Nehemiah Chapter 6
Showing all 19 verses for Nehemiah Chapter 6.
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"Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) "
"When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of their enemies heard that Nehemiah had finished rebuilding the wall with no gaps left in it - though the doors hadn't yet been hung on the gates -"
Finishing the hard practical work doesn't mean opposition ends - sometimes it just changes shape, aiming at you personally instead of your project. Stay alert even when the biggest obstacle seems behind you.
"That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. "
"Sanballat and Geshem sent word to Nehemiah, "Come and let's meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono." But they actually intended to harm him."
Not every friendly-sounding invitation deserves your trust. Use discernment - I want you wise as well as gentle, able to spot when kindness is only a mask.
"And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? "
"Nehemiah sent messengers back saying, "I'm doing important work and can't come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to come and meet you?""
You don't owe everyone a lengthy explanation for protecting your priorities. A clear, honest "no" is enough when something truly matters is at stake.
"Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. "
"They sent the same invitation four times, and each time Nehemiah gave them the same answer."
If you've already decided what's right, you don't need a new argument every time you're pressed - just the patience to keep saying it. Repetition of a wrongful request doesn't make it any less wrong to give in.
"Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; "
"The fifth time, Sanballat sent his servant with the same message, but this time it came as an open letter, unsealed for anyone to read."
When people try to shame you publicly before you've even had a chance to answer, don't panic - your integrity doesn't depend on winning every whisper campaign, only on staying true to what is right.
"Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. "
"The letter claimed, "It's being said among the nations, and Geshem confirms it, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel - that's why you're building the wall, so you can become their king.""
People may take something good you've done and invent a false reason behind it. Don't let a lie about your intentions make you abandon the good you know you're actually doing.
"And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. "
"The letter continued, "You've even set up prophets to announce in Jerusalem that there's a king in Judah - meaning you. This will get reported to the king. So come, let's talk this through together.""
When accusations pile up and threaten your reputation, resist the urge to react in fear. Real character is tested most by pressure to prove yourself to people who have already decided to disbelieve you.
"Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. "
"Nehemiah replied plainly, "None of what you're saying is true - you've made it up yourself.""
You don't need to argue endlessly against a lie to disprove it. Sometimes stating the plain truth once, clearly, is all that honesty requires of you.
"For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. "
"Nehemiah explains that they were all trying to frighten the workers so their hands would grow weak and the work would stop - then he prays, "Now, God, strengthen my hands.""
When fear tries to weaken your resolve, don't fight it alone in silence - ask for strength, out loud if you need to. There's no shame in admitting you need help to keep going.
"Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. "
"Nehemiah later went to the house of Shemaiah, who was confined indoors, and Shemaiah said, "Let's meet inside the temple and shut the doors, because they're coming to kill you - they'll come at night to kill you.""
Fear can be used by others to push you into compromising what you know is right, even dressed up as protection or wisdom. Test any advice that asks you to break your own integrity to "save" yourself.
"And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. "
"Nehemiah answered, "Should a man in my position run and hide? And who like me would go into the temple just to save his own life? I won't do it.""
There are moments when protecting your own safety at any cost isn't actually the brave or right choice. I ask you to weigh what kind of person you'll be on the other side of your decision, not just whether you survive it.
"And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. "
"Nehemiah realised that God hadn't sent this message through Shemaiah at all - Tobiah and Sanballat had paid him to deliver it."
Not everyone who speaks in my name, or claims special insight, is telling you the truth. Test what you're told by who benefits from you believing it, and trust the discernment I've given you.
"Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. "
"Nehemiah explains their plan: Shemaiah was paid to frighten him into sinning by fleeing to the temple, so his enemies would have grounds for a damaging accusation to disgrace him."
Sometimes the greatest danger isn't the attack itself but being tricked into giving your critics real ammunition. Stay grounded in what you know is right, especially when someone is working hard to rattle you into a mistake.
"My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. "
"Nehemiah prays, "My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they've done, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the other prophets who tried to frighten me.""
You don't have to pretend you're unaffected by people who try to harm you, and you don't have to take justice into your own hands either. Bring your hurt honestly into the open and let it be answered rather than letting it fester or turn to revenge.
"So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. "
"The wall was completed on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul - fifty-two days after the work began."
Don't measure what's possible only by how many obstacles stand in the way. When purpose, unity, and persistence come together, remarkable things can be finished faster than anyone expected.
"And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. "
"When all their enemies heard about it, and the surrounding nations saw what had happened, they were deeply discouraged, because they recognised that this achievement had been accomplished with God's help."
Sometimes the clearest answer to your critics isn't a defence in words, but simply finishing well what you set out to do. Let your results, done with integrity, speak louder than any argument.
"Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. "
"During this time, the nobles of Judah were exchanging many letters with Tobiah, sending messages back and forth."
Watch for compromise creeping in through relationships close to home, not just obvious threats from a distance. Loyalty to what's right sometimes means being willing to stand apart even from people within your own circle.
"For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. "
"Many people in Judah were bound to Tobiah by oath, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah son of Arah, and his own son Johanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah."
Be mindful of how the relationships you build shape where your loyalties end up pulling you. Choose your close alliances thoughtfully, because they will influence you more than you may realise.
"Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. "
"These nobles kept telling Nehemiah about Tobiah's good qualities, and reported back to Tobiah what Nehemiah said. Tobiah also kept sending letters to intimidate him."
Winning one battle doesn't mean the pressure to compromise disappears - it often just becomes quieter and more persistent. Stay watchful and steady even after your biggest challenge seems behind you.