Page 63 - Principles of Leadership - Nehemiah

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! 11But 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, so 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.

Nehemiah went to the house of Shemaiah, who was restricted [to his house]. From this passage, we are not
told exactly why Shemaiah was restricted [to his house]. Most assume that he was restricted to his house
because of some illness. Scriptures seem to imply that Shemaiah was a friend of Nehemiah, and he went to visit
his friend, who was sick. But little to Nehemiah's knowledge, Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Shemaiah
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! Evidently, God once again gave Nehemiah
spiritual discernment to realize that Shemaiah's advice was not from God. Nehemiah realized that this act
would put him in direct violation of Numbers 18:7 and Leviticus 10:1-2. Laymen were not allowed into the inner
portions of the Temple. Therefore, Nehemiah realized that God had not sent him because he asked Nehemiah
to do.

Also, notice the powerful influence that money has on people. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He was
hired so that I would be intimidated, do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation to discredit me. “Make
no mistake about it: money can lead people astray. Guard your heart. Don’t be someone who will sell what is
most valuable because someone will give you money or a benefit from their money. It is not worth it.” 177

Once again, Nehemiah uses an imprecatory prayer in verse fourteen. 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. “Nehemiah wants mercy for those who repent of sin and trust God (1:5), and he wants justice
for those who oppose God and His purposes (4:4-5, 5:13, 6:14). Nehemiah does not want unrepentant sin to go
unrequited. He wants it remembered so that it can be repaid. Notice, too, how Nehemiah left this matter in
God’s hands. He did not plan a counterattack on his enemies. He did pray for God to do justice against His
enemies and the enemies of His people.” 178

4. A plot to undermine him (6:15-19)
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 reported my words to him. And
Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

Listen to those sweet words, once again the wall was completed in 52 days. Why was it that Nehemiah was
able to accomplish something in 52 days that was not accomplished in over 100 years? He was able to do this
because he was committed to a great cause. He kept the main thing the main thing. And the main thing was a
commitment to the kingdom of God, for the glory of God. Notice the people's perception when the work was
completed, they realized that our God had accomplished this task. Remember that when God calls us, He
always calls us to God-sized assignments. There can only be one response; our God has accomplished this task.
Listen to the various ways Nehemiah explains what had transpired. Nehemiah 2:8 The good hand of his God
was upon him. God had put it in his heart to do this for Jerusalem, and he told the people in 2:20 that the God
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