Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. Proverbs 25:28.
At school recently we learned about the Theodosian Walls, a three-layer defense apparatus that protected medieval Constantinople for nearly 1,000 years. They once sustained serious damage due to an earthquake, but the emperor challenged two popular chariot-racing teams to see which team could more quickly re-build sections of the walls. Brilliant! The walls were not breached by an enemy until the Ottoman Turks came along with cannons in 1453, ending the Byzantine Empire and, effectively, the Middle Ages.
Sometimes the walls we build to protect our own hearts become so layered that they too cannot be breached, for evil or for good. We keep people at a distance so they can’t hurt us, but then they can’t really know us or serve our emotional needs in a positive way either. It takes great wisdom to establish healthy boundaries without cutting off all would-be approachers.
But when the Bible uses the wall-of-protection metaphor, it’s talking about defenses against Satan and his arrows. Now there’s someone who never approaches with any good intent, yet he’s so good at giving the appearance of an ally.
What metaphorical, spiritual Theodosian walls has God given us? (And by the way, Theodosius means “gift of God.”)
First of all, our greatest defense is, of course, the Lord Himself. The psalmist saw the LORD as his “rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save” him (Psalm 31:2). Even Satan saw God’s protection of the faithful as a wall. He said, “Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does,” (Job 1:9-10 NLT).
If you know the story of Job, you know that God took away this protective hedge and allowed Satan to test Job— severely.
So yes, God is there to protect us, but He doesn’t promise to protect us from all harm. That’s just not how it is in a fallen world of sin.
Still, God has given us other defenses to help us in times of trial. One of our greatest protections in trial is leaning on each other. When David and his men were dwelling with Nabal’s men, they said, “day and night they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep,” (1 Samuel 25:16). When we’re struggling with temptation we tend to “wall ourselves off” from others, but we know deep down that being around good people is protection for our bodies and our souls.
Each Christian is a “living stone” built into the wall of God’s house, the church (1 Peter 2:5). A bunch of stones lying separately would not make much of a wall.
However, our own self-control is also critical to our defenses. According to Proverbs 25:28, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit; it is something we need God’s help to develop. But we have a responsibility to increase our faith and resist temptation. “For each one shall bear his own load,” (Galatians 6:5).
The Theodosian walls also had a moat in front of them. We can think of prayer as our moat. There’s no tellling how many of Satan’s efforts against us have failed immediately because we prayed.
Or because someone prayed for us.
God can also bring down walls that stand in our way, like He did at Jericho when his people followed His instructions. Generations later, after a great deal of NOT following His instructions, He allowed the wall of Jerusalem to crumble. And yes, He even took away a wall of protection from a righteous man to test him for a time.
But the walls of heaven stand. Whatever walls may rise or fall around us in this life, God is leading His people to a city that needs no protection. The gates in those walls are never even closed (Revelation 21:25)! They are simply beautiful.
The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones…The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Revelation 21:19, 21
Dear God, help me not to erect too many walls in my heart, barriers that keep me from relationship, especially with you. I ask you to defend me, my family, and my brothers and sisters in Christ from Satan’s attacks by putting a wall of protection around us. And when arrows get through, help us to lean on each other and to exercise self-control, knowing that nothing can hinder our salvation if we walk by faith. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
by Christie Cole Atkins
Related Reading:
Walk Worthy 