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TREACHERY, SLANDER, DECEPTION, and BETRAYAL Nehemiah 6 7/10/16

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TREACHERY, SLANDER, DECEPTION, and BETRAYAL Nehemiah 6 7/10/16 TREACHERY, SLANDER, DECEPTION, AND BETRAYAL Nehemiah 6 7/10/16 Most of us at some time have been on the receiving end of treachery, slander, deception, and betray. It is sometimes difficult to know how to respond properly. Nehemiah experienced more than his share of each of these. This morning we will learn from his example how we should respond. When Israel’s enemies saw that they could not stop the rebuilding of the city wall by an open military attack, they decided to overcome the Jews by deception. This time the sole object of their attack was Nehemiah. They figured that if they could remove or discredit the leader, they could discourage the people and stop the building of the wall. 1. Nehemiah’s enemies called for a meeting . 6:1-4 On the surface it appeared that Sanballat and his cohorts wanted to have a peace conference. • They called for a meeting with Nehemiah in Ono, which is located about 20 miles from Jerusalem. • They probably claimed that they wanted to: ♦ “Clarify Nehemiah’s intentions and clear up any misunderstanding.” ♦ “Restore their relationship” ♦ “Make peace” • Nehemiah knew that discussions with God’s enemies would be fruitless at best. ♦ Compromise is not an option when it comes to doing God’s will. • In reality they were trying to lure Nehemiah into a trap in order to capture or assassinate him. v. 2 Nehemiah recognized that it was a plot to harm him. If Sanballat and his friends had really been interested in reconciliation they could have come to Jerusalem. v. 3 He sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" v.4 His enemies repeated their call for a meeting four times. Principles: ••• Don’t let problems distract you from doing what God has called us to do. ••• Don’t dialogue or compromise with those who are opposed to God’s work. ♦ There is nothing to talk about. ◊ God wanted the wall up, they didn’t. ♦ We are not to compromise with those who are God’s enemies. 2. Nehemiah’s enemies made false accusations against him. 6:5-9 Their fifth time they sent an open letter which reported an alleged rumor that Nehemiah was trying to set himself up as the king of the Jews. • It said that Nehemiah had appointed prophets to proclaim him king in Judah. • The rumor attributed false motives to Nehemiah. ♦ That he was power hungry • It accused him of trying to lead a rebellion. Sanballat’s letter made it seem like he had Nehemiah’s best interest at heart. He warns that King Artaxerxes is bound to hear the rumor. The allegations are serious and could lead to serious consequences. Nehemiah’s enemies imply that they want to help him. They, in reality, hoped to accomplish two things. • Force Nehemiah to meet with them so that they might capture or assassinate him • Frighten and discourage the Jews from completing the wall. cf vv. 9,13,14,19 Nothing keeps people from serving God more than fear. (fear of people, failure, a negative response, etc.) Principles: ••• Don’t be discouraged by slander and false accusations. ••• Don’t let false accusations and fear keep you from doing what God has called you to do. ••• It is okay to defend yourself against slander , but it is often better to simply deny it and give it to God. ♦ Don’t be consumed with trying to defend yourself. ◊ Your friends won’t believe the accusations. ◊ Your enemies won’t accept your explanation. ◊ God will bring the truth to light over time. 3. Nehemiah’s enemies sought to entice him to sin . 6:10-14 They used fake friends and false prophets in their plot. • Tobiah and Sanballat hired a priest named Shemaiah to lure Nehemiah into the temple. • Shemaiah prophesied that men were coming to kill Nehemiah during the night. • He tried to get Nehemiah to seek safety by spending the night in the temple. v. 12 Nehemiah perceived that the Lord had not sent him. • How can we discern between what was God’s will and the words of a misguided person or false prophet? Nehemiah knew that the OT scriptures forbid anyone but a priest to enter the sanctuary. Cf Numbers 18:7 2 Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies and that only once a year. (Day of Atonement) • If Nehemiah had fallen for the plot he would have sinned. The people would question his qualifications to lead. They would have also questioned his courage. v. 14 Nehemiah turns the false prophets over for God Not only Shemaiah, but also the prophetess Noadiah and the other false prophets Principles: ••• Don’t believe every person who claims to represent God . ♦ The key to discernment is the word of God. ••• Don’t let fear cause you to sin . ♦ Do what is right and leave the outcome to God. 4. The wall was completed in fifty-two days. 6:15-16 It encompassed a minimum 12 acres with 3000 feet of wall. Many believe it encompassed 30 acres with 4500 feet of wall The parts of the wall that remain today are 8 feet thick and still 9 feet high. God worked through faithful people, but it in the end God enabled the wall to be completed in record time. Their enemies feared God when they recognized that it could only have been accomplished with the help of our God. 5. Nehemiah continued to be betrayed by influential Jewish families. 6:17-19 The nobles of Judah continued to maintain a relationship with the wicked Tobiah. They should have recognized him as their enemy. 6:1 2:19 He mocked and despised the Jews 4:3 He mocked the building project 6:12 He and Sanballat hired the false prophets to entice Nehemiah to sin. Yet the nobles of Israel were keeping contact with him and sending letters back and forth with him. • They were speaking well of him to Nehemiah ♦ Apparently he had a lot of people fooled. • They were reporting Nehemiah’s words back to Tobiah. They were doing this for a number of reasons. • Some were financially indebted to him. • Others had made an oath to him. • Still others were related to him. 3 ♦ Tobiah was an Ammonite yet both he and his son had married into respectable Jewish families. It is ironic that Tobiah is so highly regarded among the Israelites. Just 12 years earlier Ezra had preached against mixed marriages. (Malachi also) These nobles were apparently trying to maintain relationships with both sides. • They probably thought that they were helping bring the two together. ♦ “Tobiah’s is a good guy.” ♦ “It is just a misunderstanding or personality conflict.” ♦ “You aren’t being fair to him.” ♦ “You hurt his feelings.” ♦ “You, Ezra and Malachi are harsh and unloving.” • In reality, the noble’s actions emboldened Tobiah’s efforts to frighten the Nehemiah. ♦ He continued his sinister attempts to undermine Nehemiah’s leadership for at least 13 more years. Cf Nehemiah 13 • Recently a church in another state was split by a woman who wanted to teach but refused to be baptized or join into church membership. ♦ She was willing to split the church if she didn’t get her way. Unfortunately 15 families gave her a listening ear. 15 families cared more about her feelings than they did about right and wrong. ◊ “You hurt my friend. I will defend her right or wrong.” Principles: ••• Conflict and o pposition are an ongoing part of life for anyone who faithfully follows God. ••• Don’t let relationships trump truth and righteousness in your life. We are living in a day when too many Christians are more concerned about people’s feelings than they are about right and wrong or truth and righteousness. One of our former apprentices has been told by certain leaders in his church that he shouldn’t teach what the Bible says on certain subjects because it might offend someone or hurt their feelings. Jesus was constantly warning people about the false teachings of the Pharisees. Moses, Nehemiah, Paul, and John all gave the names of false teachers and those who caused division. (Datham, Abiram, Korah, Tobiah, Demas, Diotrophes, etc.) Yet some Christians today are more concerned about the feelings of wrong-doers than they are about protecting the well-being of God’s people. ••• Don’t let friendships or fear keep you from following Christ. Don’t let it keep you from sharing the gospel or lovingly standing up for truth and righteousness. 4.
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