RPG Adults
PERSPECTIVES FOR SUCCESSFUL SERVICE (IV)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Nehemiah 6:5-9
2 Kings 18:26-32
“…hath he not sent me to the men
which sit on the wall…?”
PERSPECTIVES FOR SUCCESSFUL SERVICE (IV)
Sanballat and his allies, after failing to draw Nehemiah away from his work by an invitation to dialogue, resorted to using fear to try and get Nehemiah to leave the work and come to meet them. They trumped-up a false charge against him, accusing him of being selfish and ill-motivated, engaging himself in a rebellious movement.
…the fifth time with an open letter in his hand (Neh 6:5). This is not an entirely new onslaught. It is just a different approach on the attack that had been going on. The previous invitations had not borne fruit. Then an open letter (which was deliberately intended to be made public) was sent by a servant. The open letter came with no restrictions, and every one could read and hear the contents of the letter.
This was like when Rabshakeh insisted on speaking to Hezekiah’s representatives in the Jewish language (and not in the Assyrian language) loudly and publicly so that the threats might be public knowledge. This was meant to add some measure of internal pressure from those who heard his words. Similarly, Sanballat sent a servant with an open letter to Nehemiah which bore grievous charges against him concerning the work that was then nearing completion.
Thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall (Neh 6:6). Apart from just an attempt at drawing Nehemiah out with the treasonous charge, there was probably also an attempt at discrediting Nehemiah in the eyes of the people. The dissemination of the contents of the letter among the people would cause the fearful to stop cooperating since the charges were very grave, casting doubt on Nehemiah’s real intent in the work. The people had probably seen messengers being sent to Nehemiah. As is normal to man, there would be some curiosity. Though the charge had not been previously laid, the message was made public this fifth time. It was akin to twisting Nehemiah’s arm into accepting the invite so as to clear his name.
THOUGHT: (Read Psalm 37:7-8.)
PRAYER: Give me grace, patience, and strength for Thy work, O Father.