NEHEMIAH - Chapter 6 - Establishing Government and Order
NEHEMIAH – Chapter 6—Establishing Government and Order
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
March 22, 2016, The Year of Our Lord
Again as we continue in this study, we see the parallel with the present evil maneuvers, evil schemes, and evil opposition around our election process. The Word of God is Living. His Word, like Him, has no variableness or shadow of turning regardless of the times.
Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem tried to lure Nehemiah away to O’no near Lydda, six miles S. E. of Joppa. Unsuccessful, they once again tried intimidation, but the Wall was completed! This event was consummated on the 25th day of Elul, the 6th month, (August-September) despite every conceivable type of evil opposition. The Wall had been built in 52 days. Jerusalem was again a fortified city only 142 years after its destruction in 586 B.C.
Neh. 6:1: “When Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and there was no gap left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates) Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of O’no, but their intent was to do me harm.”
Nehemiah had built the wall and now will begin to establish Government and Order within the City. Control and defenses will be established.
(At the present the borders of the United States of America are not secure. When a nation’s borders are not secure, government order, chaos and lawlessness abounds.)
The Jews’ enemies used intrigue to do Nehemiah personal harm, but he escaped by shrewd insight into their schemes. Then they tried false accusations that were aimed at weakening the effort through fear. Nehemiah resorted unto prayer for strength to carry on.
This was followed by intimidation to cause Nehemiah to sin through fear by violating the sanctity of the Temple. But he placed principle before his personal safety and resorted to prayer.
6:3-4: “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 come down to you? Yet they sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.”
The roaring lion now became the slinking serpent.
Four times they sent, four times Nehemiah refused.
This must be the posture and position of every servant of God. We must not be moved from our vision by what the flesh speaks. We must always hear by the Holy Spirit.
6: 1-19, we see the PRESSURES OF LEADERSHIP;
(1) 6:1-4 - The problem of pretence and craftiness, which was solved by work and wisdom.
(2) 6:5-9 – The problem of bluff and slander, solved by denial and prayer
(3) 6: 10-14 – The problem of treachery and attempted assassination, which was solved by prayer and self-control.
(4) 6:15-19 – The problem of subversion and the cliques of compromising brethren, which was solved by fearless trust in God.
After Nehemiah refused to come down and meet with them, then followed the slanderous open letter which he was urged to consider; again, with singular directness, he denied the slander, and carried on his building. Nor would he be filled with fear and hide. Through the whole period he was harassed with the nobles of Tobiah (flesh-the carnal mind).
This whole chapter is a wonderful revelation of the true attitude of the servant of God whether civil or spiritual. In this case Nehemiah is a civil servant. Each of these methods illustrates a peril. In all these things, Nehemiah was not moved by their deceit and treachery.
6:5-8: “Sanballat sent his servant to me the fifth time with an open letter in his hand. Wherein was written, ‘it is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause you built the wall, that you may be their king, according to these words. You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, there is a king in Judah and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now, and let us take counsel together. Then I sent o him, saying, ‘there are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart.”
Does this sound like what is going on with the Republican party and/or the Democratic party?
The enemy will always accuse you of that sin that is uniquely his!
The opposition and hindrances from within has basically been three:
- Debris to be clear (4:10).
- Fear (4: 11-14).
- Greed (5: 1-13).
The serpent within had been met, dealt with and overcome. Now the serpent without is poised to strike!
Simply stated Sanballat (Satan) endeavors to stop the working of God in our lives by doing three things:
- Get us to “negotiate,” or talk about the work of the Holy Spirit, but not enter into His life. ---worse always talking about ourselves.
- He will insinuate that we are rebellious, attempting to incriminate us.
- He will try to isolate us by inducing fear.
6:9: “They all made us afraid, saying, their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it cannot be done. Now therefore O God, strengthen my hands.”
Don’t quench the Holy Spirit by stopping your thirst for more of God in your life.
The enemy wants to negotiate, incriminate (condemnation), and isolate.
I pray this all the time. O God strengthen my hands and my heart to finish the course.
When I started the church in Houston, the Lord spoke to me that he didn’t want me teaching about the Holy Spirit and gifts of the Holy Spirit, he wanted me doing it.
Lord Jesus I hope I have stayed the course. If I don’t have certain gifts operating in my life during a season, I bring in those who do. Most people will believe a guest speaker before they will believe their local pastor. “A prophet is without honor in his home town and his own family.”
The success of the project is due to the fact that Nehemiah’s tenure was one of example. He was calm in the midst of crisis, seeking the Lord in prayer and not panic. He was even-tempered, for in crisis, the true character of man emerges.
He was transparent - making clear his cautious decisions.
He had endless energy.
He loved God and the people whom he served.
Opposition does not spell God’s disapproval. Quiet the opposite, if Satan is not attacking, you may not be progressing your kingdom assignment. The three enemies of Nehemiah had failed. From open rebellion, they now turn to crafty suggestion.
6: 10-11: “Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up. He said, ‘let us meet together in the house of God inside the temple; for they will come to slay you; yea in the night will they come to slay you. 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.”
TREACHERY AND ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION
They tried to lure him in the temple. This is one man who does not have leaving on his mind. – “should such a man as I flee? Shemaiah was a professed friend, but a false prophet! This man was “shut up.”
6:12-14: “I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me; for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore he was hired, that I should be afraid, and in fear, I would sin. Then they would have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. My God think You upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, who would have put me in fear.”
They had appointed their prophets, “yes men”. Nehemiah discerned that the prophet was hired that they might have a matter for an evil report, that they might reproach him. Remember in Chapter 5:19, where Nehemiah said, “Think upon me, my God for good, according to all that I have done for this people.” Now he says, “My God think 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.”
Shemaiah was only one voice in a chorus of discouragement. There was also Noadiah, the false prophetess. Her name means “meeting of Jah; convened of Jah.” These will tell you they met with the Lord and “he spoke” to them…
Real judgmental prophecy is only to be received from the mouths of seasoned Apostles and Prophets who prophecy in the fear of God. Someone operating in a prophetic gift does not have the authority to speak a judgmental prophecy.
SUBVERSION AND THE CLIQUES OF COMPROMISING BRETHREN
6:15: “SO THE WALL WAS FINISHED’ In spite of the enemy’s best efforts to hinder or stop the worked of the Lord, THIS IS STILL THE BOTTOM LINE!
Through faith Nehemiah overcame---like the many other Old Testament saints who through faith obtained a good report, and through victory over evil has overcome and restored the inheritance of all the saints of the ages! (Heb. 11: 39-40). The wall of the new creation within the gates of New Jerusalem has been finished and sealed by the Blood of Jesus Christ.
6:16: “When our enemies heard that we had built the wall; and all the heathen who were about us saw these things, they were very much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.”
In those days the nobles sent many letters unto Tobiah. The letters of Tobiah came unto them. For there were many in Judah who were in covenant with him because hw as the son-in-law of Shechanian the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
Also they reported his good deeds before me and uttered my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in feat.
These disloyalties will persist until Chapter 13. It reveals the principle of the love of POWER AND STATUS.
Tobiah was a nominal Jew and nominal believer in Jehovah. He had numerous binding agreements throughout the Jewish community which were probably trading contracts facilitated by his marriage connections. It is called politics.
In the opening of chapter 7, provisions were made for the defense of the City. At last Jerusalem was a fortified city again. Hananaiah was given charge over Jerusalem because “ HE WAS A FAITHFUL MAN’ AND HE FEARED GOD ABOVE MAN.”
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of Principles of Present Truth by Kelly Varner. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Rev. Varner.