Nehemiah 6:10-19 FINISHED!! We should never think that opposition to the work of God will cease even though the work is going good at the moment. The enemy of men's souls will never stop his implacable desire to oppose anything that is of God. Some things, even though they are of the opposition, may never show themselves for a long time. There seems to be layers upon layers of schemes and insidious plans that come one after another to bring a stop to the furtherance of the Gospel and the establishment of the people of God on a solid foundation of scriptural truth.
Nehemiah had been attacked politically with charges of plotting rebellion. He had been attacked personally by those who said he wanted to be the king of Judah. There were other attacks against his spiritual commitment and his personal integrity. Some of these came from without and some from within among the people of God who wanted the status quo to remain so they could prosper financially at the expense of others and retain their positions of authority over others.
One of those was Shemaiah who probably was a person of note in the community because he apparently had access to the temple. He may even have been a priest. For some reason he was a man of credibility, so when Nehemiah found him shut up in his house, there was something peculiar about that. It seems like he was implying that he was in danger of being killed by the same enemies Nehemiah had. He wanted Nehemiah to think he was allied with him so asked to meet him in the temple and shut the doors so they would not be killed in the night.
"Fifth column" practices are deceptive in that they are made to appear as if they are allies instead of enemies. But the underlying motives are to use false warnings from false witnesses and false prophets to give false messages in order to defeat those whom they are against. Usually such people are self- proclaimed messengers who seek to impress others by speaking with authority.
For a leader to suggest something that is not scriptural, is evidence that in spite of his position and words, he is not God's messenger. When intimidation and slander from enemies does not hinder us from doing God's work in God's way. We may be inclined to listen to a sympathetic voice suggesting a way out of a problem even though it is unscriptural. We need to keep in mind the fact that the world, the flesh and the devil are always enemies, and none of those will ever stop in their desire to make a child of God fall. Nor will they ever cease operating against us in this lifetime, even to taking advantage of the weakness of body and mind in those who are in old age.
Nehemiah had experienced assaults against him, but they were all proven to be false. Various forms of intimidation had failed so one within the city, from a fellow countryman of some importance who had the right to go into the temple, tried to get Nehemiah to sin. If Nehemiah had gone into the temple where he should not have gone, he would have lost his credibility as one who spoke for and worked for God. A man who is a spiritual leader will lose the respect of the people and the right to lead when he does what he knows is wrong. In an assembly or in a family, hypocrisy and deception for the sake of money or self-advancement by a leader, will result in the loss of trust in those who follow him.
The intention of Shemaiah was to create an evil report against Nehemiah so that he would be reproached and rejected by the people. Sanballat and Tobiah had hired him for that reason but Nehemiah could see through his deception. Yet in his response he laid no charge against the falsehood of Shemaiah. He would not go where he should not go and was able to retain his integrity in spite of Shemaiah, a woman named Noadiah and other prophets who tried to keep the wall from being finished. Intimidation does not stop a person of faith from accomplishing their work because their trust is in the Lord.
Nehemiah's prayer was not for vindication but simply his response to a threat. His first recorded prayer was his response to bad news from Jerusalem. An open heart before God with a specific request is an appropriate response to bad news. When he prayed when he was in conversation with the king, he gave God credit for an answer before it happened. That attitude of prayer keeps us from taking credit for ourselves. He prayed when he was mocked and was thus not tempted to take matters into his own hands. He prayed when threatened, and then took action while trusting God. Again, he prayed when threatened and asked for help when he was under pressure by those who wanted to make him afraid.
The plot against Nehemiah was deep and widespread among the upper-crust of society seeking to continue to make him afraid. But instead he concentrated on finishing the work at hand, not on his own self-interest or credibility. The "great work" we have is more important that any attacks made against us personally. Nehemiah didn't seek to retaliate against any of those who were opposing him nor did he seek vengeance of any kind. Uncompromising convictions, patient and consistent labor brought the wall to completion in 52 days. Even the enemies knew God was behind the work and had given the needed strength and courage to finish the wall quickly. Even the enemies knew "that the work was wrought of our God." Such a rapid accomplishment made those who opposed fearful.
However, even after the walls were finished the covetous nobles of Judah were still opposed to Nehemiah because their positions of leadership and financial wealth were being taken away. All they had controlled by their wrong connections and alliances was being lost. Compromising alliances create compromised positions. Compromising positions cause compromised truth. The corrections under Ezra's authority had not lasted and some Jews had gone back to unholy marriages. Unequal yokes are hard to break because they claim our minds, emotions and will if we are not on guard against them.
It is an unfortunate, but not uncommon practice, for those who oppose a servant of God, to keep trying to undermine his credibility and authority. Innuendo, gossip, half-truths and words taken out of context are used to create suspicion and lack of confidence in a person. A campaign of praise for an enemy and criticism for a faithful servant in the service of the Lord causes confusion and unrest among the Lord's people/ It happened to Nehemiah and it can happen to us.
An amazing work was quickly done. The city wall was finished. But instead of joy, there were some Who wanted the man's character diminished. There was safety and security now for the city, What God wanted was fully done. But for the covetous there was no pity For the leader who they were against had won.
We cannot expect those who seek to oppose, To welcome us with open arms. It is foolish for us to ever suppose, That enemies wish us to have no harm. The intervention of truth causes concern To those people who traffic in lies. Truth by its very nature deeply burns In the conscience, when it is brought down to size.
To discern hypocrisy and underhanded deceit Is God-given wisdom in the soul of God's man. He knows that he will have to compete With falsehood and the enemies plans. It is highest wisdom to always be ready and willing To be on guard and consciously aware Of subtlety and compromises compelling Our attention wanting us with evil to share.
The Lord Himself is our refuge and safety. He knows all from the beginning to end. In the scriptures of truth, He tells us plainly Of the tactics those who oppose God do send. In faith and with confidence unwavering, We commit ourselves to the work in our hand. Without vengeance or nagging complaining, We will endure until fulfilling God's plan.
"Gracious Father, for Thine own reasons Thou hast given us good health and strength to keep at this work Thou hast given us. In faith we will press ahead in Thy strength of fulfill that to which we have been called. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."