Patriotic Women

Patriotic Women

Shallum’s Daughters

Read: Nehemiah 3:1-12

In Nehemiah’s time, the wall around Jerusalem was a disgrace that threatened the city’s safety. Since Shallum didn’t have any sons, his daughters worked with him to restore the section of the wall assigned to their family. As a half-district ruler over Jerusalem, Shallum could easily have gathered workers to assist him, so maybe his daughters insisted on taking part. As they worked alongside the men, their joy in contributing to their nation’s security probably overshadowed their fatigue and discomfort from the hard physical labor. These young women knew that they were investing their time and energy in Israel’s future.

The historical event of rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall inspired the name of an organization called WallBuilders. Founded by former educator and school administrator David Barton, WallBuilders is dedicated to “presenting America’s forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on the moral, religious, and constitutional foundation on which America was built—a foundation that in recent years has been seriously attacked and undermined.” WallBuilders educates and encourages Americans to take a role in rebuilding the original foundations of our nation.

With our full lives, it’s tempting to focus exclusively on our personal interests, but God also calls each of us to be responsible for our country’s well-being. Some of us may be involved in politics on a local or national level. Some serve on town councils or school boards, while others represent Christ in their neighborhoods. All of us are called to intercede for our nation and its leaders through prayer. If we each labor on the section assigned to us, like Shallum’s daughters did, we can rebuild our nation’s walls and invest in its future.

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14