Your walls?

[Gail]

Isaiah 49:16:

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." NIV

What are the walls that are ever before our Lord?

I looked at a couple other translations, even Young's but didn't find any hints as to what these walls are.

Anyone have any ideas?

[Gibs]

2346

chowmah kho-maw'

feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join; a wall of protection:--wall, walled.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 49:16

I have. Ex 13:9; Song 8:6; Jer 22:24; Hag 2:23

thy walls. Isa 26:1; 54:12; 60:18; Re 21:10-21

[joeb]

Gail,

What this makes me think of is the lessons from Lessons on Faith. It's clear from there that the reason we struggle spiritually is not because of a lack of power on God's part, or unwillingness on His part to change us, but the walls that we put up to change, the change that God desires to create in us.

Is that the answer to this? I don't know, but it makes sense when the context from the verses around this one are taken into account.

[phkrause]

joeb, this makes a lot of sense to me too. Kind of like a wall that is separating us from him, and we are the ones putting up that wall.

[Gerr]

Verse 14 shows to whom v16 is addressed to - Zion. Zion often stands for Jerusalem (part - Zion - standing for the whole - Jerusalem), in which case the walls refer to the walls of Jerusalem.

[olger]

Prolly not this:

But these are nice too.

[thx4mercy]

Verse 14 shows to whom v16 is addressed to - Zion. Zion often stands for Jerusalem (part - Zion - standing for the whole - Jerusalem), in which case the walls refer to the walls of Jerusalem.

Bible commentary says, "walls of Zion, symbolic of the strength and welfare of the nation."

[joeb]

The context of the surrounding verses is Judah's spiritual struggles and God's power of redemption.

I'm not going to argue against what a Bible Commentary says, but I think there is a deeper meaning to this too, as all scripture is personal, and by that I mean that all scripture speaks to us personally about how God is, and will be, working with us.

[Gibs]

It may well be a wall we perceive of protection but is before Him to get to us with His Spirit of Truth.

For what it is worth.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I think the "walls" might also refer to the idea that, as the walls of Jerusalem/Zion, are continuously apparent and seen, so also does God have us continuously in His sight...

[cricket]

Gail, this might help:

Isaiah 60:10-18

10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls,

and their kings shall minister unto thee:

for in my wrath I smote thee,

but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.

11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually;

they shall not be shut day nor night;

that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles,

and that their kings may be brought.

12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish;

yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee,

the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together,

to beautify the place of my sanctuary;

and I will make the place of my feet glorious.

14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee;

and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet;

and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord,

The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated,

so that no man went through thee,

I will make thee an eternal excellency,

a joy of many generations.

16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles,

and shalt suck the breast of kings:

and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer,

the mighty One of Jacob.

17 For brass I will bring gold,

and for iron I will bring silver,

and for wood brass, and for stones iron:

I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.

18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land,

wasting nor destruction within thy borders;

but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

[Gail]

RUDYWOOFS

that was a good post

I agree... Still thinking about that one. Thank you for all the responses... I hooked into Pam's and Cricket's- as Zion is engraved upon the hands of Christ, so the walls of Jerusalem can be continually in His view, for His care and restoration. That does make sense.

I am learning lots about why Isaiah is considered the Gospel prophet of the Old Testament. :)

[8thdaypriest]

Walls - in the Ancient Middle East were:

1. for protection - to keep "the enemy" OUT

2. for display - as memorials

The people ran INTO the City, for protection when attacking forces approached.

It is very interesting that Israel returned to the land is described as "dwelling WITHOUT walls." THAT certainly has NOT happened - YET. At that time - the LORD will be her WALL of protection.

NKJ Ezekiel 38:11 [Lord to Gog] "You will say,`I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates'--

NKJ Zechariah 2:4 who said to him, "Run, speak to this young man, saying:`Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. (Zec 2:4 NKJ)

On the personal side:

NKJ Proverbs 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls. (Pro 25:28 NKJ)

And here on the personal side: The LORD is our WALL of protection - from the Evil Ones.

Blessings