a city without walls

             During Bible times, walls were essential to a strong city.  When the ten spies reported to Moses after investigating the land of Canaan, they noted, “The people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great” (Num. 13:28).  Later King Solomon directed the building of the wall around Jerusalem, and Israel enjoyed the fulfillment of David’s prayer in Psalm 122: “Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together…peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.”  Then Israel and Judah rejected the Lord, and the curses of which Moses had warned them in Deut. 28 came to pass.  Nebuchadnezzar “slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age…  They burned the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem…” (2 Chr. 36:16ff)

                Years later, a dismayed Nehemiah hears this report: “The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire” (Neh. 1:3).  Without walls, Jerusalem was unable to defend itself from looting and the attacks of its enemies.

Likewise, the Christian who has no control over his or her emotions is vulnerable to the attacks of the devil, the world, and his or her own sinful self.  “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls” (Prov. 25:28). 

We are quick to excuse ourselves for sinful emotions, aren’t we?  Emotions just happen, right?  Perhaps our mood swings are the fault of hormones.  Either that, or others are obviously to blame for our unrighteous anger, bitterness, envy, discontent, or unhappiness.

Unlike us, God does not excuse sinful emotions.  Rather, He wills that we be sanctified wholly – that not only our bodies, but our whole spirits and souls be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Thes 5:23).  We are to be lead by the Spirit, not our feelings.

Asaph struggles with overwhelming worry and discontent in Psalms 73 and 77.  How does he combat these sinful emotions?  He meditates on the works of God.  He speaks of the Lord’s doings.  He considers the end of the wicked whom he envied.  And he repents of his out-of-control emotions. 

When our emotions control us, we become so engrossed with ourselves that we fail to acknowledge reality.  We esteem ourselves better than others, and disregard our Creator and Lord. 

Discipline of our emotions is closely tied to the discipline of our minds.  Gates are an important part of walled cities: they control what flows in and out of the city they protect.  The food and water that go in through the gates sustain the lives of the people who live within the walls.  Similarly, Bible reading and prayer sustain our spiritual lives and nourish Godly emotions.  So “Be careful for nothing [don’t worry about anything]; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil.4).

Christians who discipline their emotions can confess with the apostle Paul, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  They take seriously the command to “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!”  (Phil. 4) And they experience the reality that this is possible only by the work of the Spirit of God within them, the Spirit “of power, and of love, and a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).