Hang in There - Nehemiah 6:1-16 - March 29, 2009

Sunday School Lesson – Hang in There – March 29, 2009

This is our final Bible study lesson in the series entitled “Stepping Up to Serve.”

Our scripture is Nehemiah 6:1-16.

Discouragement and threats from people with power can result in believers abandoning a project GOD has called them to complete. It is often easy to say that we cannot fight “city hall” when we encounter problems completing a project. We see in our study, this week, Nehemiah remained focused when the surrounding government leaders were threatening him and when the local religious leadership were conspiring with the enemy.

When we are tired and we encounter opposition we have choices - continue, pause or stop. If we are looking for an excuse and encounter trouble, we take it as an opportunity to stop because we have an excuse. Our scripture reveals that Nehemiah continued to focus on his calling and to seek strength from the LORD. When things get tough, the tough get going. Nehemiah began his journey by seeking the will of GOD through prayer. GOD confirmed his calling as he took steps to prepare for his calling. He depended upon the LORD to see him and the project to completion.

The breaches in the wall had not been completed. They needed all the breaches secure for the city and its citizens to be safe and secure. How a leader responded to adversity influences those helping him/her. Let’s see how Nehemiah responds to those trying to discourage him and lure him into a trap. We must keep in mind that Nehemiah looked to GOD for his strength and he asked GOD for “success for the day.” He took matters one step at a time and in an attitude of prayer.

Let’s read Nehemiah 6:1-9:

Attempts to Discourage the Builders

1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it—though at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates— 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message: “Come, let’s meet together in the villages of[1] Or together at Chephirim in the Ono Valley.” But they were planning to harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply. 5 Sanballat sent me this same message a fifth time by his aide, who had an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations—and Geshem[2] Lit Gashmu agrees—that you and the Jews plan to rebel. This is the reason you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king 7 and have even set up the prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: “There is a king in Judah.” These rumors will be heard by the king. So come, let’s confer together. 8 Then I replied to him, “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.” 9 For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, “They will become discouraged[3] Lit saying, “Their hands will fail in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, [my God,]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. strengthen me.[4] Lit my hands

Nehemiah and the wall crews repaired the breaches in the walls. There was no gap in the walls. This was done in a record breaking fifty-two (52) days. But they had not completed the gates to the city. Repairing the breaches in the walls was a tremendous feat. The repair of the walls sent a tremendous message to the governors in that area. The governors, led by Sanballat (since he is mentioned first), immediately planned to lure Nehemiah to a supposedly safe place, about twenty (20) miles from Jerusalem to do him harm. Neutralize the leader and you likely kill the will of the people to finish the project.

Sanballat and Geshem the Arab sent a message to Nehemiah asking him to meet them in a safe area called the Ono Valley. But Nehemiah was alerted that they planned to harm him. So he said no, he had too much work to do. They sent him the same request four (4) times but each time Nehemiah rejected their offer. This was a bold move on Nehemiah’s part. But it showed the confidence Nehemiah had in GOD and the fact that he had received the necessary blessings from the king gave him added assurance that he had nothing to fear from the king. He was on secure ground.

But the discouragers did not let up. They changed their tactics. They began a rumor that Nehemiah’s plan was to rebel against the king. The fifth message was sent as an open message. It could have been written on pottery or papyrus. The point was for all the Israelites to know the contents of the message. Sanballat wanted to alert the Israelites that Nehemiah’s real plan was to establish himself as their king and rebel against their current king.

Nehemiah was not deterred. He simply sent a message back to Sanballat revealing that he knew that he was the one who started the rumors to discourage them from completing the work GOD had ordained. The scripture does not tell us but I wonder if Nehemiah sent his reply back as an open message? If so, it would have been a way to reveal to the Israelites, publically, the source of these false rumors and that Nehemiah was not concerned about their threats. Nehemiah had great courage.

Normally, such threats would have deterred most people but Nehemiah showed a resolve to complete the project because he was firm in his faith that he was serving GOD.

Let’s read Nehemiah 6:10-14:

Attempts to Intimidate Nehemiah

10 I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted [to his house]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. . He said: Let us meet at the house of God inside the temple. Let us shut the temple doors because they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you tonight![5] Or by night 11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can I enter the temple and live? I will not go.” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He was hired, so that I would be intimidated, do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me. 14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.

Nehemiah went to the house of Shemaiah (shih MAY yuh). Not much is known about Shemaiah. Nehemiah revealed that Shemaiah was the son of Delaiah. There was a priest named Delaiah. If Shemaiah was the son of a priest, then Shemaiah was a priest. We do not know why Shemaiah was restricted to his house and we do not know if Shemaiah invited Nehemiah to his house or Nehemiah went there to visit him. However, based upon the events that followed, it is reasonable to conclude Shemaiah invited Nehemiah to his house. I think the fact that Shemaiah invited Nehemiah to his house gives credibility to the possibility that Nehemiah was a eunuch, because he knew a eunuch could not enter the temple.

For whatever reason, Nehemiah met Shemaiah at his house. As the events unfold, we learn that Tobiah and Sanballat had hired Shemaiah, likely an influential religious leader, to carry out another scheme to discredit Nehemiah with the Israelites.

Since Tobiah was listed first, it gives us a clue that he was the ring leader in this plot to discredit Nehemiah with the support of Sanballat.

Verse 12, revealed that Nehemiah considered Shemaiah a prophet. Shemaiah had sufficient credentials to convince Nehemiah that what he was asking him to do was okay. Jews were allowed to enter the inner court of the temple but the area Shemaiah was suggesting that Nehemiah enter was restricted. To enter this restricted area could mean death, plus it would show the people that Nehemiah was afraid for his own safety and sought safety in the temple. Nehemiah was not a priest or a Levite; therefore, he could not enter the suggested restricted area. He was a layman called of the LORD. GOD was his security and protector.

Satan uses religion and religious leaders to do his work at times. Nehemiah knew the scripture and he knew what Shemiah was suggesting went against the teaching of the scripture. This is why believers must know the scripture and reject counsel that is contrary to the Word of GOD, regardless of the source.

Nehemiah likely knew from the scripture, 2 Chronicles 26:16-21, that King Uzziah went into the inner part of the temple and was struck with leprosy:
Uzziah’s Disease
16 But when he became strong, he grew arrogant and it led to his own destruction. He acted unfaithfully against the Lord his God by going into the Lord’s sanctuary to burn incense on the incense altar. 17 Azariah the priest, along with 80 brave priests of the Lord, went in after him. 18 They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the Lord—only the consecrated priests, the descendants of Aaron, have the right to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully! You will not receive honor from the Lord God.” 19 Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But when he became enraged with the priests, in the presence of the priests in the Lord’s temple beside the altar of incense, a skin disease broke out on his forehead. 20 Then Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw that he was diseased on his forehead. They rushed him out of there. He himself also hurried to get out because the Lord had afflicted him. 21 So King Uzziah was diseased to the time of his death. He lived in quarantine[10] Lit a house of freedom [11] Lv 13:46 with a serious skin disease and was excluded from access to the Lord’s temple, while his son Jotham was over the king’s household governing the people of the land.

We have to keep in mind that GOD had specific instructions that had to be followed regarding the temple. We, also, need to keep in mind that believers are the temple of the HOLY SPIRIT. Believers must remain in relationship with the LORD, as they serve HIM.

When you do not succeed, try and try again was the mantra for Sanballat, Shemaiah and all their colleagues. Shemaiah had other influential religious leaders who were persuaded to work against him. Noadiah (noh uh DIGH uh) a prophetess is mentioned.

Nehemiah remained strong and relied upon the LORD. He prayed and asked GOD to deal with those who were trying to discredit him and hold them accountable for their actions. This reveals Nehemiah’s heart and character. He does not take revenge in his own hands but he leaves revenge to GOD.

Let’s read Nehemiah 6:15-16:

The Wall Completed
15 The wall was completed in 52 days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul. 16 When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence,[6] Lit and fell greatly in their eyes for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.

Victory!!! Nehemiah remained undeterred and the wall was completed. This sent a powerful message to all the heathens. They realize that such an accomplishment can only be explained by the help of their GOD.

GOD is honored through the rebuilding of a wall. GOD is honored in the rebuilding of our lives. Nehemiah began the project and maintained his prayer life as he continued to serve GOD. He did not let momentary success deter him from the overall success of the project. He had many opportunities to become entangled in issues which would have diluted his effort to complete the project.

When we serve our LORD, we must stay focused on the objective. The Apostle Paul compares serving our LORD to running a race and finishing. At the beginning of a project there is much enthusiasm but as the work progresses then that initial enthusiasm can fade. If we begin a project on shaky ground, when things get tough, we tend to stall, falter or question our calling. That is why it is so important to know that GOD is calling. Nehemiah prayed for months to confirm his calling.

All believers are called to serve the LORD through the lives they live. When our Christian lives are based upon false notions and hear-say regarding GOD’S Word, rather than truth, we become discouraged and are easily deterred from living as GOD wants us to live.

This is why a believer’s relationship with the LORD is so vital. We must continue to seek truth through an intimate, loving relationship with HIM through CHRIST. Begin serving HIM on the solid rock of JESUS.