More than a story of courage in the face of enemies, the rebuilding of the Jerusalem walls is a story of God’s kindness to His people. That divine kindness enabled their courage, grace enabled stamina and unity, so Nehemiah and the builders did work. But the finishing of this project was reported among the nations as a reason to watch out for God. As the psalmist put it elsewhere: “Then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’” (Psalm 126:2)

We’ve been “enjoying” a few chapters of opposition narrative. Nehemiah took his life in his hands by asking Artaxerxes for a policy reversal, which he got (Nehemiah 2:1ff). But since Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem it’s been one problem after another. The state of the walls was bad. The neighboring peoples got mad. The way some of the lending-class were treating the borrowing-class was not rad.

One of my favorite resources that outlines and gives brief background for all the books in the Bible is Talk Thru the Bible. Highly recommended. The authors outline the various kinds of opposition starting in chapter 4.

• Opposition through Ridicule 4:1-6
• Opposition through Threat 4:7-9
• Opposition through Discouragement 4:10-23
• Opposition through Extortion 5:1-13
• Opposition through Compromise 6:1-4
• Opposition through Slander 6:5-9
• Opposition through Treachery 6:10-14

We saw the intimidation in the first part of chapter 6. Sanballat and Geshem invite Nehemiah to an off-site meeting four times, which he declines. With the fifth invite they threaten that if he won’t come, they will spread the news that Nehemiah intends to crown himself king and lead Israel in rebellion. It will be “reported among the nations.” All of that was intended to get Nehemiah to fear and fold.

We learn about two more types of sabotage in verses 10-14, before a report on the completion in verses 15-16, with an interesting follow-up in verses 17-19 about some of the connections and communication that have been going on the whole time, all aimed to keep Nehemiah from finishing. One practical lesson we’re noting is: don’t do liars’ work for them. They’re lying to get you to feel bad and stop. So don’t stop, or feel bad.

Prophetic Fear-Mongering (verses 10-14)

The main character here is Shemaiah, though really, the main characters are Tobiah and Sanballat who hired Shemaiah. Shemaiah was their paid puppet.

Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple. For they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” (verse 10)

Nehemiah knew their family, and this didn’t help their reputation going forward. Shemaiah was confined to his home. We don’t know why. It seems like he could leave, as in, he was not physically debilitated, since he wants to re-meet in the temple. But his confinement enables a private scene, drawing Nehemiah away from the war room, so to speak.

Based on Nehemiah’s summary in verse 12, Shemaiah must have been a prophet or some sort of religious figure, and since he wanted to meet in the temple, perhaps he was related to the priests.

Shemiah’s phrasing and repetitions are hush-hush, and he sounds scared. Shemaiah is trying to convince Nehemiah that he should be afraid, the “They” are coming to “slay thee” (KJV). Apparently there’s only one safe place to hide: the house of God.

I mean, Why? If the They are outside the walls, why would they care if Nehemiah was in his temple? False gods (and their worshippers) don’t have to respect the true God (and His worshippers). If the They are inside the walls, isn’t such a murderous motivation past the point of appeal?

Plus, it was against God’s law for a non-priest to go into the temple (Nehemiah might have remembered the leprosy King Uzziah got from his wrong visit, 2 Chronicles 26).

But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” (verse 11)

He was supposed to be leading the men to build and battle, and now he was going to flee to a bunker? And if it was his own individual life he was concerned about, he wouldn’t save his life from God if he went where God said not to go.

Nehemiah put it all together as they talked:

And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. (verses 12-13)

They aimed to discredit him.

Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid. (verse 14)

A few comments to make here. First, praying to God to do justice is right. Second, a whole team of religious figures were working against the rebuilding. Third, by way of application, this sort of makes me think of the number of pastors arguing against Christians during Covid craziness. I haven’t read Shepherds for Sale or _ Stockholm Syndrome Christianity: Why America’s Christian Leaders Are Failing_, but I know enough of the gist to know that professing religious leaders love to make the people afraid. They are doing the liar’s work for them, sometimes they are even funded by the liars.

If Nehemiah caves, the city’s restoration—and with it the stage for the promised Son of David—stalls. Integrity here is not private virtue; it safeguards the story of redemption.

Project Fall-out (verses 15-16)

After the build up of all this opposition the final report is almost a let down.

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul, in fifty two days. (verse 15)

I mean, we knew it from chapter 3. There are few small finishing touches at the start of chapter 7. I think, though, that without this verse, we would easily have assumed that it took years. It took less than two months, done before winter in 445 BC. It had only been six months since Nehemiah asked Artaxerxes for permission. The wall itself is projected to have been between 1.5 and 2.5 miles around. It was impressive feat. People noticed.

And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. (verse 16)

This is the great twist. The enemies have been trying to make Nehemiah and the people afraid, they themselves are made afraid. The threateners become the threatened. The rebellion was going to be reported among the nations, now the rebuilding is reported among the nations. They fell greatly in their own esteem, “they lost their confidence” (NASB). We might wonder how Nehemiah knew it, but he did.

And they knew that it was with the help of our God. To finish this size of project this fast demonstrated supernatural blessing. What other great things could that God do?

Political Double-Dealing (verses 17-19)

This follow-up might have been more appropriate as an up-front. Nehemiah describes some relationships and communication that’s been happening for a while.

Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecanaiah the son of Arah: and his son Jehonan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. (verse 18)

In those days wasn’t just after the wall was built. This is how some of the enemies knew so much about what was happening. Tobiah was related by marriage to some, especially of the nobles, in the city, and the political loyalties were greater than loyalty to Nehemiah. Nehemiah’s been fighting against this subterfuge the whole time. Some of them nobles had refused to work from the start (Nehemiah 3:5).

Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid. (verse 19).

Various men included in Nehemiah’s decision rooms were constantly and consciously working against him. They tried to influence Nehemiah to give Tobiah a break, while taking any information they could get and passing it along to Tobiah. One commentator called them the “Tobiad party.”

Conclusion

Point of application: Don’t do the liars’ work for them.

Pattern: Great sacrifice for a great project, with credit to God. Great courage and stamina, from dependence on God.

Prayer: Lord, remember the schemes of men, vindicate Your name, and strengthen our hands for the work.

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Charge

In any moment of a project you might not feel great. Maybe you’re just trying to survive it. So, let your survival make observers say, GOD HELPED! Maybe you are wondering if your plans were too big. So, let those who watch your adjustment still say, GOD HELPED! Maybe your plans were big, and you need to expand them more. So let those who watch it swell to success say, GOD HELPED! Indeed, God, help us!

Benediction:

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (Philippians 4:19–20, 23 ESV)