Willie Simpson

The importance of walls in Jewish history context cannot be overstated. The return from Persia captivity (capture 586 BC Return 516 BC .. in stages) The difficulty of rebuilding their walls was magnified by their enemies. Without God, it would have been impossible. So the dependence on walls, was a real focus and value issue. The real wall, was the protection of God around them; as they worked. Anti-God forces found tools to use --in the lives of Israel's enemies. Evil always finds willing vessels to work through~with the main purpose of opposing the work of God everywhere. But the real walls of God, are invisible. He protects His people and work; by His power directly and through angels. (Lots of examples) So besides His promise to them --of being with them, and not forgetting them; and having them engraved on his hands ( indellible, unremovable sign of affection ~a cultural custom of the people to burn or engrave their affection focus on their hands) He is reminding them of His invisible walls of protection, by His power- protecting them from evil forces. He can see all the assaults against His people by invisible evil forces; and is ever attentive to those walls. (Remember Job- Satan said he couldn't do anything to Job because of the protective walls around Job- God had to lower the walls somewhat for the test of Job's faith to take place. We are in the same situation; there are walls around us, specifically as God's children;~~ but even the world, as fallen as it is, has some level of protection, as a human species, and individually - [Note that; in Romans 1.. there is a common grace of truth and protection of individuals- until they threw truth overboard, professing themselves wise and in a process of rejecting His Authority (for although they knew God ~~from conscience and creation) .. the verses say, God gave them over-- meaning those forces of evil were there all the time.] But with us who have trusted in Christ, we have special walls of protection and are even disciplined when we start going wrong and avoiding our focus on God.