Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah …

Biblical Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Ezra Teaches The LawNehemiah Builds The Walls

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The opposition was relentless…they never quit 1 Jn 5:19 Lk 4:13 1 Pet 5:8  Nehemiah had already withstood a direct challenge…threat of attack 4:8, 11  This next attempt would be indirect … more subtle Gen 3:1 2 Cor 2:11 11:14

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The proposed meeting at Ono vv. 1-9  Nehemiah had made enough progress on the wall that no breach remained…he had not yet set up the doors & gates v. 1  Hearing this, Sanballat & Geshem initiated another attempt to derail his work…they wanted to meet with Nehemiah v. 2a

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The proposed meeting at Ono vv. 1-9  Nehemiah was not fooled by Sanballat’s “offer”…he knew it was another attempt to physically harm him v. 2b  He replied “I am doing a great work…I do not have time to come to you. Why should the work stop…?” v. 3

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The proposed meeting at Ono vv. 1-9  Sanballat was persistent in that he sent the same “offer” 4 times v. 4a  Nehemiah was equally persistent in that he said “No” each time v. 4b  Nehemiah recognized what this was…it was a subtle attempt at compromise

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The proposed meeting at Ono vv. 1-9  The danger of compromise  Not as dangerous as an attack, but just as deadly  What was there to discuss?  What possible good could have come from such a meeting?

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The proposed meeting at Ono vv. 1-9  The danger of compromise  Time spent compromising with Satan in the “Plains of Ono” is time not spent doing the Lord’s work Heb 11:24-26 Ex 10:21-26  We must respond the way Nehemiah did 1 Jn 2:15-17

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The proposed meeting at Ono vv. 1-9  Sanballat’s next attempt vv. 5-7  His 5th try was an “open letter”  Correspondence between governors was usually sealed & confidential  This “open letter” could have been read by anyone along its way to be delivered

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The proposed meeting at Ono vv. 1-9  Sanballat’s next attempt vv. 5-7  The “open letter” message…  A slanderous rumor the remnant planned to rebel; Nehemiah was to be their king  This would surely be reported to Artaxerxes  Out of concern for Nehemiah, Sanballat wanted to meet and discuss this

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The proposed meeting at Ono vv. 1-9  Sanballat’s next attempt vv. 5-7  The “open letter” message…  Imagine the pressure to meet because others would have read this letter and continued to spread the rumor

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The proposed meeting at Ono vv. 1-9  Nehemiah’s response vv. 8-9a  He tells Sanballat he was inventing the whole thing up “in his mind”  Nehemiah was obviously comfortable with his standing before Artaxerxes…he had already proven his worth & loyalty

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The proposed meeting at Ono vv. 1-9  Nehemiah’s response vv. 8-9a  He recognized this as yet another attempt to frighten & discourage the workers  Again, Nehemiah prayed v. 9b cp. 1:5-11a 2:4 4:4-5, 9 5:19  He asked God for strength to endure

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The next “proposal” vv  Shemaiah’s offer v. 10  He wanted to meet Nehemiah within the temple behind closed doors  He informed him his life was in danger… there was a plot to kill him at night  It would be safe to hide in the temple

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The next “proposal” vv  Nehemiah’s response vv  Why should he flee for safety now…he didn’t do that before 4:8-14, 20  He recognized Shemaiah had been hired by Sanballat & Tobiah to discredit him, get him to sin Num 1:51 3:5-10, 38 18:7

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The next “proposal” vv  Nehemiah’s response vv  If Nehemiah entered the temple, it would have brought great reproach  His leadership would have been effectively destroyed…the workers would no longer follow a discredited leader

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The next “proposal” vv  One more time, Nehemiah prays v. 14  It was his character  Like his prayer in 4:4-5, he asks God to not overlook his enemies’ efforts against him

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  Nehemiah completes the wall v. 15  It was done in only 52 days!!  Despite all the remnant faced (external & internal), they accomplished their task  Because of their work ethic 4:6  Because of principled godly leadership

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  Nehemiah completes the wall v. 15  It had been approx. 9 months since Nehemiah first learned of Jerusalem’s distressing situation  Told in December 1:1-3  Asked to go back in April 2:1-5  Finished in September 6:15

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  The enemies become deflated v. 16  They recognized God had been with the remnant  The completion of the wall totally removed their confidence

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Walls Are Finished Neh 6  Tobiah’s continued opposition vv  He had “inside connections” among the nobles…he had married into a prominent family cp. Ezra 2:5 Neh 3:4, 30  They continually praised him to Nehemiah  He continued to receive letters from them and send frightening ones to Nehemiah

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah …