Much determination is needed to fortify against enemies without, and deal with dissension and clamour within. Being a leader often means having to responsibly deal with people's complaints.

Nehemiah 5:1 "And there was a great cry of the people ..."

The poor complained that they could not feed their many children, because of debt, famine and taxation (Nehemiah 5:1-3 ). There were those who had pledged land and children to raise the Persian king's taxes (Nehemiah 5:4 ). The usury charged by those of their own flesh and blood was the main cause of their grief (Nehemiah 5:5 ).

"The lending of money etc. at interest is not regarded in the Bible as wrong in itself (Deuteronomy 23:19,20, Matthew 25:27 ), but it was forbidden as between one Israelite and another (Exodus 22:25 ), since the money was borrowed for the relief of distress and not for the development of trade." New Bible Commentary

LEARN FROM THE COMMENDABLE ACT OF NEHEMIAH:

This was not that kind of anger which the Lord said is in danger of judgment (Matthew 5:22 ). These men were "brethren", but they showed no brotherly love.

No doubt he would have taken counsel with the leaders, but they themselves were the chief offenders of the complaints. There are times when consultation with the Lord alone has to be the base for action. This does not excuse thoughtless or careless action.

High position or privileged status should not deter necessary rebuke.

Righteousness must be attained, but it must also be seen to be attained. All complainants need to be satisfied by witnessing righteous action.

Nehemiah appealed in this way to a well-known fact that he and others had been in the habit of redeeming enslaved Jews from among the Gentile nations.

Nehemiah 5:9 "Then I said, 'What you are doing is not good ...'"

When the Lord's people do not walk in His fear, they dishonour Him. All our vital interests should be interwoven with His, so that He is honoured by us.

Nehemiah 5:10 "... Please, let us stop this usury!"

The response of the offenders was positive (Nehemiah 5:12 ).

This is good business practice. Shaking hands on a deal is one thing, but the written contract is what matters. Christians should not be slothful in business

The consequences of breaking contract and word must be plain and understood. Once again, the response was acceptable and praise was expressed to God (Nehemiah 5:13 ).

Other governors would demand much and give little. He ruled for 12 years without charge for his services (Nehemiah 5:14-15 ). Nor did he allow his servants to charge for services rendered (Nehemiah 5:15 ). He desired the praise of God above any benefits man could give (Nehemiah 5:18-19 ).

Example always speaks louder than words.

Nehemiah's enemies failed to stop the building of the wall, and only the hanging of the doors in the gates remained to be done. Nehemiah's enemies craftily sought to get him out of the city, some 19 miles north of Jerusalem, with the plot to assassinate him (Nehemiah 6:1-2 ). Nehemiah's action was to send messengers to tell them:

Nehemiah 6:3 "... 'I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?'"

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His Answer Was Uncompromising

"I cannot." He did not say, "I will have to think about it." He was committed to God's work and would not compromise.

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His Answer Was Unassailable

"I am doing a great work." Work for God excels all other work.

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His Answer Was Unshakeable

"Why should the work cease?" Mere talking must never substitute doing.

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His Answer Was Unmistakable

"I cannot ... leave it and come down to you." To depart from devotion to the Lord's work, is to "come down" to danger.

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His Answer Was Unchanged (Nehemiah 6:4)

Though they sent their message four times, he was determined to be steadfast and immovable in the work of the Lord.

Sanballat sent his servant a fifth time with a slanderous letter.

Nehemiah 6:6,7 "... you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. ⁷ And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you ..."

Nehemiah was misrepresented as a rebel against the king of Persia, and was accused of being motivated with self-seeking pride.

Perhaps Malachi was prophesying at this time and Sanballat deliberately twisted his message about Messiah the king and applied it to Nehemiah. Ryrie

Nehemiah not only denied the slander as false, he named the source of evil misrepresentation: "invented in your own heart (Nehemiah 6:8 ). When occasioned, God's servant must reprove and rebuke. Nehemiah knew that intimidation was the intention.

Nehemiah 6:9 "For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, 'Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.' ..."

Fear traps and paralyses activity, even service for God.

Proverbs 29:25 "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe."

Confidence in God overcomes fear of man. Nehemiah, through prayer, drew from the real source of strength.

Nehemiah 6:9 "...Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands."

Nehemiah's need was strong hands to work the Lord's purposes, and instantly: "now", not some time in the future. His prayer was appropriating faith.

A priest prophet, named "Shemaiah the son of Delaiah", was used to set a treacherous plot. For money, he was prepared to lie to Nehemiah. This false prophet tried to get him to hide in the Temple to make him appear as a coward in the eyes of the people. There is no safety except in the place of fulfilling God's purposes for our lives. Nehemiah discerned Shemaiah's treachery. His answer was:

Nehemiah 6:11 "... Should such a man as I flee? ..."

Being a prospered man, and a protected man because of the purpose of his calling, he would not and could not flee or hide away and hinder the culmination of the work.

Knowing who you are and whom you serve, and where you serve, will show you what to do when confronted with danger.

Nehemiah called on God to remember cheating, deceiving prophets (Nehemiah 6:14 ). He took no personal action against them, he committed them to God's hands.

The achievement of finishing the wall in fifty-two days, brought depression to Nehemiah's enemies. Even they could see the hand of God (Nehemiah 6:15-16 ). Seeing the hand of God did not turn them to God, as is also the case with certain workers of iniquity today.

Opposition and attempts to frighten continued (Nehemiah 6:17-19 ). Tobiah had useful relationships through marriage, and carried on destructive correspondence. So he was kept fully informed of all Nehemiah's words, but they put only the best side of Tobiah in any report to Nehemiah. The purpose of Tobiah's letters to try to frighten Nehemiah, did not succeed. With determination, the work was continued and triumphantly completed.

We must not believe the propaganda of those who would stop us working, even if those responsible for the misinformation believe it themselves.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Should injustice provoke in you a righteous anger? (Nehemiah 5:1-6; Matthew 5:22 ).
2. Should serious thought precede rebuke of offending leaders, or should anyone be the victim of careless public rebuke? (Nehemiah 5:7 ).
3. Could you qualify to deal with another's improper conduct by the integrity of your own conduct? (Nehemiah 5:8-9 ).
4. Would you ask that others be generous, and withhold yourself? (Nehemiah 5:10-11 ).
5. When an agreement is arrived at, is it good business practice to insist on a written contract, even if it is business with a family member, and should the consequences of breaking the word be explained? (Nehemiah 5:12-13 ).
6. Should a leader be known for leading by example? (Nehemiah 5:14-19 ).
7. Do you expect the cunning schemes of Satan to divert you from the priority of God's work? (Nehemiah 6:1-4 ).
8. Are you determined to be steadfast and immoveable in the work of the Lord? (Nehemiah 6:3 ).
9. Who is the source of slander, and what, in your opinion, is the best way to respond to slander? (Nehemiah 6:6-8 ).
10. How do you keep from the trap of fear? (Nehemiah 6:9; Proverbs 29:25 ).
11. What is one of the motivations of a false prophet? (Nehemiah 6:10-13 ).
12. When Nehemiah discerned Shemaiah's treachery, how did his answer show you what to do when confronted with danger? (Nehemiah 6:11 ).
13. Do you believe Nehemiah was right not to take personal action against the deceiving prophets, but to rather commit them to God's hands? (Nehemiah 6:14 ).
14. Are you impressed with the achievement of Nehemiah and the people, finishing the wall in fifty-two days? What did this say to their enemies? (Nehemiah 6:15-16 ).
15. Does success stop the opposition from attempting to frighten and get advantage? (Nehemiah 5:17-19 ).
16. Do you believe the propaganda of those whose aim is to stop the work?