Response to Intimidation From Enemies
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
5/31/2015 PM
|
Text:
|
Nehemiah 6:15,16
|
Psalters: |
25, 357, 224, 5 |
- The intimidation.
- First, Sanballat attempted to draw Nehemiah away four times in order to kidnap and kill him (1-4).
- The second attempt was to make Nehemiah afraid by telling him of gossip and slander (5-9).
- The third effort was to discredit Nehemiah by leading him to do a grievous indiscretion (10-14).
- The fourth attempt was to sway Nehemiah’s judgments (17-19).
- See that the clever and persistent attempts of evil men have mighty Satan behind them.
- Faith enabled Nehemiah to respond correctly.
- Specific responses to each attempt.
- Nehemiah saw their “mischief” (bad, evil, injury, wrong) (2).
- Nehemiah responded to the rumors by denying them (8) and prayed God to strengthen him (9b).
- Nehemiah discerned that God did not send Shemaiah (12).
- Nehemiah simply stood strong in his faith, not sinking into despair, but found in gratitude continued to work.
- The enemies’ intention was that their hands be weakened for the work.
- The work continued and the “wall was finished.”
- Nehemiah received strength not to stop but to press on unto the completion of the work via prayer.
- Prayer and continued in the great work indicates “that this work was wrought of our God” (16b).
- Even the ungodly will realize what Nehemiah knew: the strength behind the work is God’s.
- This knowledge invigorates us (cf. Col. 1:29).