Rebuilt: Nehemiah’s Persistence

Notes:

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. 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. 7 Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. 3 And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.” 4 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.

Theme of Chapter 6: Plans to Instigate Fear

Klein: “The intentions of Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem throughout the chapter remain consistently hostile to Nehemiah and his program. These intentions resulted in physical threats, political charges, traps and tricks, and psychological warfare.”

Nehemiah 6:1-7:4

vv.1-3: Assassination Attempt #1: Meeting at Hakkephirim

“Hey, let’s just get together.”

v. 3: “I am doing a great work… Why should the work stop?”

vv. 4-9: False Accusation: You want to be King!

5 letters! Sanballat was a constant thorn.

“You are inventing them [this accusation].”

Prayer: “But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” ESV adds, “O God”

Not strengthen my heart or mind. But my hands… Resolve. Strength. Get er done mentality.

vv. 10-14: Assassination Attempt #2: Meeting in the Temple

“Hey, let’s meet up in the temple.” “You’re the type who would be invited in.”

Respecting God’s holiness was more important than hiding out in safety.

Prayer against Tobiah and Sanballat: Hired an assassin. And Noahdiah the Prophetess. All who wanted to instill fear in Nehemiah.

v.11: Understanding of his position as governor. Understanding of his position as not a high priest.

Davis, “I have more guts than that… Anyway, it’s wrong.”

Act of going into the temple would not only be wrong, but it would discredit him like it did for King Uzziah.

v. 14: End with another prayer: “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat… And remember the other prophets and prophetesses.”

vv.15-19: Internal Opposition from Nobles

Kidner: “Tobiah was a more insidious influence in this respect than Sanballat, since he was probably a fellow-Jew, in addition to being (as his own and his son’s names indicate) a nominal adherent of Yahweh. His numerous binding agreements (by oath, 18) within the Jewish community were probably trading contracts, facilitated by his marriage connections. His wife’s family, the descendants of Arah, is mentioned in Ezra 2:5, and while neither Shecaniah nor this Meshullam can be identified, we know from 13:4 that Tobiah had family ties with the priestly or high-priestly house of Eliashib, probably by marriage. While such links and loyalties were embarrassing enough in themselves, we now learn how busily they were exploited by intrigues, persuasive talk, leaks of information and threatening letters. All this, in addition to the outside pressures already described, brought Nehemiah under attack from almost every quarter. It had been a test worthy of the man, and it was not yet over.”

Wall was completed October 27, 445BC.

Overturned fear! The nations are not afraid.

v. 16: Tobiah continued to send him letters to instill fear.

Tobiah would ensure gossip.

How does Nehemiah respond?

“I’m too busy.”

He prayed more than once.

Prayed for more strength. Prayed against his enemies.

Didn’t bother listening to false prophets (which is hard to do!).

Politically savvy.

Nehemiah Sets up Shop:

7:1: Walls built and doors set in place. Gatekeepers, singers, and Levites appointed.

7. 2: Hanani and “Hananiah the governor of the castle” charge over Jerusalem.

Hanani: Brother who told him of the original news of the state of Jerusalem.

7:3: Instructions to Maintain Stronghold

Don’t let the gates opened until the sun is hot.

Stand guard!

City was wide and large, but no one was in it yet!

Major problem!

Jesus is our Ultimate Example:

Constant oppression

Set up Shop for us!

Our mission is at hand!

Space for Growth.

Introduction:

This chapter has everything!

Assassination attempts.

Political Deceit.

Religious Subterfuge.

Corrupt Family Alliances

For fans of Law and Order, or Sherlock Holmes, or the Borne Series, this one’s for you!

Oppressive Onslaught toward Nehemiah

Oppressive Onslaught toward Christ

Fierce Resolve against Opposition

Courage

Strength

Reliance

Fruit of the Spirit

Oppressive Onslaught toward Nehemiah:

Episode #1: Requests to Meet at Hakkephirim

Nehemiah 6:1–4 “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.”

Sanballat: Becoming a royal pain from the North!

Tobiah: Jewish name? Jewish Insider who had deep political connections to the east and south.

“Hey, let’s just get together.”

We’ve seen these quote unquote diplomacy meetings that just don’t work.

Secretive meeting place between Trump and Putin in Alaska…

Find more neutral ground to meet to discuss peace.

Nehemiah has this uncanny ability to sniff out danger:

v. 2: They intent to harm me.

v. 3: “I am doing a great work… Why should the work stop?”

A gathering would take 3-4 days round trip.

Somehow Nehemiah saw through their motives.

They kept pressing! 4x same message.

Episode #2: False Accusation of Nehemiah’s Intent to Rebel and Rule

Nehemiah 6:4-9: 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.

5th Letter= “Open letter”

Sent by Sanballat, confirmed by Geshem.

Not a private, “Hey, let’s get together.”

But a publish, “Hey, we know your intent to rebel and rule”

“Come on, let’s just talk… ‘Take counsel… Together…”

The response:

“You’ve got no proof and you’re making this all up!”

A Prayer:

Prayer: “But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

ESV adds, “O God”: Rare for the ESV to do something like that…

Shorter: 3 words: “But now… Strengthen… My hands.”

Not strengthen my heart or mind. But my hands… Resolve. Strength. Get er done mentality.

Physical threats requires physical strength.

Episode #3: An Assassination Attempt to Discredit Nehemiah

Nehemiah 6:10-14

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.

Shemaiah: Hired accomplice to assassinate Nehemiah:

Temptation:

“People are coming for you.”

“You’re the kind of person who would be worthy to enter.”

Nehemiah’s Response:

“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.”

Self-Confidence: “I have a calling from God to stand firm here.”

Humility: “I can’t go into the temple! I’m not called to that office.”

Nehemiah sees through their intent:

If he hides in the “within the temple”=Discredits Nehemiah’s reputation

Risk of staying out=death!

Nehemiah’s Prayer:

Prayer against Tobiah and Sanballat: Hired an assassin. And Noahdiah the Prophetess. All who wanted to instill fear in Nehemiah.

v. 14: End with another prayer: “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat… And remember the other prophets and prophetesses.”

List of oppressors just grow against Nehemiah.

Episode 4: Internal Deceit

Tobiah the Fellow Jew!

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.

Powerful Friends in powerful positions

Connected to Jewish nobility.

Nehemiah 13:4= Ties with powerful Priests, connected by marriage.

Wall was completed October 27, 445BC.

The nations are not afraid, so they want to return the favor!

v. 19: Tobiah continued to send him letters to instill fear.

Each Episode:

Nehemiah shows resolve!

Oppressive Onslaught toward Christ

Main Examples of Constant Opposition against Jesus

Before he ascended: He accomplished everything he need to accomplish!

Set up shop!

Nehemiah 7:1-4

Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. 3 And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.” 4 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.

Nehemiah Sets up Shop:

7:1: Walls built and doors set in place. Gatekeepers, singers, and Levites appointed.

7. 2: Hanani and “Hananiah the governor of the castle” charge over Jerusalem.

Hanani: Brother who told him of the original news of the state of Jerusalem.

7:3: Instructions to Maintain Stronghold

Don’t let the gates opened until the sun is hot.

Stand guard!

City was wide and large, but no one was in it yet!

Major problem!

Jesus:

Sends us order as the King to fill the House!

Marching order!

Military Language:

“Onward Christian Soldiers”

“Battle Cry is Love!

How should we Face the Onslaught with our Calling:

MIssion: “Discovering the Joy of Belonging to Jesus.”

Lessons to learn from Nehemiah:

He was just a man.

God used him in extraordinary ways!

Without Nehemiah,

Well, it’s hard to imagine what history would look like without Nehemiah.

Nehemiah might not be a Abraham, or Moses, or David. Those are the Big 3. But without Nehemiah, one can only imagine how the world would continue to even know about Abraham, Moses, or David.

And what’s so amazing about this man is his total resolve:

Not too far of a strentch to say that God sent Nehemiah to ensure the Jews would not be extinct completely.

God saw the frailty, and so God sent Nehemiah.

How does that influence you?!

“History of English Podcast”

Ep 47: The Man who Saved English:

Fascinating story of Alfred the Great: The only English Monarch with that title “The Great”

Why is he so great? Partly because he may have single-handedly been the reason why we don’t speak a more Scandenavian language.

He grew up as the youngest of 5 boys:

So while his older brothers were taught how to lead and fight, he learned how to read and write.

But each old brother ended up dying young, and at the age of 21, he became king.

He was a brilliant military strategist.

He never ever caved.

He was resolute in his defiance against the Vikings through the 9th Century.

Won a decisive victory May of 878 against the Vikings.

As part of a Peace Treaty, and to ensure the Vikings would fit in more as rulers in other portions of Britain, he convinced the Vikings to convert to Christianity!

The title of this Podcast struck me: Can you imagine having the only title throughout British History as “The Great!” And then to have a podcast about the history of English be entitle: The Man who Saved English! That’s a big deal!

Hard to imagine history without the relentless effort of Alfred the Great!

Many examples throughout Church History?

Where would we be without Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox,

Where would we be without Resurrection Life Church?

Where would we be without you?

Reflection of the Church:

Two major weaknesses:

Syncretism or Slavery

But sprinkled throughout is also how to manage adversity!

Don’t cave to culture.

Don’t slip into Slavery.

But also how to handle adversity.