Nehemiah 6:8 I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”
Just like with Nehemiah 4, this chapter should be incredibly discouraging. Sanballat and his cronies have resorted to lies and slander to stop work on the wall. They whisper of impending rebellion led by Nehemiah himself. The goal is to get Nehemiah so busy defending himself from rumors that he has no time for God’s work. Sadly, had I been Nehemiah, the ploy probably would have worked because I would have been concerned about my reputation, my good name, being sullied. And that was Sanballat’s entire mission.
Nehemiah 6:9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
It’s sobering to realize I would have fallen into his plot because of my fear of other people believing a lie. Commentary says: “No enemy can make us afraid; all they can do is try to make us choose fear—but it is up to us to choose it.” Again, sobering. Fear is something I must willingly choose. Yet Nehemiah refuses. He recognizes their ploy and prays for strength to concentrate on God’s work, not Sanballat’s lies.
Nehemiah 6:14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that it doesn’t matter what the world thinks. You are all that matters. Help me never to choose fear again, to remember that it is a choice I willingly make and one I can willingly turn away from. Help me to choose You. Always. Amen.
Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
Have a blessed day.