Wall Street and City Transformation

By Dr. Tim Hamon

In New York City there is a famous financial district called “Wall Street.”  The name derives from the fact that during the 17th century this street formed the northern boundary of the New Amsterdam settlement where the Dutch had constructed a wall of timber and earthwork as a defense against attack.  The path along the wall became a bustling commercial thoroughfare where early merchants built their warehouses and shops, along with a city hall and a church.  New York was also the U.S. national capital from 1785 until 1790 and Federal Hall was built on Wall Street.

Ancient cities were often more like fortresses than cities as we understand them today.  The perimeter consisted of a massive stone wall with gates to control the entry of people and animals.  In times of war enemy forces often concentrated their attacks on these openings, so the gates were usually constructed in such a way that they were part of the defensive guard towers.  The old city of Jerusalem has had numerous gates over the many thousands of years of Bible history.  Some of them are still thoroughfares today.

However, Scripture clearly indicates the importance of the city walls and gates beyond their use as defensive structures.  Deuteronomy 16:18 says, "You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates…and they shall judge the people with just judgment.”  Ruth 4:11 states, “And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, ‘We are witnesses.’”  City walls and gates were the places of commerce and government in ancient cities.  In Jerusalem many of the gates were named for the primary trade or civil function that occurred at that location.

As walls became less useful for defense (particularly after the invention of the cannon) and urban development accelerated, these old cities were surrounded by new modern cities.  The old city would often become the new city center and maintain its original commercial, legal and religious significance.  This can still be seen in the Jerusalem Old City district and in New York City on Wall Street.

Now we can better understand why Nehemiah was so distressed when he heard that the walls and gates of Jerusalem were destroyed.  Without walls and gates the city had no life, commerce or authority.  Nehemiah experienced city transformation because he was willing to rebuild the walls and gates of the city.

If we want to be like Nehemiah and transform a city, then we must do more than just rebuild the temple.  We must face the secular and religious threats to the Kingdom.  We must “get our hands dirty” and equip God’s people to both work and fight to establish the Kingdom.  People of God need to get a vision to rebuild the city walls and gates so we can re-establish righteousness and justice in our cities.  God is raising up a new wave of Nehemiahs to transform cities and nations today.

I encourage you to look for specific ways that you, as a Kingdom ambassador, can become a transforming agent.