Four times the enemy proposed to Nehemiah that he meet with them in the plains of One, but each time his answer was the same. Faithful man that he was, he refused to be influenced by them. The fifth time they sent a man with an open letter in his hand. An open letter is one which everyone can read and is sent for the purpose of influencing others. The enemy often uses this means to spread false reports, as he did about the Christians in the early days of the Church. The Apostle Paul could say that he labored both “by evil report and good report” (2 Cor. 6:88By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; (2 Corinthians 6:8)). When, after arriving at Rome, he sought to bring the gospel before the Jews, they told him, “for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” Acts 28:2222But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. (Acts 28:22).
The letter Nehemiah received stated, “It is reported among the heathen,... that thou and the Jews think to rebel”: and “thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king.” Also it accused Nehemiah of appointing prophets to preach of himself saying, “there is a king in Judah,” and that if these reports got back to the king it would endanger Nehemiah’s life. Perhaps Nehemiah had encouraged his people to look for their promised Messiah, but he had no such personal ambitions himself.
So he sent a message back saying, “There are no such things done as thou sagest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.” We can learn from this that though we may repel the false accusations of the tempter, we ought not to reason with him, else, like Eve, we shall surely be overcome. Nehemiah perceived that the enemy, by constant harassing, sought to make them afraid and to weaken their hands. Pressed en every side, he cried to God to strengthen his hands, and the effort of the enemy again failed. The power of Satan cannot avail against one who makes God his refuge and strength. (Psa. 46:11<<To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.>> God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1).)
But the enemy was not content to let the matter rest, so his next attempt was through a conspiracy within the city. Nehemiah went to see a man named Shemaiah, who was shut up as though he were sick. This man pro. fessed to be a friend, and seemingly was concerned for Nehemiah’s life. He sought to persuade him to meet with him in the house of God and to shut the doors of the temple against their enemies, “for,” said he, “in the night will they come to slay thee.” But again Nehemiah perceived the enemy was behind this, and that this man had been hired by Sanballat, who sought to make him afraid in order that he might get out an evil report against Nehemiah. So he refused, saying, “Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life. I will not go in.” All seemed to depend on the faithfulness of Nehemiah; therefore he was the object of the enemy’s hatred and fiercest assaults. But how instructive it is to see him habitually turning to God in his difficulties, and this is what each true servant of the Lord should do, except that now we should cry unto God our Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
ML 08/23/1959