As the Israelites lay brick after brick, rebuilding the wall, we learn from them. Not how to build physically, per se, but how to persevere spiritually. What is physical in the Old Testament has spiritual meaning in the New Testament. There are always Truths to uncover as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling (not work for our salvation; Philippians 2)
1 Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono." But they thought to do me harm.
The neighboring, non-Jewish people were irked because the city they had previously enjoyed "beating up" was now difficult to penetrate. They now had a defense in place and could no longer be easily attacked. The same is true when we properly rebuild the walls in our own lives. The walls of our soul, the walls of the church, and the walls of His Kingdom must not have breaks left in it. We must come to the point of fully trusting in Him to build us as He desires. "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You." (Psalm 5:11).
Nehemiah wasn't a dummy! He knew that Sanballat and Tobiah weren't meeting him to congratulate him on the wall's progress – they had intentions to stir up trouble. God gave him the wisdom to discern whether the meeting was for reconciliation or retaliation. James 1:5 tells us we can always ask God for wisdom.
3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?"
I love that Nehemiah wasn't worried about offending these guys. He had work to do, and that work took priority over petty issues. No need to entertain drama when you have Kingdom work to accomplish.
Things can be rolling along just fine, and then someone throws a few rocks on the path. If we're not careful, they can mess up our pace! We've got to learn to kick those rocks to the side and keep on keepin' on! Proverbs 4:12 tells us that if we have wisdom, then "when you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run you will not stumble." And, again, we know from James 1:5 that if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask God, and He will give it to us liberally. God already has provided us with the solution to overcome, we just must walk it out in the faith knowing that He's got it.
4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. 7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, "There is a king in Judah!" Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together.
As if once weren't enough, these guys sent five messages. The last letter contained an outlandish statement to bruise Nehemiah's character. When people make up foolish statements about us, remember that we shouldn't allow Satan to win, even though it frustrates us.
Look at the life of Jesus – He didn't spend His days constantly defending Himself against the Pharisees and Sadducees. There were times when He did speak up, but if He had repetitively addressed their remarks, He wouldn't have had time to minister. We should focus on being like Christ and then allow Him to defend us.
8 Then I sent to him, saying, "No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart." 9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, "Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done."
Retake a look at verse 8 and what Nehemiah says: "…but you invent them in your own heart." When I read this verse, I chewed on it a while because the Lord jogged my memory regarding how many times I had "invented" scenarios in my own heart. Someone ruffles your feathers a bit, and the next thing you know, you've got this whole dramatic scenario playing out in your head. You'd say this, and then they'd say that and then retort back. All in your head, of course. This is an area I struggle in, and my mind can so quickly "spew" out these thought patterns. 2 Timothy 1:7 is a favorite verse for me when it comes to capturing spewing thoughts:
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and of power and of a sound mind."
I'm often tempted to invent falsities about others in my own heart, and this verse helps me remember that God has asked me to love them as He does and have a powerful and sound mind through Christ.
9 Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) offers us tremendous encouragement when we lack the strength to "do the work" and persevere:
"My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."
Nehemiah knew his weakness was an opportunity for God to strengthen him. When you feel as though you don't have the muscle to go on, you're in a great position because that is when God's enabling power shines the most!
10 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you." 11 And I said, "Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!" 12 Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
Lies are all around us! We can do nothing to escape the lies, but we can have the discernment to see those lies for what they are. Hebrews 13:4 gives us instructions on how we can discern the lies we're whispered: "For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." The solid food of His word is what we need! We can't just settle for a bit of milk once or twice through the week – we must be willing to use those spiritual jaws to chomp, chomp, chomp on His word!
14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid. 15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.
Fifty-two days! It is incredible what can be accomplished when we're doing God's work and have our minds fixed to see it through to completion. I'm sure there were hundreds of times over these days the Israelites wanted to quit. I love the imagery the writer uses in Hebrews 12:1 about "running the race." It's not just a quiet jog in the hills – it's an Olympic-style race with a stadium crammed full of people yelling and shouting encouraging words to us. They yell, "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…and run with endurance!" When the challenge set before you seems too hard, know that Christ is right by your side cheering you on!
17 Also in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. 18 For many in Judah were pledged to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.
As Adam Clarke states in his commentary, Nehemiah had "enemies without and false friends within." Tobiah was connected with two Jewish families and stayed in touch with them to hear what was going on in the city. I'm sure this was discouraging to Nehemiah, knowing that much of his tension with Tobiah and Sanballat was because of people living inside the newly built walls. We must make sure we guard ourselves against those who are only there to create disorder and uproars in our own lives. Amen.