Building the Wall Together With One Heart

Nehemiah looked at Jerusalem's broken wall and a great plan rose in his heart: "We can rebuild this wall together!" The next day, he gathered every person in the city — adults, children, every kind of worker. The high priest Eliashib began with his priest friends at the Sheep Gate, laying each stone with care. Near the Fish Gate, fishermen put down their nets and lifted hammers; they fixed beams and hung the heavy wooden doors. Goldsmiths set aside their bright jewelry and shaped stones for the wall; perfumers left their fragrant counters and joined the service. Many families built the section of wall right outside their own houses, father and child side by side, stacking stones. Even the noble leaders rolled up their sleeves, their hands covered in mud. By the Fountain Gate, women brought cool water for everyone, and small children carried small stones — even the tiniest help was a big blessing. Across the whole city, joyful hammering rang out at the same time. From dawn until the clouds glowed red, no one stopped. When the East Gate was finished, the morning sun shone through it like a golden spotlight, and Eliashib and his friends gave thanks to God together. At last, two work groups met at the final gap. They embraced tightly and wept for joy! The whole wall was joined together, up to half its height, because the people had "a mind to work." That evening, all the city sat down together for a great joyful feast. This story tells us: united service is so beautiful — not everyone has to do the same task, but every hand should be used in the one work God has given; God delights in a group that serves with one heart, and He joins together every "impossible" wall, one section at a time, in our hands.