Nehemiah 6: the plot, the response, and 52 days
As we continue with this 9th lesson on Nehemiah, we see how hard times can actually make for a better leader, if the leader responds wisely. Thus, we see how Nehemiah leads well in chapter 6.
Click here for the recording of this 2/15/26 Service, and you can fast-forward to 41:50 to get to the start of the sermon. We had a heating problem in the main sanctuary, so met in the Fellowship hall this morning.
Our text is from Nehemiah 6
1 Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach was left in it, although at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates,
2 Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let’s meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were plotting to harm me.
3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and am unable to come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”
Introduction
Hard times define a leader far more than good times do; one learns more, about oneself, and others
When Jim Bakker went to prison, he said this- “I didn’t lose any friends; I found out who they were” ex- Mandela, King, etc
So a leader learns in hard times in ways that prosperity cannot teach
Character comes to the fore, even when reputation is maligned, if the leader chooses wisely
Vv1-3
It is important to remember that Sanballat/associates were Samaritans- a different Bible, different worship
Thus, their differences were biblical, and cultural; which difference is more important?
Nehemiah calls them what they are- enemies, ayav- to be hostile toward
What set them off? The progress of the wall; “there was no breech”- they don’t want him to succeed
They want to meet under false pretenses
They meant to do him harm- how did he know? Leadership gut, the tell, discernment, intelligence?
His response- “I am doing large work, and can’t meet; why should I stop…?”
Thus, he stayed on mission
Vv4-9
They sent requests to meet 4 additional times, and each time, his response was the same
A 5th came via courier, as an unsealed letter-
“It is reported among the nations, you plan to rebel
This is the reason for the wall
You have ambitions to be king
You have appointed prophets to prophesy as such
I will tell the king of your plan”
“Nothing you say has been done
You are inventing this from your own mind”
The Samaritans were trying to leverage fear and discouragement
“But now, God, strengthen my hands” he looks up, rather than over
Vv10-14, Shemaiah, the false prophet
He tells Nehemiah to take sanctuary in the temple
“they are coming to kill you”
Nehemiah’s response- “shall a man like me flee? I will not go into the temple to save my own life”
Nehemiah discerned that God had not sent him; he was hired by Sanaballat to provoke fear/sin, which would then produce an “evil report”
Nehemiah asks God to remember the false prophets
Vv15-19, the wall is finished
The wall is finished in 52 days- 2.5 miles long, 10 gates, 54 distinct people groups, men and women, priests, Levites, nobles, commoners, families, merchants
Again, he calls them enemies; they lost their confidence; Why? Because Nehemiah accomplished this with the help of God
Letters kept circulating; they continued alliances, Nehemiah’s detractors were well spoken of, his words were reported; letters were meant to frighten him
Why is this story important?
The way we interpret scripture has eternal consequences, for ourselves, and others- Samaritans/Jews
There will always be opposition to Kingdom progress; feelings of threat breed carnality
Lies spread faster than truth, but truth ultimately prevails; standing in the truth is a choice
It is important to stay on mission
A job well done, and accomplished, is its own reward
