As the rebuilding of the wall neared completion, the enemy’s tactics once again changed. No longer able to sneak in among the workers, they sought to draw Nehemiah away on the pretence to “meet together” (Neh. 6:2). They understood that if they could make Nehemiah afraid, then the strength of the people would fail. Nehemiah recognized, however, that the work he had been called to do was a great work, one which he could not leave. Sadly, how little we realize that strengthening the things which remain is a great work (Rev. 3:2). It might be acceptable to go out into the world to evangelize, but, “Building walls! We should be knocking them down!” is the universal cry of Christendom today.
Sanballat then sought to engage Nehemiah through false accusations, saying that the heathen believed he was planning to set himself up as a king, and that he had prophets declaring that it must be so (Neh. 6:6-7). One must give Nehemiah a good deal of credit for not being caught up in the devices of the enemy. How quickly we feel the need to defend ourselves. Rather, Nehemiah simply told Sanballat that they had invented these lies in their own hearts (Neh. 6:8). It should not be underestimated how dangerous this was for Nehemiah; he was being accused of rebellion. It was not unlike those accusations laid against our Lord (Luke 23:2). Nehemiah recognized that they were trying to weaken his hands through fear, and once again he turned to God with a simple prayer: “Strengthen my hands” (Neh. 6:9).
The counterpart to these accusations still goes on today. Suggest that there is a right path, and only one such path — whether it is for salvation or the ground of gathering — and quickly there will be accusations, “you’re setting yourself up to be somebody!” William Kelly wrote, “If we act upon the Word, and nothing else, we shall find God with us. It will be called bigotry; but this is part of the reproach of Christ. Faith will always appear proud to those who have none; but it will be proved in the day of the Lord to be the only humility, and that everything which is not faith is pride, or no better. Faith admits that he who has it is nothing — that he has no power nor wisdom of his own, and he looks to God. May we be strong in faith, giving glory to Him!” There is a difference between recognizing the truth and seeking to walk in it, versus setting oneself up to be something. Nehemiah knew that the work he did was great and he let no one deter him from it.
Shemaiah was one that was shut up — probably feigning fear for what might befall them. Nevertheless, it appears as if Nehemiah paid this man a friendly visit. Shemaiah suggested that they flee to the temple for safety from their foe. Nehemiah, however, would have none of it. As a good soldier he did not flee the enemy, and as a faithful servant of God, he knew that it was inappropriate for him to use the temple in that manner. As it turned out, Shemaiah was in the pay of Sanballat and Tobiah.
Even when the wall was finished, there were many in Judah that sought to influence Nehemiah’s attitude towards Tobiah, the Ammonite, for many were sworn unto him (Neh. 6:18). Despite the work of Ezra and the exercise of some among the people some 13 years earlier concerning mixed marriages, we find that Tobiah was son-in-law to Shechaniah and that his son Johanan had married the daughter of Meshullam. Meshullam had resisted Ezra (Ezra 10:15 JND), and it would now appear that he had never repented, even though he is listed among those who had put away their strange wives (Ezra 10:29). The Ammonites were descendants of Lot and were, therefore, related to Israel (Gen. 19:37-38). Very often it is those “near relatives” that cause us the greatest trial. Having once known the truth, but having departed from it, they undermine the work and seek to bring us onto the same ground as themselves. “An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord forever” (Deut. 23:3).