Nehemiah 6:1-9 INTIMIDATION The internal problems among the people of Judah had been faced and dealt with wisely and firmly. The writer of the narrative had used Nehemiah's on-going consistency in leadership as an example for the Lord's people as to how they should deal with one another that they might live and prosper peacefully. Then the account goes back to the building of the wall that was nearing completion.
There are "teaching moments" that arise in the Lord's work that call for a temporary change of focus to either correct a wrong or emphasize that which is right. The fact that exorbitant interest had been charged on the general population had to be addressed because it had an effect on the building work going on. What the word of God said about charging interest to the Jews had to be taught again and warning given to those unscrupulous money lenders who were impoverishing their own people. The teaching that we are to conduct business right according to the word of God "because of the fear of God" had to be enforced by Nehemiah's personal testimony. When the Lord's people can see a leader practicing what he preaches, they will be inclined to follow his leadership even in times of open opposition from without.
Any man who leads God's people in a work that is against evil and spiritual danger, if he is acting according to the word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit and not his own opinion, can expect to be personally attacked by those who are under the control of the devil. Unjustifiable attacks and character abuse come in many different forms of intimidation. Satan uses people to start rumors which are totally unfounded in the truth, and he then promotes this by gossip and deceit. It is an unfortunate characteristic of a natural man or a carnal man to accept as true a report that puts down the character of a leaders. The motivation behind such a thing may be jealousy, envy or sometimes they just don't like a person.
Deceit and false reports are common practices the devil uses to stop a work of God. Attacks on one's character are very hard to defend against, particularly if a person is not well known. Not very often will other people rise to the defense of one who has come into the public eye unless they know them well. The law may not judge a man before it hears him, but many people do. The only defense is to trust God to take care of those problems we can't solve, and keep pressing ahead faithfully in God's strength to accomplish the work He has given us.
Nehemiah saw through the attempts of Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, who along with other enemies tried four times to stop the work of finishing the wall that had to have the gates installed, and four times Nehemiah gave them the same answer. They wanted to get the leader away from the work in the hopes that the laborers would quit before the gates were in place. Then the city would still be in danger. Nehemiah had the right perspective of the work he had been given. He was doing a "great work" and he knew it would cease if he wasn't there. Any work God gives us is a great work whether small or large because it has been given us by a great God. We need to understand the value of any work we have been called upon to do for the Lord.
To leave a work unfinished because of intimidation is a lack of faith on our part. Satan will use any means from deceit to death in order to stop the work of God. One who has been called by God must remain steadfast in purpose and be determined to fulfill their responsibility. Any act of compromise and/or intimidation is a step down if we respond to such threats. Commitment to a work until it is completed is expected of those who God calls. To remain consistent in the work may be hard during the trial at times, but our God can "strengthen" our hands through the testing times rather than take us out of the difficulty.