Nehemiah 6 Battles Behind-the-Scenes April 8, 2018am www.newhopefwbc.com 1285 Ne w Hope R oad Joelton, TN 37080 6 1 5. 7 4 6. 6 4 0 3 READ Nehemiah 6:1-2 & 15-16 KIDS How can you spot a rumor? 52 Days. It took 52 days for Nehemiah to build the wall all around Jerusalem! Not that it matters a whole lot, but I believe that Nehemiah is counting his 3 prayer days (right when he got into Jerusalem). Most scholars suggest that the wall was around 21/2miles long, 40ft tall and 8ft wide. That is a build rate of 280ft per day. Here s what that would look like. It was a massive undertaking. Those of you in construction (or maybe building a house) can truly appreciate that. How much progress is made on your projects? Can you even get all of your permits within that time period? God s hand was truly in the work, but then again, Nehemiah did fast and pray for 120 days prior to starting the project. What we have in Nehemiah 6 is a behind-the-scenes look at all that Nehemiah had to personally contend against in order to get this wall built. The whole book is Nehemiah s journal, but we especially see it in this chapter. Corey M. Minter Page 1 of 10
In verse 1, Nehemiah tells us that they had almost finished the wall, except for the gates being hung: 1 Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), In verses 15, Nehemiah tells us that the walls were completed and the gates were hung, in spite of the events that transpired in verses 17-19: 17 Also in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. 18 For many in Judah were pledged to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me. The whole time that Nehemiah was building he had spies within his borders reporting to his known enemies all that was going on. That explains a lot of what happens in chapter 6. We do not know much about these nobles of Judah; but let me try and make a few spiritual assumptions based upon those three verses. (This is extra. This came to me this morning as I was looking over my notes again) 1. They loved drama over progress. Instead of building, they were writing. That is not to say that there is not any power in words or writing (there is a LOT of power in the Corey M. Minter Page 2 of 10
written word), but when everyone else is building, they re texting Tobiah OMGoodness can you believe what Nehemiah just did? 2. They held more allegiance to family than God. Don t get me wrong. Family is one of God s most precious blessings. I have really experienced that in this area (and its probably true of most rural areas). Y all are related to everybody. There isn t anybody that you aren t related to except me. When you use the term 3rd cousin, once removed on my mother s side, you actually know what that means AND you just saw him at H.G. Hills. There s nothing wrong with that it just cracks me up, but here, they chose to care more about their great-aunt s 4th cousin s brother-in-law than what God had called them to do there. 3. They wanted positions in a corrupt city rather than serving where they were. I think it all comes down to verse 19, really though. Why were they writing all of these letters, spying on Nehemiah, spilling Jerusalem s secrets to Tobiah? 19 they reported Tobiah s good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me. It was a power play. It was an intimidation tactic. They would rather have positions of prominence in Tobiah s wall-less Jerusalem than serve God along with Nehemiah where the innocent are protected That s the kind of people that Nehemiah had to put up with in general, but Nehemiah 6 gives details about all he had to face just before Corey M. Minter Page 3 of 10
the job was completed. We look at Nehemiah s building the wall in 52 days kind of like we watch the Olympics or any sporting event. We see the trophy being raised. We see the medal hung, but we do not see the 3am workouts. We don t feel the torn muscles and broken bones. Even with the 24/7 news coverage of sports today through ESPN through ESPN 40, we do not get the inside look without any spin. We do with Nehemiah, and it reminds us that For every PUBLIC victory, there are hundreds of BEHIND- THE-SCENES battles to be fought. Verse 1 opens up with what should be a time of celebration. The wall is built, just the gates have yet to be hung, but I think you will find in your life, as I have in mine, that this is exactly the point where everything could go wrong. It should be a celebration, but in fact, it is an intense behindthe-scene battle that average Jew building the wall probably never knew about. 1 Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), This is a last-ditch effort to stop the work the wall is up but no gate 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me harm. Battle Behind-the-Scene #1 1. Take a Rest Corey M. Minter Page 4 of 10
This is the most civil dialogue that Nehemiah has had with Sanballat and Geshem, and were it not for that last phrase in verse 2, But they thought to do me harm this invitation would seem so innocent and innocuous. Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono, I mean that sounds like the ancient equivalent of the G8 Summit. Nations discussing their differences in an ornate, spa-like setting the rich, fertile plains of Ono had to look a lot better than the brick wall vista that Nehemiah had grown accustomed to over the last two months. It was an appealing offer. After all Nehemiah, you have done a fantastic job everything is ahead of schedule. After all Nehemiah, you deserve a break you have carried this burden for over 6 months. Take a rest. Let your guard down. But Nehemiah was no fool. He knew something was up, and I am pretty sure that even if it wasn t a trap Nehemiah still would not have gone. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you? Look, it s at the near-completion stage of life that we sometimes get lax. The temptation of I deserve it and Look at everything I ve accomplished is too luring for most. So they give in. They let their guard down. They choose to waste away their years of most influence for a spa-like retirement. Don t do it. God is calling you to a great work for Him; don t come down from off the wall; don t let Corey M. Minter Page 5 of 10
progress stall. Say O no to the plains of Ono. (Sorry it was just too easy). That temptation to take a rest is relentless. It is not one that just near-retirement-aged people deal with. We all do. Take a rest also comes in the form of Me time, Burnout, and I m just too busy. Sanballat s personalized, embossed invitation to Nehemiah came four different times and each time: 4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. So they changed tactics. Nehemiah won t take a rest. He s doing a great work. We ll see about that. He s just a workaholic, in it for his own glory. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. 7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah! Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. Battle Behind-the-Scene #2 2. People Are Saying Corey M. Minter Page 6 of 10
You saw it right? Sanballat doesn t get the traction that he wanted from his offer of a vacation to Nehemiah so he goes to the place filled with facts, where reasonable arguments abound, and where sensible dialogue reigns. That s right. He goes to 5th century BC s social media. He pens An Open Letter to Jerusalem where he attacks Nehemiah with three claims. (None of them are backed up with facts, but those were outdated even back then. All you have to say is People are saying Well I heard that or It has been reported among the nations and sadly, people will listen to you). Three Accusations against Nehemiah (v.6-7): 1. You and the Jews plan to rebel. 2. You are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. 3. You have appointed prophets. Those first two are rumors that could really get Nehemiah in trouble with his boss, Artaxerxes who paid for Nehemiah to go rebuild. That last one could make Nehemiah lose all influence with the Jews he was serving alongside. It was an accusation that Nehemiah was starting his own religion with his own prophets. Chuck Swindoll once wrote about How to Spot a Rumor. He said that a rumor is anything that is: 1. Sourceless 2. Exaggerated 3. Wrong-Intentioned 1 1 http://salemnet.vo.llnwd.net/o29/insightforliving/pdf/broadcast/2016.02.10-notes.pdf Corey M. Minter Page 7 of 10
All three of those fit the bill for Sanballat s open letter about Nehemiah. Sourceless It is reported among the nations Exaggerated You want to be king You EVEN want to start your own religion Wrong-Intentioned Blackmail 7 Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. Hey church, God has called us to be people of truth not rumor. Think about it this way. If 90% of the content we share on Facebook is sourceless, exaggerated and wrong-intentioned and the other 10% is Praise God, we have already discredited our testimony to unbelievers. Well if they spread rumors, how can I know that what they believe about God is true? Alan Redpath, a former pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, once challenged his congregation to T.H.I.N.K. before they spoke: T for, Is it true? H for, Is it helpful? I for, Is it inspirational? N for, Is it necessary? K for, Is it kind? 2 If it doesn t fit into those requirements, do not listen to it, do not repeat it, and do not be around those who constantly spout that kind of thing off. 2 http://www.wisdomonline.org/cgi-bin/media_player.cgi?id=467 Corey M. Minter Page 8 of 10
Those of you in leadership positions know that the most hurtful and exhausting behind-the-scenes battles is rumor. Nothing keeps you up at night more, nothing grieves you more than rumor. You could have received 1,000 letters of encouragement that week, but you will fixate on the critical, anonymous one. That is why Nehemiah s handling of the situation is so refreshing. He confronted Sanballat perfectly. He does not stoop to his level and engage in open-letter, sourceless, exaggerated, wrong-intentioned drama. Instead, he: 8 Then I sent to him, saying, No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart. He does not try and vouch for his character among the Jews. He lets his work do that for him. 9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done. And he looks to God for strength. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. Behind-the-Scenes Battle #3 3. Look Out for Yourself Verses 10-14 is Nehemiah s personal record of one of those instances where a spy by the name of Shemaiah(really a double-agent working for Tobiah) had tried to convince Nehemiah to leave the work and run into the temple for safety. Shemaiah lied to Nehemiah saying that Sanballat and Tobiah were going to invade and kill him at night. The whole ploy was to get Nehemiah to run to the temple in fear for his life, but in Corey M. Minter Page 9 of 10
running, it would look like he was guilty of sparking a rebellion and needed to be hidden. Nehemiah had no idea if he really was in danger or not, but he had wisdom and grit enough to stand in the face of threat, discouragement, betrayal, rumor and say: 11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in! After Nehemiah had faced all of those behind-the-scenes battles (and probably hundreds more that he does not list), God grants him the public victory. 15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God. Is it possible that you aren t winning the small battles of slacking off, rumors and self-preservation and that s why you are not living and building for the kingdom of God? You can t win the gold without the scars. You can t win the war without the behind-the-scenes battles. You can't build the wall without first building your character. Corey M. Minter Page 10 of 10