The Servant Stands Firm

Lead the congregation in a Pastoral Prayer

Nehemiah emphasizes two essential qualities in his chosen leaders (Neh. 6:2): trustworthiness (“faithful”) and reverence (“God-fearing”)

Derek W. H. Thomas

So far we have read:

That Nehemiah is a God-fearing man.

There are people who like to play hop-scotch with their faithfulness with God.

God does not simply call people to tasks but to people themselves.

Selfishness and pride cause great hurt and evil, even among God’s people.

Faithful leaders seek the wellbeing of the community, not their own.

Question before us is whether or not the Church is faithful and trustworthy?

I. The Servant Focuses on the People & the Work, Not the Distractions. (Vv. 1-8)

Nehemiah 6:1–8 ESV

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), 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. 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?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 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. 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.” 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.”

The matter that God lays out before the leader and His people is foremost important.

The enemy always sows seeds for what he does best: Lie, Cheat, Kill, Destroy.

The best policy when dealing with falsehood and deceit is to speak truth with emphasis and certainty.

Those who take refuge in community while fleeing from themselves are misusing it to indulge in empty talk and distraction, no matter how spiritual this idle talk and distraction may appear.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

II. The Servant Finds Strength Through Prayer. (v. 9)

Nehemiah 6:9 ESV

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.

Prayer is not the last resource for the Disciple of Jesus Christ.

The believer knows God alone can guide us through difficult spots.

The ongoing focus is for God’s glory and the people’s wellbeing.

When God is our strength, it is strength indeed; when our strength is our own, it is only weakness.

Augustine of Hippo

III. The Servant Stands Firm Without Fault. (Vv. 10-14)

Nehemiah 6:10–14 ESV

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.” 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.” 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. 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. 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.

God shows us how righteous convictions come from standing in Him.

A God-fearing leader hears not the voices of opposition, but the compelling voice of God Almighty.

The humble servant turns to God to remove the enemies on the path.

Where do we stand with our disposition toward God and His work among us?

IV. God Moves Despite The Opposition (Vv. 15-19)

The cross stands in bold opposition to the natural man. Its philosophy runs contrary to the processes of the unregenerate mind.

A. W. Tozer

Nehemiah 6:15–19 ESV

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 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. Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 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. Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

Opposition to divine sovereignty is essentially atheism.

Charles Spurgeon

God, the Sovereign over all creation cannot be stopped.

The people who follow God are filled with awe because of His works.

The people who play religiosity games find themselves playing with their eternal lives as in a game of Russian Roulette

Rightfully do we hear our Savior say:

Matthew 23:23–25 ESV

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Main Takeaway:

When we are saved by God’s grace, we are called to do His Will and Pleasure; Not Ours.

Pastoral Prayer asking for God’s movement among the congregation.