Pam Padgett ... teacher
After Nehemiah had built the wall and repaired the breaches in Jerusalem,
enemies sought to do him harm and to stop more work by calling Nehemiah
to meet with them in one of the villages. Nehemiah perceived their
intentions, and did not meet with them. Then they sent a letter
accusing the Jews of rebellion against the king, trying to bring fear
and weaken them from doing the work. Nehemiah turned to God ...
Nehemiah 6:1 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;) 2 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.
3 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? 4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this
sort; and I answered them after the same manner. 5 Then sent Sanballat
his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in
his hand; 6 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. 7 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. 8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are
no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine
own heart. 9 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.
Then Shemaiah was hired by the enemies to try to make Nehemiah afraid
and to hide in the temple, so that an evil
report could be given of him. But Nehemiah perceived the counsel to
hide in the temple was not of God, and rather than going along with it,
he turned to God ...
Nehemiah 6:10 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. 11 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. 12 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. 13 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. 14 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.
These enemies of the work God had called Nehemiah to do in Jerusalem had
evil intentions, trying various methods to hinder Nehemiah. Rather
than being pulled aside by these enemies, Nehemiah turned to God with
what they were doing, asking God to help him and to deal with these
enemies, and Nehemiah continued in the ways of God.
While considering these things, I thought of how we also encounter people speaking evil, such as lies and things that cause fears. In addition to the harm they try to bring to us, there is often a temptation for us to focus on them and fret ourselves about what they have said or done, pulled aside from things of God... snares of the devil to try to
hinder us.
Paul exhorted us to not be careful (anxious and worried), but to turn to God in everything
... not focusing on those who bring the evil, but on God, as we pour our
hearts out before God and trust Him to help us and restore us in peace ...
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.