October 28 Daily Discovery
October 28 Daily Discovery - Read Nehemiah Chapter 6
This passage below is from the King James Version (ekjv.org).
Remarks from the Berean Fellowship follow the passage below.
[1] Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)
[2] That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
[3] And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
[4] Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
[5] Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
[6] Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.
[7] And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
[8] Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
[9] For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
[10] Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
[11] And I said, 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.
[12] And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
[13] Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
[14] My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
[15] So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
[16] And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
[17] Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
[18] For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
[19] Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
The Devices of our Enemies
As God's people we have adversaries. Our key adversaries are spiritual entities but the spiritual entities move upon the hearts of men to try to limit and disrupt and frustrate the work of God in our lives. We see this being played out in this chapter.
We must maintain an awareness of this, or they could gain an advantage over us. We should continually rely on the truth of god and weigh every test against his truth. We must never yield to false accusations or be duped into believing lies.
Artaxerxes, the Persian king, had commissioned Nehemiah to return to jerusalem and rebuild the walls about the city.
Leaders that were involved in lands that were nearby Judah were not friendly to Judah. They were not happy to see anything good happen for the people of Judah. They were continually trying to hinder the work. They made false accusations against Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem and they even got insiders working for them to try to trap Nehemiah that they might have something to accuse him of or to cause him to lose the respect of the people.
Because nehemiah was wise their tricks did not work.
He ignored their threats and called their bluffs and kept right on working! He maintained his faith and refused to fall into fear.
Our Chief Enemy is the Devil
1 Pet. 5:6-9
[6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
[7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
[8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
[9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Eph. 6:10-13
[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
[11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
[12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
[13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Be Wise to the Devil's Devices
2 Cor. 2:11
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
So just what are his devices?
Here are a few obvious ones:
- Temptation to sin
- Threats to cause fear
- Accusations to crush our spirits
- Lies to deceive us
Submit to God and Resist the Devil
James 4:6-8
[6] But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
[7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
[8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
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