The Spider to the Fly
- Justin Ray
- Jun 1, 2020
- 4 min read
Nehemiah 6
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.
Nehemiah 6:1-2
The walls of Jerusalem were meant to keep people out; namely their enemies. When we begin with verse 1, we get a list of those enemies: Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and the rest. While there is the physical application of protection from enemies, there is also an important spiritual application we can make.
Since the walls were built, the people and Nehemiah were protected from them. If the enemy couldn't get to Nehemiah and the people, they would try to trick them outside their protection. The enemy said to Nehemiah, "Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages...". In other words, come out of your protection and meet us.
Nehemiah was too smart for their trick. He did not even talk to them himself. He sent a message to his enemy.
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?
Nehemiah 6:3
Even though Nehemiah was resisting the enemy, he told them the truth. He was indeed doing a great work and could not come down. It was the truth that freed him from the snare of the enemy.
We also read that the enemy continued to pressure Nehemiah.
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.
Nehemiah 6:4-7
Nehemiah's enemies tried four more times to get him to leave his area of protection. When that did not work, they turned up the heat. They threatened to send a lie to Artaxerxes that Nehemiah was planning to rebel and make himself a king. Surely if they could not pressure him out, intimidation would cause him to crumble.
Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
Nehemiah 6:8
Nehemiah did not fall for the trick. He refused again, and told his enemies that they were lying. Most importantly, he did no leave his area of safety and protection. He stayed right where he was and continued the work he was busy about.
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.
Nehemiah 6:9
Fear is not necessarily a bad thing. Fear is given to us by God for our protection. When we are afraid, it is because there is a perceived danger. Only when it debilitates us, or prevents us from doing God's will is fear a sin. Nehemiah had a appropriate response to fear, he turned to God. Nehemiah prayed that God would strengthen his hand. In other words, strengthen me to continue doing your work.
While there are certainly physical dangers and threats we face, more importantly, there are spiritual threats we face. Satan loves to lure people out of the protective area of God's will so that he can pounce on them. Being inside Jerusalem is a picture of being in God's will. While in God's will there is work to be done. The work could not stop because of temptation. The work could not stop because of intimidation. The work could not stop because of fear. The work had to God on.
While the danger was very real, there was safety inside the walls of God's protection. Too many times we as Christians allow Satan to lure us outside of God's will and then wonder why we find ourselves harmed and feeling abandoned by God. in reality, it was not God that left us, but we left God. Satan cannot take us out of God's will and protection. So, he tried to make sin look appealing. He dresses it up beautiful but it is death. Even though saved people can never lose their salvation, they can still suffer the consequences of sin. Nehemiah is a great example of how to stay where God wants us.
First, we keep working. We keep doing the will of God. I heard a preacher say one time that he sometimes starts feeling down and depressed. When he does, he goes out and shares the Gospel. He said that there is nothing better to lift your spirits than to lead someone to salvation.
Second, there are times when we come under tremendous attack and pressure. Then, we follow Nehemiah's example and pray. It isn't that we are not praying during the other times, but we begin fervently praying about the situation we are in. We pray for strength to endure the pressure and attacks. If we don't then the words of James will be true in our lives: "ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2).
Father, help me to stay in your will. I pray that I would not be lured away by the temptation of sin. Strengthen my hand to the work!
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