Nehemiah 6 Verses 1 to 14 Don’t Be Fooled

Nehemiah 6 Verses 1 to 14  Don’t Be Fooled August 17, 2025 Lesson 7

The Relentless Pursuit of Obedience Class Presentation Notes AAAA

Background Scriptures:

· Matthew 7:15–23 (NASB95)   A Tree and Its Fruit

15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

          16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

          17  “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

          18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

          19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

          20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

          21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

          22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’

          23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

Main Idea:

· The wicked will always try to disrupt the work of a person seeking to God’s will.

Study Aim:

· To understand that living by faith does not mean being naïve.  Jesus said, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15)

Create Interest:

· When we are opposed by others or attacked spiritually through enticing temptations or difficult trials, we need the ability to discern between what is true and false, what is good and bad. Then we need wisdom and courage to know how to respond to and conquer the situation. The constant need for discernment and wisdom is the practical subject of the present Scripture.[1]

Lesson in Historical Context:

· Each stage in the rebuilding of the walls had its own challenge. The first step was to agree to rebuild broken walls and gates. The work encountered outward opposition from the beginning. The opposition took the form of ridicule, and when work continued the enemies threatened to attack the Jews posted guards and kept their weapons nearby. When the walls were half built, internal dissension threatened the work, but Nehemiah successfully resolved the issue. Now the work on the walls was finished and only the gates remained to be set in place. The city was still vulnerable to attack until the gates were in place.[2]   Let’s glean some life lessons from Nehemiah’s challenges.

Bible Study:

Nehemiah 6:1–4 (NASB95) The Enemy’s Plot…Compromise Tried First

   1     Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates,

   2     then Sanballat and Geshem sent a messageto me, saying, “Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.

   3     So 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     They sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way.

· Vs. 6:1-3.  When … Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem (cf. 2:19), and other enemies heard that the wall was completed and that the only thing remaining was to set the doors in the gates, those “wall opponents” again attempted to halt the work.

o This time they were more subtle; their sole object of attack was Nehemiah himself. By removing him from the scene or by at least destroying his credibility with the Jews, they reasoned that they might be able to defeat the work. Each of their three attacks on him was different, but each was designed to take his life or discredit his effectiveness as a leader.

· This first attack was more subtle than the others. Sanballat and Geshem invited Nehemiah to meet with them in one of the villages on the plain of Ono. The plain of Ono was named after the town of that name (cf. 1 Chron. 8:12; Ezra 2:33; Neh. 7:37; 11:35). It was near Lod about 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem, about 6 miles southeast of Joppa. As seen on the map “Postexilic Samaria and Judah,” near Ezra 2, Ono was near the border of Samaria, Sanballat’s home province. On the surface it appeared that Sanballat and his cohorts wanted to have a peace conference, but their hidden motive was to harm Nehemiah.

· Nehemiah suspected foul play. Why would they want him a day’s journey away from Jerusalem? Then he could not oversee the work, and by outnumbering him they might do him harm. Though he could not prove his enemies’ motives, he chose a method that would eventually demonstrate whether they were sincere. He simply sent messengers to tell themhe was involved in a great(important) project and could not leave it unsupervised.

o By responding in this way Nehemiah was not openly questioning their motives. In fact, he was giving them an opportunity to prove their motives were sincere, if they really wanted to make peace.

· Vs. 6:4. Sanballat and Geshem’s response tipped their hand. Rather than countering with an offer to meet with Nehemiah in Jerusalem, four times they sent … the same message and Nehemiah responded four times with his samerefusal.

· Nehemiah could have impatiently attacked their motives on their third or fourth request. But he patiently waited it out till theyrevealed their motives. And this they did with their fifth response, which involved their second scheme.[3]

Nehemiah 6:5–9 (NASB95)  Slander was tried next…We will tell about you

   5     Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand.

   6     In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel; therefore, you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports.

   7     “You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, ‘A king is in Judah!’ And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let us take counsel together.”

   8     Then I sent a message to him saying, “Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind.”

   9     For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

· The fifth time the enemy approached Nehemiah, it was with an open letter accusing him of sedition. They had hinted at Jewish insurrection before the project had even begun (2:19), perhaps borrowing the idea from the people who had stopped the building of the temple years before (Ezra 4). Even our Lord was accused by His enemies of promoting sedition (Luke 23:1–5). It would be considered a serious charge in Nehemiah’s day, because Persian kings tolerated no resistance from their subjects. Any hint of rebellion was immediately and ruthlessly put down.

· It’s interesting to see how often the enemy used lettersin their attacks against the work (Neh. 6:5, 17, 19). An “open letter” to a royal governor would be both intimidating and insulting.

o Letters to officials were rolled up and secured with seals so that only those with authority could open and read them.

o Sanballat wantedthe public to know the contents of the letter because he hoped to undermine Nehemiah’s reputation and authority. If some of the Jewish workers believed what was in the letter, Sanballat could organize them and create division within the ranks. It was a splendid opportunity for the enemy to divide and conquer.

· Statements like “it’s been reported” and “they say” have caused trouble in many local churches and other ministries.  Discuss for clarity.

o In every organization, there are gossip-mongers, hovering like vultures, just waiting for tidbits of slander that they can chew, swallow, and then regurgitate.

o An anonymous wit has defined gossip as news you have to hurry and tell somebody else before you find out it isn’t true!   Discuss and relate to our world today.

§ “I would rather play with forked lightning, or take in my hands living wires with their fiery current,” said A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, “than speak a reckless word against any servant of Christ, or idly repeat the slanderous darts which thousands of Christians are hurling on others, to the hurt of their own souls and bodies.”

· Not only did his enemies falsely accuse Nehemiah of fomenting a rebellion, but they also said he was planning to make himself king and had prophets prepared to announce his coronation (v. 7). If this report got back to the Persian king, there would be immediate reprisal; and that would be the end of the Jerusalem project.

o Christian leaders must know how to handle false accusations, vicious letters, unfounded press reports, and gossip. Otherwise, these devilish weapons will so upset them that they will lose their perspective and spend so much time defending themselves that they will neglect their work.

o Nehemiah didn’t make that mistake.He simply denied the reports, prayed to God for strength, and went back to work. He knew that his character was such that no honest person would believe the false reports.

o  If we take care of our character, we can trust God to take care of our reputation.    Discuss how to do this…………………

· Note from history:  On more than one occasion, Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan was the target of savage gossip that accused him of unfaithfulness to the Christian faith. His usual approach was to say, “It will blow over. Meanwhile, I go quietly on with my work.” Nehemiah would have approved of his approach.[4]

Thoughts to Soak on:

· Nehemiah demonstrated single-minded self-control. He knew how to stay focused on what the Lord wanted him to do.

o He was a man that was not a slave to the desires of others, even though he lived for others. As a good leader, he knew when and how to say “No.”

o Good leaders destroy themselves by trying to please everybody and go crazy in the process.

§ They fail when they let others have their own way, even though they know that way will harm others or lead to defeat.

§ The desire to have peace at any cost or the desire to be liked or popular can ruin you and your family.

o Many pastors have neglected the needs of their own family because they were catering to the families in the church when it really was not necessary.

· Some may ask, “Shouldn’t a leader be available to others?” The answer is “Yes” but there is a difference between being available and being a puppet to the whims of other people. One of the marks of maturity is the ability to say “No” without an explanation.

o Cyril Barber said, “Nehemiah’s ability to see the issues clearly and stand firm under pressure safeguarded him from succumbing to the wiles of his adversaries.”

o Nehemiah understood the balance between leading and serving people. There are times you need to say “No” to people. This was one of those times because God’s will took a priority in his life.

o He did not want to do anything that would hinder him or distract him from fulfilling the will of God. They were persistent, but he was not intimidated.

What are some other situations where we should say “No?”

· When a lesser “good” threatens to hinder or undermine a “greater” good.

· When being asked to compromise the truth or morality.

· When being asked to disobey God’s Word.

· When faced with a temptation to sin.

· When saying “Yes” would cause you to be overwhelmed to the point that you physically could not fulfill your word, or the task would be done in a sloppy manner or not at all.

· Say “No” whenever it is necessary to say “No.” Know your limitations and be honest about them. If you cannot do something, then be honest with people and graciously decline their request.[5]

What are some lasting truths in Nehemiah 6:1–9?

· Any person who steps up to serve God can expect to be opposed.

· Opponents use a variety of ways to divert the work of the Lord.

· Opponents are persistent in their efforts.

· As believers, we need the direction and strength of God to fulfill His will.

· We should resist any temptation to achieve selfish importance.[6]

Nehemiah 6:10–14 (NASB95) Treats and subversion were their final attempt

10     When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.”

11     But I said, “Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”

12     Then I perceived that surely God had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13     He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me.

14     Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me.

· Vs. 10:  An attempt was now made to seduce him through a false prophet within the city. A certain Shemaiah was hired to pose as his friend and spiritual adviser to inform him in the name of the Lord that his enemies were about to kill him, and that his one refuge was the Temple. Who was shut up, “who was shut in,” perhaps due to some defilement or sickness (Berk.).

· Vs. 11-12:  But again, Nehemiah was adamant in his refusal to yield to his enemies, even in a show of friendship. Should such a man as I flee? he said, and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. He saw through their clever devices and steadfastly refused to be lured into their trap.

o Surely, we have here an excellent example of holy boldness on the part of one of God’s saints, who would not demean himself by any compromise with the enemy.

· Vs. 13: Therefore, was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin.

o Fear becomes sin:

§ When it would deflect us from God-given tasks, Vs. 1–4;

§ When we are afraid of charges based on falsehoods, Vs. 5-9

§ When we would use even religious refuge to spare ourselves from the cost of doing God’s work, Vs.10–13.

· Note:  In a message entitled “A Great Work,” based on verse 3: I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down, it could be asserted that God’s work, whether it be the building of a wall, the building of a Christian congregation, or the evangelization of the heathen, must be given preference over all other occupations that would demand our attention.

o Because God has commanded it,

o Because the Bible authorizes it, and

o Because we have received a specific call to do it.

§ Thus it was with Nehemiah, and thus it should be with every man who feels the call of God upon him.

§ Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?[7]

What are some lasting truths in Nehemiah 6:10–14?

· Enemies of God’s work will do anything to eliminate the key leader.

· People who claim to be friends sometimes give bad advice, intentionally.

· Some people will do anything for enough money.

Nehemiah 6:15–16 (NASB95) The Wall Is Finished

15     So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

16     When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it,they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

· The last paragraphs of chapter 6 make more explicit the opposition to Nehemiah in the city. It was not merely a problem in connection with enemies in other sub-provinces.

· There is opposition and intrigue within as well as without. If Nehemiah had had e-mail or a Web site, it certainly would have been hacked.

o  He needed to be shrewd as a snake as well as harmless as a dove.

§  He was that kind of man, and it contributed to his success.

· The rebuilding is achieved only because “the work had been done by God.” The building would not have been done without God, but it would not have been done without Nehemiah either.

o He can be discerning about which voices come from God and which from people who are working against God, even when they seem reasonable and/or spiritual and/or concerned for his well-being.

o And he can be discerning about politically tempting calls that invite him to meetings that might lessen the possibility of deterioration in the situation or help find the middle ground, but will actually mean, at best, distraction, and at worst the sabotage of the project.[8]

Thoughts to Soak on in Closing:

· The work Nehemiah was doing in Jerusalem was not great because the world thought it was significant. The world would have called what he was doing back in Persia “great work.” The world would have told him that he left the great work for something that didn’t matter at all.

o Who cared if the walls of Jerusalem got rebuilt? What difference did it make?

· It made a difference, it was a great work, it was an important project because God’s name was at stake in Jerusalem. Those walls were going to protect God’s people. That’s what made what Nehemiah was doing in Jerusalem a great work.

· What work are you doing? Would you describe it as great work? If you are doing what God has called you to do in the task of making disciples, you are not doing things that the world thinks is of great significance—you’re not even doing something that can be measured like building walls

o —but God’s name is at stake in your life now just as it was at stake in what Nehemiah was doing.

· All this to say: God has called you to live out His glory by trusting Him, walking with Him in purity, and thanking Him for what He gives you.

o That is the way that He has called all of us to live, whether we are also called to do vocational ministry or called to be a barber cutting hair or called to be an electrical engineer or called to be a stay-at-home mom changing diapers and teaching homeschool.

o The point is much less what we do and much more how we do it and who we do it for.[9]

Grace and peace,

[1]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2004), 145.

[2]Robert J. Dean, Bible Studies for Life, Spring 2009, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, n.d.), 47.

[3]Gene A. Getz, “Nehemiah,”in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 685–686.

[4]Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Determined, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 74–76.

[5]Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Nehemiah, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2008), 133–134.

[6]Robert J. Dean, Bible Studies for Life, Spring 2009, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, n.d.), 50.

[7]C. E. Demaray, “The Book of Nehemiah,” in Joshua through Esther, vol. II, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1965), Ne 6:1–14.

[8]John Goldingay, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther for Everyone, Old Testament for Everyone (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press; Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2012), 113–114.

[9]James M. Hamilton Jr. et al., Exalting Jesus in Ezra-Nehemiah (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), 138–139.