us. Then we will not fall into sour sectarianism, but our lives will be a testimony of what God has done in it. In the first place for our children, as well as for all those around us.

Let us listen to the son of Korah in Psalm 48. After their jubilation for the salvation of Zion is their call:

“Walk about Zion and go around her;

Count her towers;

Consider her ramparts;

Go through her palaces,

That you may tell it to the next generation.

For such is God,

Our God forever and ever;

He will guide us until death” (Psa 48:12-14).

If we go over the wall like this, we will see the city of God as God sees it. We will then see the church as it is according to God’s counsel. That elicits expressions of thanks and these in turn are a testimony for all who see and hear it. That is the effect of separation according to God’s thoughts.

The first choir of thanksgiving departs from the west, near the Valley Gate. Their route runs on the southern part of the wall in the direction of the Refuse Gate. Ezra is at the head of this procession. Nehemiah makes way, as it were, for the Word of God in the person of Ezra. That must lead and be followed by all.

We then come to the Fountain Gate, to draw fresh water, to be revived and encouraged by the Word of God on our way. Our gaze is lifted up, through the steps, to the dwelling place of David, a picture of our Lord in heaven to Whom all authority is given in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18).

When we fix our eyes on the Lord Jesus, we come to the Water Gate in the east. The east speaks among other things of the future, of the expectation of the Lord Jesus. Water speaks not only of refreshment but also of cleansing (Eph 5:26). We are looking forward to Him and this will have a purifying effect on us, because “everyone who has this hope [fixed] on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1Jn 3:3).