Read Nehemiah 6
Further Opposition to the Rebuilding
When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.”
But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
5 Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter 6 in which was written:
“It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king 7 and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.”
8 I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”
9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”
But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
10 One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.”
11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.
14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. 15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
Opposition to the Completed Wall
16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
17 Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. 18 For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shekaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
Go Deeper
“So the wall was finished.”
These simple words in verse fifteen are a declaration of sustained obedience to the calling of God in our lives. Sustained obedience will always triumph over pressure and fear. Sustained obedience requires us to discern which projects and people are distractions and which are part of his plan for our lives.
As Nehemiah nears completion of the wall, the pressure mounts. Threats are made on his life. His enemies do all they can to distract and delay him from working on the wall. They come up with a variety of schemes to humiliate him, run him out of town, and, if given the chance, murder him. Anything and everything is on the table to stop Nehemiah’s work on the wall.
Fear is at the center of this passage. And fear is often at the center of our own choice to be obedient. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem try to leverage fear as a weapon against Nehemiah. The irony is they are the ones who are afraid, not Nehemiah. Their minds are overcome with fear that he will finish the wall. Out of fear, they turn to evil. On the other hand, Nehemiah maintains composure. Like the wall he has been building, he is not easily shaken. Evidence is provided by his response in verse 3. After they have tried to lure him into a trap, Nehemiah asks, “Why should the work stop?”
Why was it right to disregard the people as distractions and focus on the project in Nehemiah 6, but wrong in Nehemiah 5? God is teaching us to exercise discernment. Circumstances change. Decisions are not always made the same way every time because the circumstances are rarely the same every time. In chapter 6, Nehemiah realizes the people coming to him are distractions and should not be given attention over the project of finishing the wall. There are times when we should be focused on a singular task. Complete the work.
So the wall was finished.
Whatever God has placed before us in this season, let us work in obedience until we can declare the same.
Questions
- What are all the different ways that Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem try to stop Nehemiah in this chapter? How does Nehemiah respond?
- How do the surrounding nations react to news of the wall’s completion?
- What scares you most about being obedient to the work God has called you to do?
Pray This
Father, reading this story reminds us of the parallels of Jesus and the cross. Jesus was also called to a great work and mocked, scorned and threatened. He, too, moved forward with a singular purpose because the work before him had to be done. So let us follow the example of Jesus. Give us courage to do the work you place before us. Help us remain faithful to You, as You have remained faithful to us. Amen.
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9 responses to “Nehemiah 6”
I was confused as to who the “Nobles of Judah” were, so I did a deeper dive (copied and pasted below). After reading it, I realized yet again…there’s nothing new under the sun…alas, it is just like today!
“Nehemiah 6 is describing Jewish leaders from the tribe/territory of Judah who were politically and economically compromised, not some separate non‑Jewish group. Judah and Jerusalem overlap closely, but they are not identical terms in the period of Nehemiah; “Judah” is the broader province/tribal territory, and “Jerusalem” is the main city within it. So yes, the “nobles of Judah” were Jews—but they were Jewish elites whose loyalties were divided.
Who were the “nobles of Judah”?
In Nehemiah 6:17–19, the “nobles of Judah” are the upper‑class leaders and influential families from the Judean community—men who should have been Nehemiah’s natural allies in rebuilding the wall. Commentators point out that these nobles were:
Prominent Judean leaders and landowners within the post‑exilic province (Yehud).
People with social and economic influence who were corresponding with Tobiah, an enemy of the work, instead of standing firmly with Nehemiah.
They are “nobles of Judah” in the sense of being leading families of the tribe/territory of Judah, not a different ethnicity.”
Lord God of all creation, may I be blessed with the spirit of being DEPENDANT ON YOU as Nehemiah was. In the face of so many voices and comments and threats and false prophecies…FROM HIS OWN PEOPLE – yet, he stayed his mind on You. He trusted in You. He relied on You. He was dependant on you and persevered to do that which you moved him to do.
God, further bless me to have the wisdom to discern, as you gave your servant Nehemiah, the difference between pleasing and needing the approval and affirmation of man instead of you. Amen.
BUT GOD was in the middle of all Nehemiah was doing.
Nehemiah invited God to be in all he was doing. He prayed, ask for wisdom, listened to what God said and stayed ahead of the attacks from the enemy due to his walk with God.
Nehemiah had important work he was completing for God and the enemy was trying to distract him.
-Distraction means learning to say no. This is hard for my people pleasing self. I dont want to let anyone down BUT GOD is what is most important and asking Him and following His lead is what I and Nehemiah are learning.
-Lies 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
And lies are constantly knocking on the door. “1 John 2:16 tells us that we often fall prey to three major lies. The first lie says, “If you just experienced more, you would be happy.” The second lie says, “If you just had more, you would be happy.” And the third lie says, “If you just became more, you would be happy.” These temptations to experience, to have, and to become cannot bring us true satisfaction, but they are constantly entangling God’s people.”
“destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Nehemiah prayed for strength rather than peace in or from what was happening. ( A Wowza moment for me ) Strength to endure what is or might be happening!!!
-Spiritual compromise. Who is our identity in? Are we God’s child? Then we will know His word, listen to what we know is His desire for us to do and follow through. We do not need to listen to fear. Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father”
-Godly influencers or not? Who are you listening to? Music that is not good, podcast that do not lead you toward God, reading or watching shows that are not helpful. Nehemiah had the dude Tobiah that was trying to influence him wrongly. So instead Nehemiah picked Hananiah to help him.
We have an advantage over Nehemiah because we have Christ in us. We can abide, we have Holy Spirit guidance and we have the BIBLE!
God thank You for Your word that it can live and roll around in my head. God help me to combat the distractions, lies, compromise, and influences. God thank You for strength to endure what is going on in my world. God let my light so shine that You are what is effervescing out of my mouth, actions and deeds. God thank You for loving me so much and making Yourself known to me so itimatley. God help me to help others see and recognize You in their minutes today in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands” (v9).
Because of godly discernment, Nehemiah was able to persevere through bullies threatening the completion of the project. The opposition’s intimidation only made Nehemiah seek God’s help more diligently.We, too, will face the enemy’s tactics (to kill, steal, and destroy) when committing to following God’s truth. Let Isaiah 50:7 encourages us, “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.”
I am encouraged. Thank you for pouring into my life God’s promises.
Powerful truth to stand on in the face of opposition. Thank you for sharing, Ella!
What an example of courage and faith from Nehemiah.
Lord, increase my discernment for truth.
Maintain my integrity and not compromise my values.
Do not let the enemy derail me with distractions.
Let my focus always be fixed on You.
“Rumor Has It”
Once again we have another chapter that is thick with lived reality. This is not ancient history — but the unchanging mechanics of how opposition actually works.
Because the story of Nehemiah is about SO much more than just “building a wall.” And chapter 6 illustrates what happens when truth becomes inconvenient to people who prefer control.
Notice how this particular attack comes.
Not with swords — but STORY:
“There is a rumor…”
“Someone says it’s true…”
“According to…”
“He also reports…”
“This is sure to get back to…”
That is not information. That is manufactured atmosphere. This is how to poison a room without stepping inside. How to destabilize leadership without confronting it directly. How to apply pressure while pretending concern.
Every Nehemiah-type leader (pastor, administrator, organization head) knows what it is to hear these words and feel your heart sink:
“I heard that…”
“Someone told me that…”
Which means they’re no longer working with people — but battling PERCEPTION. And now they must address all the collateral damage that issues not from facts, but “credible suspicion.”
When that happens, look how Nehemiah responds:
He does not chase rumors.
He does not defend himself into exhaustion.
He does not attend fake concern meetings.
He does not adjust his calling to calm the liars.
He says: “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.”
Nehemiah speaks with quiet authority of someone who knows WHO sent him, WHAT he’s building, and WHICH voices are allowed to define him.
This chapter offers powerful strategy for battling the opposition we will inevitably face as we are about God’s work.
We don’t beat down the lies by piling on more words. We triumph as we live a truth so steady it cannot be shaken.
15 “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.“
It feels SO good to finish something! a
project, a semester, a book, a marathon, etc. I have been thinking a lot these days of being a good finisher. God, help me to finish the tasks that you have assigned to me!