This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just
mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
NEHEMIAH
CHAPTER 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.
These "adversaries" just wouldn't quit! They were determined to stop the work of rebuilding.
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.
Now, a different opposition tactic is used. Sanballat threatened to accuse Nehemiah of insurrection to the king.
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.
Nehemiah knew that those who didn't believe in God wouldn't understand prophecy. No amount of explaining would make them change their minds, for they were set on removing the shame for their sins.
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.
Opposition from without, and opposition from within is always the case when righteousness is moving forward.
15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
16 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.
Nehemiah's steadfastness was blessed by the Lord. Within 52 days of the implementation of his plan, the walls were COMPLETED!
17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
18 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.
19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
According to verse 17, there was a lot of letter conversation about Nehemiah's work for the Lord. Please continue in Bible Study with us.
Why is it that some people oppose righteousness and building for the kingdom of God?
The truth is, that those who oppose righteousness do so because they want to have the ability to decieve others and do as they please. When evil men are in authority there is no open shame for their sin, and they can practice deceipt.
"The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit."(Proverbs 12:5)
As long as those who oppose righteousness are in authority they can deceive and take advantage of the people.
However, God has assured us that in the end, righteousness will rule.
"All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted."(Psalm 75:10)
Notice that Nehemiah would not be sidetracked. Any work for the Lord is a "great work," and we should not allow someone to draw us aside from that work.
Sanballat said he had a witness that Nehemiah had talked of rebellion. This witness would also testify that Nehemiah had appointed prophets who preached about a KING in Jerusalem.
Well, of course they did! They preached of a coming Messiah. However, Sanballat was going to interpret this differently to the king.
Nehemiah simply told them that their accusations were false. Then he prayed for God to "strengthen" him.
When people falsely accuse Christians of wrong-doing, we should most certainly pray for God's help.
Actually, Tobiah (the name) means "JEHOVAH IS GOOD." And Tobiah was son-in-law to one of the prominent Jewish leaders in the building of the wall (see verse 18).
Isn't it amazing that a man with a name like that would oppose a work for God? But many people today carry the name "Christian" and oppose the rightful work of God.
Here are some so-called prophets who were fearful, and wanted Nehemiah to take a low profile. They tried to get him to hide so that he wouldn't be killed.
Nehemiah was sure of his call from God for this work. And therefore, he KNEW that these prophets were false prophets (verse 13).
I am absolutely positive that God has called Christians to purposefully evangelize the lost and minister effectively to the saved. Therefore when someone tells me that open evangelism creates anxiety and there is a danger in it, I know that person is not listening to God.
I am absolutely positive, according to the Word of God, that God expects Christians to oppose evil (such as gambling, abortion, homosexualism, promiscuity, etc.). But we have some people in the church who are "laid-back," so to speak. They would rather just let things go along, and not have the anxiety and pressure of facing evil head on. Therefore, one can KNOW these people are not listening to God!
Nehemiah prayed (verse 14) that God would consider what the opposition was doing and that God would handle it. Nehemiah didn't need to be concerned with the opposition, he needed to be concerned with going forward in the work to which he was called.
So should Christians be today.
This caused the opposition to have SHAME!
The completion of the work within such a short time can only be attributed to the miraculous intervention of God!
Tobiah sent a lot of letters trying to cause Nehemiah to "fear" and to cease the work.
But Nehemiah surrendered himself and his work to the Lord, and stood unfearful against the opposition.
This is exactly what James has told Christians to do today.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."(James 4:7)
We cannot resist the devil in our own power; but by submitting ourselves and our work to the Lord, we can see the miracle of God putting the devil away from us.