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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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NEHEMIAH RESPONDS
TO PERSONAL THREATS (Neh 6:1‑9) 6/20/10 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. SANBALLAT PLOTED AGAINST
NEHEMIAH (6:1‑2) A. [Intro] Just when Nehemiah had solved internal
problems through his integrity and leadership skills, he must once again face
external problems. Every prudent Christian leader and believer understands
that the enemy and external problems are relentless. Both keep returning and
never truly go away. Sanballat’s new strategy was to hail personal threats
and personal attacks on Nehemiah. But once again, God’s will
for His people will not be thwarted and Nehemiah illustrates
leadership in ministry for believers today. B. [6:1]
Nehemiah’s nemesis, Sanballat, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were
near completion. No breach remained in the wall, but the doors and gates had
to be installed. Obviously, Nehemiah is recounting the historical chronology
of the rebuilding of the wall whereas in chapter three he gave the schematic
completion. The news was “reported” (shama
‑ to hear) to him no doubt through informants, and quite possibly
planted spies. C. [6:2]
Therefore, Sanballat and Geshum sent a
message to Nehemiah requesting to meet with him. Perhaps on the outset it
appeared as if Sanballat wanted to work out his differences with Nehemiah.
However, Nehemiah was probably informed as well as discerning that they
intended to “harm” (raah ‑ bad,
evil, or injury) him. Though meeting Nehemiah in the plain of Ono might
appear to be a nonpartisan location, it would remove Nehemiah some 27 miles
from the protection of Jerusalem. II. NEHEMIAH REMAINED ON HIS
PROJECT (6:3‑4) A. [6:3] Nehemiah’s response was prudent and revealing, for he understood that his top priority was to
complete the work of God. It was exactly as he described it as “a great work”
for God because God had called him to do the work and do it speedily. There
was no reason why he should put the work aside and meet with Sanballat,
especially since Sanballat was attempting to harm Nehemiah. Distraction from
the work of God is as serious as a plot to foil it. B. [6:4]
Nehemiah stood his ground even though his enemies made “four” more
attempts at the deceptive meeting. Each time Nehemiah responded with the same
way, an emphatic “no.” III. SANBALLAT MADE A PERSONAL
THREAT (6:5‑7) A. [6:5] However, on the fifth attempt, Sanballat
introduced another strategy, which was not necessarily a new one. B. [6:6]
Sanballat accused Nehemiah of rebuilding the wall in order to
establish his own kingdom and rebel against the king. If that accusation was
true, it would be a serious charge with serious consequences from the King.
But the fact of the matter was that each time Sanballat accused the Jews or
Nehemiah of rebellion it was a false allegation (cp. Ne 2:19). Only this time
it was a personal attack on Nehemiah and his motives. C. [6:7]
If that wasn’t enough, Sanballat flat out lied about Nehemiah, saying
that Nehemiah had appointed prophets to declare His kingship. Not only would
this have been an assertion that Nehemiah was a self‑serving and self‑promoting
man, but he would be an promoter of false prophets.
Promoting false prophets was a sin against God and His people and the
consequences were grave (Dt 18:20‑22). Why was the letter that
Sanballat sent an “open letter?” Sanballat was promoting a conspiracy theory
not squelching one. He was inviting and encouraging others to read the open
letter and join the bandwagon against Nehemiah. IV. NEHEMIAH RESPONDS TO
PERSONAL THREATS (6:8‑9) A. [6:8] Even though the threats were serious,
Nehemiah was not persuaded to “take counsel together” (6:5) with Sanballat.
Instead, Nehemiah sent message back denying Sanballat’s allegations.
Furthermore, Nehemiah revealed the source of such rumors, namely from
Sanballat’s imagination. The Hebrew literally says, “from your heart you
yourself are inventing them.” Sanballat was fabricating these false
accusations from the imagination of his own evil heart. B. [6:9]
Nehemiah also revealed Sanballat’s purpose, which was to produce fear
(yare ‑ emotion of fear). Earlier, Sanballat had attempted to
produce fear (4:10‑12) and now he was trying again. Sanballat was a fearmonger, which is one who uses rumors, fear, and scare
tactics in order to direct and influence others. Rather than being fearful,
Nehemiah prayed to God. He prayed that God would “strengthen” (chazaq ‑ strengthen and embolden) him
to remain unmoved and continue the work on the wall. In Nehemiah’s mind was
the fact that the work was almost completed (6:15) so that they could not
give up now. Secondly, the only hope of protecting themselves from their
enemies was to complete the wall, which included the gates and the doors. V. OBSERVATIONS AND
APPLICATIONS A. Leadership disregards the
false information in personal attacks (Ne 6:3). 1. From
time to time, there will be allegations and personal attacks against those
doing the work of God. 2. The first proper response would be to
examine the accusation and see if there is any truth contained in them.
Often, there is a kernel of truth in most allegations. If so, then at least
deal with that kernel. 3. The second response would be to simply
disregard false allegations and continue with the work of God. A believer
should examine his life under the perspective of God’s truth in His word and
not the unbiblical perspective of others. 4. Personal attacks are often ad Hominem
fallacies that have nothing to do with God’s truth. B. Leadership reprioritizes
the work of God in first place when distractions come (Ne 6:3). 1. Distraction
sometimes come from the evil one who attempts to get
the believer to take his focus off God and His work. 2. Distractions can also come from well‑meaning
individuals and things which would take up all of our time and energy of we
allow it. 3. Prioritizing is what manages our time and
energy for the eternal things in life. Prioritizing is what keeps us from
being distracted. C. Leadership stands firm on
the work of God in the face of fear and threats (Ne 6:8 1. In every
generation, there have been Christian leaders who have faced fearful people,
circumstances, and threats. If there is a great work for God, there will come a great opposition, which very could include serious
and personal threats. 2. The martyrs of the Christian faith
understood that if they did not have worthy cause to die for, they did not
have a worthy cause to live for. That worthy cause is Christ and the work He
has called Christians to do. 3. Believers are not in the Christian life
for self‑service and self‑promotion but for Christ‑service
and Christ‑promotion, even in the face of fear and threats |
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