Wednesday: Nehemiah Sent
The king sent letters with Nehemiah to Sanballat the Horonite and to Tobiah the Ammonite, the high officials of the region beyond the River, in order to pave the way for what Nehemiah was to accomplish. Additionally, the king commanded Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, to provide Nehemiah with all the timber necessary to rebuild the city, walls, and gates of the temple.
Read Nehemiah 2:9-10. What do these verses tell us about the opposition Nehemiah and the Jews in general were going to face?
Nehemiah Sent
Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem sometime in the second part of the year 444. Opposition appears to spring up even before Nehemiah attempts any action, as the request delivered to the governors stirs up problems. Although Tobiah is a Jewish name, which meant “The Lord is good” (his son Jehohanan also carried a Jewish name, “the Lord is gracious”), he served as a governor of Ammon. Thus, Jerusalem was surrounded by enemies: Sanballat, the governor of Samaria to the north, Tobiah the governor of Ammon to the east, and Geshem the Arab (Neh. 2:18-19) to the south, who took hold of Edom and Moab. It is unfortunate that the leadership in that region shunned Nehemiah for being concerned about the “well-being” of the oppressed. Bullies don’t rejoice over the good fortune of those they intimidate.
Nehemiah’s “arrival in Jerusalem, however, with a military escort, showing that he had come on some important mission, excited the jealousy of the heathen tribes living near the city, who had so often indulged their enmity against the Jews by heaping upon them injury and insult. Foremost in this evil work were certain chiefs of these tribes, Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian. From the first these leaders watched with critical eyes the movements of Nehemiah and endeavored by every means in their power to thwart his plans and hinder his work” – Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 635.
| What other biblical stories can you find that showed how those called by God to do His will faced opposition? Bring your answer to class on Sabbath. |
(28)
Those of us who have had to work within an organisation have probably come up with the "silo" issue. A person, or group retain control over certain information and procedures to the extent that they hamper change and progress. I have been involved in doing systems analysis, looking at how work practices can be changed by integrating technology into the organisation. One of the big issues back in the 1980s was the introduction of word processing. Secretaries who had spent many years using the skills to type accurately, saw word processing as a threat and some refused point blank, to accept the new technology. (Seems incredible now nearly 40 years later) It took a lot of effort to retrain secretaries, and yes it was painful - some secretaries took early retirement.
That was the situation that Nehemiah faced when he returned to Jerusalem. Not only were there enemies outside the Jewish community, there were also Jews, who had either not been in exile or who had returned from exile earlier who would have regarded Nehemiah as an interfering know-it-all. He must have been a person with exceptional leadership qualities.
Here is a rhetorical question; you do not have to answer it with your pet gripe about the church, but do you see organisational silos of fiefdoms in your church? Are you part of a "church silo"? Are these little domains of control really necessary?
Just enjoy the study guide lessons hoping to have more of them as we are waiting for the soon coming of the Lord
Nehemiah "was sent" by whom? On one hand we can say he was sent by the pagan king, but actually we know he was sent by the LORD who moved his heart when he heard of the plight of his homeland.
How does the LORD communicate with you and me? I have never heard actual words out loud from the LORD, but have heard His messages from His Word and from His messengers. When my heart is open to Him then often a passage in Scripture will have new meaning applicable to my current situation.
I would love to hear how the LORD had communicated with you.
Hi my Sister,
Over my lifetime, I have heard a still small voice many times. Sometimes, I would hear a voice calling my name, and like Samuel, I would go ask my husband if he called me and he would say no. I should have prayed like Eli told Samuel to do, but I didn't; I think I was busy cleaning the house on one of those occasions.
However, one time I heard the small voice and it told me to "wake up", and that saved my life. About a year and a half ago, I was very sick with a chronic cough for 11 long months, and the allergist had me on the Nebulizer machine. I had to do a thorough cleaning of the mouthpiece once a week, by either soaking it in vinegar, or boiling it for 5 minutes. Well, my cough was so bad that I could not sleep for more than an hour at a time. This day, I put the mouthpiece in a small glass pot of water on the stove, and then I went into the bedroom and lied down. In no time, I had quickly fallen asleep. I have no idea how long I was asleep, but I heard someone talking to me, "wake up, wake up". Did I mention that I was home alone. After hearing this voice a few times, I finally woke up. I opened the bedroom door, and the entire house, except for my bedroom, was covered with white smoke. I didn't see any fire or flames, but my mind finally woke up and I remember on had left something on the stove; so, I ran to the kitchen. In the kitchen, still no fire or flame, was a charred glass pot on the stove with the mouthpiece melted completely to ashes. I put the glass pot outside to cool down, it was ruin. I opened up all the windows and doors to get the white smoke out of the house.
I hate to think about what could have happened if I had not listened to that small voice, and didn't get up out of the bed. Still to this day, I can hardly believe that it happened to me, because again there was Zero white smoke in the bedroom. I believe to this day that the voice I heard was the Holy Spirit, He saved my life that day, and I'm glad I finally listened to Him. Unfortunately, I have not heard that small voice since that happened. However, next time I hear that small voice calling me name, I'm going to immediately pray and listen.
Thanks for reading my true story, and may God bless you all.
Nehemiah is sent by the king.
He is sent with an army escort.
He is sent with letters to each of the leaders in the province.
He is sent with the letters to request the necessary timber to rebuild the temple and the city gates.
Yet, the people were not going to make Nehemiah's life of rebuilding the temple any easier.
How important is planning?
Revolutionary War Soldiers - "Trust in God, but keep your powder dry."
Moses
Moses was undeniably a great man who faced opposition from both the Egyptians and the people he led out of Egypt.
Paul
Unbelievers (religious Jews included) sought to kill Paul and discredit him. Deceivers sought to undermine his authority in the church and mislead the people he was shepherding.
John the Baptist
John the Baptist faced opposition from two of the most powerful systems during his time: the religious system (the Pharisees) and the monarchy (Herod the tetrarch). Still, he did not waver in preaching repentance to people.
Certain people, like Martin Luther, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and William Wilberforce, have faced much hardship in fighting for what God has put in their hearts to fight.
Every reformation began in opposition.
2 Timothy 3:12 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Greetings and thanks for your succinct review of the daily lessons. It certainly helps with my study. May God continue to bless you.
JUST DO IT!
I know you have been touched, you have prayed, planned and talked about it. Now it's time to go out and do what needs to be done.
It is one thing to talk about a project, pray about it, plan and think about It and it is another thing to actually go out and do it.
Satan doesn't mind as long as all we do is to meet, talk, plan and pray but when we start to do something, he notices and fights back.
Opposition against Nehemiah did not come at feeling stage nor the four-month praying stage but at doing stage.
Hi Brother Cyrus,
May I read, to my Sabbath school class, what you written here? I will give you the credit by name. Your words are so true! We need to be doing more to finish the work that Jesus commissioned us to do; so, we all can say on one accord "Come Lord Jesus".
God blessings to you all
Hi Toni.
Just do it.
Nehemiah was sent - We were sent also - Matt 16:15. Go ye into all the world an preach the gospel ...
▪︎Nehemiah was given authority to pass through dangerous places. We were also given authority to traverse through dangerous places. "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you". Isa 43:2 (NLT)
▪︎Soldiers accompanied Nehemiah...Angels accompany us. "By personal labor reach those around you. Become acquainted with them. Preaching will not do the work that needs to be done. Angels of God attend you to the dwellings of those you visit" (Christian Service pg. 117).
▪︎Aid was made available to Nehemiah and is also available to us.
"We need to arouse to earnest effort now, while the angels of God are waiting to give their wonderful aid to all who will labor to arouse the consciences of men and women regarding righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come" (Evangelism pg. 33).
"Let this work go forward in the name of the Lord. Those who engage in it have the heavenly angels as their companions. They will resist the attacks made by the enemy on those who are co-operating with God" (Evangelism pg. 490).
▪︎Nehemiah went...well, most of us are still in the same position sitting down in church scratching ..humm waiting on what? I don't know!
"Let This Work Go Forward...Not only is the truth to be presented in public assemblies house-to-house work is to be done.....Those who engage in it have the heavenly angels as their companions. They will resist the attacks made by the enemy on those who are co-operating with God." (Evangelism pg 490)
Have a blessed day as ye go.