Nehemiah 6:1-9, Finish the Race (4)

The work is progressing.  Previously the gaps in the wall were beginning to be closed (4:7).  Now, they are closed (6:1), other than that the gates had not been hung.  Therefore, it’s getting to be panic time for the enemy.  What they have done so far hasn’t worked.  It seems they realize that a terrorist attack isn’t going to work.  And their main opposition is the man of God in charge of the project: Nehemiah.  Somehow, they need to render him ineffective.

Before we proceed, let me ask: are you reminded of Christ in His earthly ministry at this point?  The religious leaders, who were cowards and didn’t want to risk alienating the people, instead did all they could to discredit Jesus.  Matthew 22:15-40 records attempts by Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes.  And there were others.  It just seems obvious: if you can cripple one man, the leader, it’s a whole lot easier than trying to deal with the entire crowd.  That’s’ what is happening in Nehemiah’s case.  And again, he proves to be God’s faithful man in the situation.

I find humor in this.  First, Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem are like the Three Stooges, which is not a Biblical evaluation.  “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says …” (v6).  It’s a bit clownish, and yet I’ve run into this myself and probably so have you.  Further, in English, they want to meet in the plain of “Ono.”  The name of the place contains the answer: “Oh NO! Not gonna do it!”

On a more serious note, their attempt at discrediting Nehemiah is based on sound, Satanic “temptation-theory.”  They attacked through the “pride of life” avenue (1 John 2:16).  They invited Nehemiah to a summit meeting, to be held outside of Jerusalem, perhaps at a “neutral” location (v2).  Nehemiah knows in his spirit that this is nothing but trouble: “they thought to do me harm.” 

I love his answer: “I am doing a great work.”  We need to understand that our work, that of building the temple that is the Church (Eph. 2:20-22) is a great work.  To have a saving interest in another person is a great work.  The bowl of chicken noodle soup for a sick brother or sister or neighbor is a great work.  Helping kids memorize Scripture in Sunday School or kids club is a great work.  As Francis Schaeffer said once in a sermon, there are “no little people, no little places.”

In the end, Nehemiah understood what we also must understand.  People around us, good people as well as sinister people, will try to “make us afraid” (v9).  Note the word “us.”  The contents of this letter were heard by more than Nehemiah.  Yet it was up to Nehemiah to deal with it.  What did he do?  In this case he denied the charge (v8).  We don’t always have to do that but when it has been heard by our fellow laborers it is usually good to be sure people understand it’s bogus.  Then the “man of prayer” prayed!  “Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.”