Rebuilding Broken Lives Nehemiah 6 Page 407 in Pew Bibles

Nehemiah 6: When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it—though at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates— 2.Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message: “Come, let’s meet together in the villages of the Ono Valley.” But they were planning to harm me.

3. So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” 4. Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply. 5. Sanballat sent me this same message a fifth time by his aide, who had an open letter in his hand.

6.In it was written: It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews plan to rebel. This is the reason you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king 7. and have even set up the prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: “There is a king in Judah.” These rumors will be heard by the king. So come, let’s confer together.

8.Then I replied to him, “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.” 9. For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, “They will become discouraged in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen me.

10. I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted [to his house]. He said: Let us meet at the house of God inside the temple. Let us shut the temple doors because they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you tonight! 11. But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can I enter the temple and live? I will not go.”

12. I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13. He was hired, so that I would be intimidated, do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me.

14. My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me.

15. The wall was completed in 52 days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Ellul. 16. When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.

17.During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. 19. These nobles kept mentioning Tobiah’s good deeds to me, and they reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

Rebuilding Broken Lives Nehemiah 6

The Timing Vs. 1 “When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it— though at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates—” >

Four Sources of Intimidation How Leaders Can Face Them Down >

1. Decapitation Decapitate:Decapitate: To remove the leader essential to the success of a people Vs. 2 “Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message: ‘Come, let’s meet together in the villages of the Ono Valley.’ But they were planning to harm me.” >

1. Decapitation How to Avoid the TrapsHow to Avoid the Traps 1.Be Discerning –Vs. 2 “But they were planning to harm me.” >

1. Decapitation How to Avoid the TrapsHow to Avoid the Traps > 2.Be Determined to Stay on Task –Vs. 3 “So I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?’” –Vs. 4 “Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply.”

1. Decapitation Don’t let them take you out of the gameDon’t let them take you out of the game Who is counting on you?Who is counting on you? –Husband? Dad? Boss? –Many who don’t think of themselves as leaders are key people in the lives of others. >

2. Misrepresentation People will misrepresent your actions or your motivesPeople will misrepresent your actions or your motives Vs. 5-6 “Sanballat sent me this same message a fifth time by his aide, who had an open letter in his hand. In it was written: It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews plan to rebel…. >

2. Misrepresentation Vs. 6-7 “…This is the reason you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king and have even set up the prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ These rumors will be heard by the king.” >

2. Misrepresentation 4 Characteristics of Rumors4 Characteristics of Rumors 1.Sources are not identified –“It is reported…” 2.Rumors are exaggerated or plain false –“You and the Jews plan to rebel. This is the reason you are building the wall” >

2. Misrepresentation 3.Are believable enough to do real damage –“These rumors will be heard by the king” 4.Are designed to hurt –Vs. 9 “For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, ‘They will become discouraged in the work, and it will never be finished.’” > 4 Characteristics of Rumors4 Characteristics of Rumors

2. Misrepresentation How to Deal with RumorsHow to Deal with Rumors Vs. 8 “Then I replied to him, ‘There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.” 1.Call rumors what they are – rumors 2.Calmly deny them, but don’t feel obligated to give a detailed explanation. –Those who trust you will believe you. –Your enemies don’t care what the truth is. >

2. Misrepresentation How to Deal with RumorsHow to Deal with Rumors. > 3.Cause rumor mongers to own their words “These rumors you are spreading” 4.Counter a rumor’s effect with prayer Their hands will be weakened strengthen my handsNKJV: “For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, "Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done. "Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.”

3. Temptation 3. Temptation Vs Vs. 10 “I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted to his house. He said: Let us meet at the house of God inside the temple. Let us shut the temple doors because they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you tonight!” >

3. Temptation Vs. 13 “He was hired, so that I would be intimidated, do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me.” The process of entrapmentThe process of entrapment 1.You are Deceived 2.You are Disobedient 3.You are Discredited >

3. Temptation How to Avoid Being EntrappedHow to Avoid Being Entrapped 1.Have the Courage to Stand Your Ground –Vs. 11 “But I said, ‘Should a man like me run away?’” >

3. Temptation –Vs. 11 “How can I enter the temple and live? I will not go.” –Vs. 12 “I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.” > How to Avoid Being EntrappedHow to Avoid Being Entrapped 2.Know the Scriptures

4. Collaboration Collaboration: “To cooperate treasonably, as with an enemy occupation force in one’s country” – American Heritage Dictionary >

4. Collaboration Communication with the EnemyCommunication with the Enemy Vs. 17 “During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.” >

4. Collaboration Ties to the EnemyTies to the Enemy Vs. 18 “For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in- law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.” Family and economic ties >

4. Collaboration Doing PR for the EnemyDoing PR for the Enemy –Vs. 19 “These nobles kept mentioning Tobiah’s good deeds to me...” –Making constant comparisons as a way of showing disrespect for him as a leader Gathering Intelligence for the EnemyGathering Intelligence for the Enemy –Vs. 19 “…and they reported my words to him.” >

4. Collaboration Delivering Messages for the EnemyDelivering Messages for the Enemy –Vs. 19 “And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.” >

4. Collaboration When surrounded by collaborators, surround yourself with faithful brothersWhen surrounded by collaborators, surround yourself with faithful brothers 7:1-2 “When the wall had been rebuilt and I had the doors installed, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.”. >

The wall was completed in 52 daysVs “The wall was completed in 52 days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Ellul. When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.” HL > 5. Vindication

Literally, “Fell in their own eyes” intimidated and lost their confidenceVs “The wall was completed in 52 days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Ellul. When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.” > 5. Vindication

intimidated and lost their confidenceVs “The wall was completed in 52 days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Ellul. When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.” Who’s intimidated now?Who’s intimidated now?. 5. Vindication

Rebuilding Broken Lives