In my preparation time for this Lessons I totally missed this verse. It escaped my attention, yet is critically important. What a spiritual truth we have here!
“Now after this he (King Manasseh) built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.” 2nd Chronicles 33:14
The King built a wall around the City!
Perhaps he (for the first time on record) here reinforced His Dad’s (King Hezekiah of Judah) intention of keeping Jerusalem safer. It appears that Hezekiah also tried to keep such a wall intact.
I base this observation on 2nd Chronicles 32:5. “Also Hezekiah strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without … and made darts and shields in abundance.” This occurred when the Assyrian army had Jerusalem under siege.
In fact, maybe even Kings Uzziah and Jotham had both worked on fortifications such as these, way back during their reigns. As in 2 Chronicles 26:9 … “Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.” And in 2 Chronicles 27:3 … “He (King Jotham) built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.”
Earlier when Manasseh lived in open sin … he did not seem to care much about the safety of the Homeland! Maybe godliness and patriotism go together. If a righteous Nation is in view!
The geographical identifiers given in today’s verse … Gihon, the Fish Gate, and Ophel … tell us the wall encircled the whole Metropolis. Scholars say the city is being fortified first toward the west, then toward the east.
But … is there a spiritual lesson to all this data?
Yes!
Yes indeed!
When Manasseh got “right” with God … one of the first things he did was erect a barrier between himself (including his City and his people) … and the enemy encamped without (but still close by) in the many hills and valleys, in the surrounding terrain.
A wall, folks!
Mr. “inclusive” has now become quite “exclusive!”
In reality, Nehemiah also was dedicated to building (rebuilding really) a wall around Jerusalem.
To keep the citizens, family members, loved ones … “in.”
And to keep harm and evil … “out!”
This is the Bible principle of … SEPARATION!
Here’s how Paul described such a “wall,” such a “barrier,” metaphorically, spiritually. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2nd Corinthians 6:14
This too: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2nd Corinthians 6:17
Wow!
Oh, how we need to build some “walls” in our lives yet today.
Walls of protection … with the enemy in view.
Walls of prevention … with myself in view.
I think this sound so unusual … but Biblically true … MANASSEH, THE WALL BUILDER!
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell