The Book of nehemiah

Chapter 6

Nehemiah 6: [1] Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) [2] That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. [3] And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? [4] Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.

1) Challenges of the Work

Nehemiah, is leading the project to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

There have been numerous obstacles and much opposition, but the work has continued.

The wall around Jerusalem is almost finished, though the gates are not yet hung.

The enemy which was led by Sanballat, Tobiah & Geshem are becoming desperate as the project is concluding.

They realize it is NOW OR NEVER, if they are to succeed in stopping the work.

Now they launch an attack against Nehemiah in many areas

A. The Snare of Friendship (1-4)

Sanballat and Geshem propose a friendly meeting with Nehemiah at the plain of Ono.

They are going to be friendly to his face but behind his back they are backstabbers.

* God knew their heart

1 Sam 16:7 for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

* Nehemiah discerned the intentions of their heart.

Pr 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful

* God will allow us to have discernment

1 Cor 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits;

2Cor 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Nehemiah replied to the proposal of the enemy….

The plain of Ono…… “Ono, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down”, said Nehemiah.

Nehemiah escapes their trap and is not distracted by their proposals that sounded good

** It was said to Jesus “let him come down from the cross, and we will believe him.”

BUT Jesus was doing a great work on the cross and would not come down!!

Nehemiah 6: [5] Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; [6] Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. [7] And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. [8] Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. [9] For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

B. The Slander of Foes (5-9)

Then Sanballat sends a messenger for the fifth time with a public letter accusing Nehemiah.

The letter was openly read. It stated “it is reported among the heathen and Gashmu saith it…”

Most attacks begin with “so & so says” OR “It is commonly reported at…”

Well who cares what Gashmu has to say anyway!

The letter accused Nehemiah of planning to fortify the walls so he could lead a rebellion.

The letter accused Nehemiah of hiring prophets to teach his kingship, that he was the Messiah.

These accusations are thrown in Nehemiah’s face and were attempts to deceive the people about Nehemiah.

This letter said this will all be reported to the king. We must sit down and counsel together.

They are trying to deceive Nehemiah into a meeting to stop the work.

In verse 8, Nehemiah calmly says “This isn’t true and you are making it all up”.

Nehemiah did not waste time trying to defend himself.

· Most people fear what others say about them.

· People will talk anyway, but you must have determination.

· You cannot lead a work of God if you are governed by what people think

· Decisions for God cannot be made on popular opinion.

Therefore Nehemiah prayed for strength and power.

· Jesus was slandered and falsely accused BUT He said not a word. He did not defend Himself!

Nehemiah 6: [10] Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
[11] And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. [12] And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. [13] Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. [14] My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

C. The Scandal of Falsehood (10-14)

Nehemiah came to Shemaiah’s house. Shemaiah was said to be a prophet.

Shemaiah was “shut up” or acting as if he was receiving a message from God. “GOD told me…..”

Shemaiah says “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple…. they will come to slay thee”

Nehemiah said “I cannot go into the temple to save my life, I will not go in.”

Nehemiah knew that only priests were allowed in the temple and Nehemiah is not a priest.

Num 18:7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Remember 2 Chr 26 told us that King Uzziah went into the temple and GOD made the king a leper?

In verse 12, Nehemiah knew that Shemaiah was not a prophet as he tried to get Nehemiah to disobey GOD.

Nehemiah knew that Shemaiah did not work for the LORD but worked for Tobiah and Sanballat.

Shemaiah was trying to discredit Nehemiah before the people.

· Satan offered Jesus a way out of the cross if Jesus would bow to the devil, but Jesus would not disobey GOD!

Nehemiah 6: [15] So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. [16] And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

2) The Completion of the Wall (15,16)

The walls around the city, which were in ruins for 100 years, were rebuilt in 52 days.

The project that many said cannot be done, was finished in 52 days.

GOD sent a man that prayed, planned, stood and obeyed the LORD and the work was completed!

Nehemiah had prayed for 4 months and the job took under 2 months to complete.

The spiritual battle is GREATER than the material battle

When the enemy saw this completed work, they were disheartened because they knew this was the work of GOD!

Nehemiah 6: [17] Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. [18] For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. [19] Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

3) The Choice of Witnesses (17-19)

The work is completed but the enemy still wages war.

The nobles of Judah and Tobiah have communications. The people are fellowshipping with the enemy.

Tobiah had mocked (2:19, 4:3), made angry threats (4:7,8) & sought mischief (6:1,2)

Yet the leaders spoke well of Tobiah. Why? …..

A. The Association of Family

Tobiah was married into the leadership (6:18).

In fact the leaders shared back with Tobiah all that Nehemiah said (6:19)

What did Nehemiah say ? (4:4 he prayed to GOD against Tobiah)

I wonder if the family thought Tobiah was good guy and Nehemiah was hard- headed?

Nehemiah had a shepherds heart and a shepherds eye to protect the flock.

B. The Affiliation of Finances

“For there were many in Judah sworn unto him” (6:18)

This word “sworn” suggests family ties and financial ties. Maybe a business association linked them together. Maybe who signed their paycheck made a difference. Maybe who their employees were made the difference.

In verse 19, though the walls are complete, Tobiah is still sending letters to Nehemiah to threaten Nehemiah.

Though the walls are built, though work is complete, Tobiah is trying to get inside to cause Nehemiah grief.

· This was all Nehemiah wrote, but Nehemiah did not demand the nobles to change their mind about Tobiah.

· Nehemiah did not DENY what he knew about Tobiah to be true.

· Nehemiah was willing to let it go and let GOD deal with it.

· I wonder though, will GOD really bless people who take Tobiah under their wing?