Sometimes Satan is subtle when he is on the offensive and at other times he manifests in a full on frontal attack. We see both here in this short chapter of Nehemiah 6. Be blessed as you read and pray.
Nehemiah 6: Conspiracy Against Nehemiah
1 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),
2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono." But they intended to do me harm.
3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?"
4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.
6 In it was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king.
7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, 'There is a king in Judah.' And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together."
8 Then I sent to him, saying, "No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind."
9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night."
11 But I said, "Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in."
12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me.
14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.
The Wall Is Finished
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.
18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife.
19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.
Things to think about…
1. In Neh 6:1-4 all seems quite friendly and cordial with the request of Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshom and their request to speak with Nehemiah. They asked to meet with him four times and four times Nehemiah refused. He responds by saying ‘Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?’, Neh 6:3. Nehemiah knew his commissioning and building program was from the Lord. These three men were simply there to distract, discourage and ultimately stop the Lord’s work from being completed. This of course is Satan’s first line of attack, with a polite and gentrle approach. When that doesn’t work a more direct assault occurs, as Nehemiah experienced. What commissioning has the Lord given to you? How do you know it is of the Lord? Have you been discouraged from completing the work? How did you overcome these distractions?
2. In Neh 6:5-9 we see Nehemiah’s enemy Sanballat take a more drastic course of action against Nehemiah to stop the wall from being built. He sends a letter to Nehemiah that is defamatory against his character. The letter accuses Nehemiah of ill intent and that he was really trying to proclaim himself as king. This was nonsense of course, but it was the sort of thing that would have destabilised the work because it would have sent the wrong message to the king of Persia regarding Nehemiah. How has Satan upped the ante, so to speak, when you have tried to maintain an obedient course towards Christ? He will often use associates that know both your character and your faults to bring you down.
3. In Neh 6:10-14 we see some of the most powerful instruments being used to stop Nehemiah from the Lord’s work. These are found in close friends and work colleagues. Nehemiah visits Shemaiah who was house bound, vs 10. Shemaiah had been hired by Tobiah and Sanballat to prophesy to Nehemiah to go into the temple. These wicked men knew Nehemiah’s course was of the Lord so they try and distract him in a way that is connected with his faith and calling. They ask him to seek God’s protection, by going into the Temple. Nehemiah was likely a eunuch and as such was not permitted to be in the temple, look at his words “what man such as I am could go into the temple”, Neh 6:11. Nehemiah saw through it. He knew he had the Lord’s protection was with him regardless of where he was, but he would not break God’s law. This was just another ploy to make him fearful and stop the work. Satan knows if he can stop the leaders of the Lord’s work, the people will soon follow. Have you ever seen this in your experience, where church leadership have been divided and the Lord’s work has ceased?
4. In Neh 6:15-19 we see the wall is finally finished! It only took 52 days and everyone, including the enemies, knew that this was only achieved because the Lord was in the building program, vs 16. There were still relations with Tobiah because he was intimately related to the senior Jewish leadership by marriage and hence he was a difficult voice to deal with for Nehemiah, Neh 6:18. He was well spoken of by others and Nehemiah’s words were spoken to him. His letters were sent to make Nehemiah afraid, vs 19. Yet the wall was completed. Remember when Christ’s mother and brothers were trying to distract and throw Him off course from His work. He maintained a steady course. Sometimes family ties and relationships can create unhealthy situations in the church. These can become quite messy when these relations are within the church’s senior leadership. There are of course positive examples of where family relationships have been blessed in a church leadership context but only when the focus of God’s word is above familial ties.
Vision Point for cell groups – Cell groups on break over the school holidays
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups on break over School holidays
Prayer Points
1. Pray for our Easter services.
2. Pray the Lord blesses the money sent to Polish Baptist Church in Chelm efforts to support Ukrainian refugees. This is the church we will be supporting.
3. Upcoming Australian elections
4. Continue to pray for the flood clean-up and all those affected a second and third time round as well as the money donated to help.
5. Folk sick with Covid – relief and healing.
6. Ukraine to continue to repel Russia and peace to come. Pray for Mariupol and eastern Ukraine.
7. Christ to be seen through us in our community.
8. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
9. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. CBC has raised $2800 for Ukrainian refugees and $1200 in flood donations. I have been messaging Chelm Baptist Church and they are very appreciative of our support.
2. Russia seems to be gradually losing the war. Pray they are held accountable for war crimes.
3. The world is responding overwhelmingly to the war in Ukraine. It has united the west and others against Putin’s evil.
4. God’s word affecting people for Christ
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
6. Flood cleanup is restoring communities around Ipswich and Brisbane.
