Return from Exile: Nehemiah 6-9.3 (7)

Pray Psalm 59.1-3.
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
Defend me from those who rise up against me.
Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,
And save me from bloodthirsty men.
For look, they lie in wait for my life;
The mighty gather against me,
Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD.

Sing Psalm 59.1-3.
(Neumark: If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee)
Deliver me from all my foes, LORD; set me on high secure away.
From all who seek to work me woe, LORD, deliver me from day to day.
For, lo, they seek to take my life; fierce foes advance to bring me strife!

Review Nehemiah 6.1-9.3; meditate on Nehemiah 6.9, 15, 16; 8.8-12.

Preparation
1. How did Nehemiah respond to the threats of his enemies?

2. How did his enemies respond to the wall being finished?

Meditation
We’re probably glad we don’t have enemies like Israel did throughout the period of the Old Testament. And we may wonder, from time to time, what to make of all those psalms, prophecies, and narratives that deal with fighting against our enemies.

The Church has plenty of enemies among the nations of the world. Just because we don’t experience violence, oppression, displacement, and other forms of persecution doesn’t mean it’s not happening to our brethren in the Lord. We must remember to pray for them and to encourage them by every available means.

But we have a greater enemy than any human foe—the enemy of our souls. He is always on the prowl, looking for ways to undermine our faith, lead us into compromise, cause us to doubt or fear, or disrupt our walk with and work for the Lord (1 Pet. 5.8., 9). Our duty is to resist him, knowing that if we do, he will flee from us (Jms. 4.7). And in our passages for meditation today, Nehemiah shows us how to do that.

First, don’t make the mistake Eve did by dialoging with your enemy. Nehemiah declined the many appeals of his foes to have a sit-down and chat. We should do the same (6.3, 4). Remember Jesus’ formula for dealing with demons: “Shut up. Get out!” Talk to God about your enemy, not with your enemy about God (6.9).

Second, keep at the good work God has called you to do. When the wall was finished, Nehemiah’s enemies became disheartened (6.15, 16). Nothing discourages the devil and his minions like a faithful saint who presses on in Christ day by day, spreading the grace of God to His thanks and praise (2 Cor. 4.15).

Finally, stay in the Word. Read, meditate, and study until the message of Scripture comes through and you are moved to serve others joyfully with the love of Jesus (8.8-12). No matter the enemy you must face, no foe can rattle or defeat you when you stay in prayer, stay at your calling, and stay in the Word.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Shemaiah, the secret prophet-informer, was hired by the evil dynamic duo of Tobiah and Sanballat, along with the astute help of the prophetess Noadiah and others, to make Nehemiah afraid (Neh. 6.10-13). It is most interesting the way they tried to undermine him by unsettling his faith in God.

Nehemiah was expected to trust God completely, and in that unwavering faith find great courage and power. That is where his enemies struck—trying to unsettle his faith.

The same is expected from Christians today—unwavering trust in and obedience to God in all things.
Even our enemies hold us to that standard. Nehemiah’s certainly did.

We must be aware at all times of our wily enemy, the devil. He does strike in obvious and murderous ways; but he also attacks from unexpected places. As David explained: “But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng” (Ps. 55.13, 14). Or as Jesus said: “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Lk. 22.48).

These betrayals are often the most confusing and snaring. Attacks that come from unexpected quarters are often quite blindsiding. And yet, we are warned to be prepared for everything.

Jesus said of the devil: “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (Jn. 8.44). As Paul warned Timothy of this one who tries to snare and take us captive to do his will (2 Tim. 2.26), we too must be wary of him. He wants to make us afraid and too weak to do the Kingdom work that needs to be done (Neh. 6.9).

Nehemiah was very courageous, and we are thankful for his example.
But we have even more power than he to be victorious in our battle against captivity.
As John wrote: ‘He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn. 3.8).

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1.7).

And best of all: The joy of the LORD is our strength (Neh. 8.10).
Jesus said: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12.9).
His Holy Spirit is within us to be victorious over all who seek to weaken and destroy. (1 Jn. 3.8; 2 Pet. 5.8).

Dealing with the enemy has been raging since the creation (Gen. 3.1)
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4.12, 13).

“Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands” (Neh. 6.9).

For reflection
1. How can you know when the enemy of your soul is seeking to draw you off course from the Lord?

2. What should you do then? How does the example of Nehemiah help?

3. How can believers encourage one another in dealing with the enemy of our soul? Whom will you encourage today?

The greatest mischief our enemies can do us, is, to frighten us from our duty, and to lead us to do what is sinful. Let us never decline a good work, never do a bad one. We ought to try all advice, and to reject what is contrary to the word of God. Every man should study to be consistent. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Nehemiah 6.10-14

Pray Psalm 59.10-17.
Call on the Lord to defend you against the enemy of your soul and all other enemies who seek to silence your witness or discourage you from following the Lord.

Sing Psalm 59.10-17.
(Neumark: If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee)
My God in steadfast love will meet me, and let me look triumphantly
on all my foes, who would defeat me did not He shield and shelter me.
That men may know Your pow’r, O LORD, subdue and rule them by Your Word.

But as for me, Your strength I’m singing; with joy I sing Your grace, O LORD!
My trials and troubles I am bringing to know the shelter of Your Word.
O God, my strength, I sing Your praise; You are my stronghold all my days.

T. M. and Susie Moore 

Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.