Evening, August 20
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Nehemiah 3:8
"And they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall."
Nehemiah 3:8
Cities well fortified have broad walls, and so had Jerusalem in her
glory. The New Jerusalem must, in like manner, be surrounded and
preserved by a broad wall of nonconformity to the world, and separation
from its customs and spirit. The tendency of these days break down the
holy barrier, and make the distinction between the church and the world
merely nominal. Professors are no longer strict and Puritanical,
questionable literature is read on all hands, frivolous pastimes are
currently indulged, and a general laxity threatens to deprive the
Lord's peculiar people of those sacred singularities which separate
them from sinners. It will be an ill day for the church and the world
when the proposed amalgamation shall be complete, and the sons of God
and the daughters of men shall be as one: then shall another deluge of
wrath be ushered in. Beloved reader, be it your aim in heart, in word,
in dress, in action to maintain the broad wall, remembering that the
friendship of this world is enmity against God.
The broad wall afforded a pleasant place of resort for the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, from which they could command prospects of the
surrounding country. This reminds us of the Lord's exceeding broad
commandments, in which we walk at liberty in communion with Jesus,
overlooking the scenes of earth, and looking out towards the glories of
heaven. Separated from the world, and denying ourselves all ungodliness
and fleshly lusts, we are nevertheless not in prison, nor restricted
within narrow bounds; nay, we walk at liberty, because we keep his
precepts. Come, reader, this evening walk with God in his statutes. As
friend met friend upon the city wall, so meet thou thy God in the way
of holy prayer and meditation. The bulwarks of salvation thou hast a
right to traverse, for thou art a freeman of the royal burgh, a citizen
of the metropolis of the universe.