Conspiracy to Deceive
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Conspiracy to Deceive
Conspiracy to Deceive
1 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)
Neh 6.
1 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) 2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. 5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; 6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. 7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. 8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. 9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. 10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. 11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. 12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
The job is almost complete!
It a last ditched effort to stop the wall.
The kitchen sink is now being thrown
Fear up to this point failed
Lying failed
Intimidation failed
One more time
We know when the devil is prone to attack us, we can raise up our requests and calls for protection during these times. In essence, we can F.I.G.H.T back!
5 ways the Devil Loves To Attack Christ Followers...When they are:
Famished.
Nehemiah was famished and hurting!
If you are hungry for life and not filling up on God, you are prime meat.
If you are hungry for food and are feeling a little off kilter, you are a tasty choice.
If you are head in iPhone, not soaking in the love of God, you are often - toast.
Irritable.
If you are off-footed and nearly falling, even more the devil knows his punch will knock you out.
If you are in a bad mood, he knows you will open the door to his negativity.
Gullible.
If you are open to lies, he will feed them to you.
If you are willing to listen to pride, he will lure you to it.
If you are up for misunderstanding God, he will distort him to you.
Hurt.
If you are discouraged, he will lure you to quick-fixes.
If you are beaten in relationships, he will feed you bad words about the another person.
If you aren't seeking God, the devil will seek you and make you wonder if God is really good.
Tired.
If your mind is confused, he will confuse it some more.
If your will is weary, he will wear it down to its breaking point.
If people get testy, he will test your limits.
We can't blame everything on the devil. Nope. That would miss this thing called flesh () that works in its own self-serving way.
But, when the devil is at play, the fertile ground described above is primed soil ready for insecticide-ridden hands.
Yet, when left protected and guarded, God grows something new - it is called perseverance and determination.
I The First Scheme: Assassination Plot (6:1–4)
I The First Scheme: Assassination Plot (6:1–4)
1 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) 2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
neh 6
vs1 - wow almost done!
6:1–3. When … Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem (cf. 2:19), and other enemies heard that the wall was completed and that the only thing remaining was to set the doors in the gates, those “wall opponents” again attempted to halt the work.
See if he takes the bait!
This time they were more subtle; their sole object of attack was Nehemiah himself.
By removing him from the scene or by at least destroying his credibility with the Jews, they reasoned that they might be able to defeat the work.
Each of their three attacks on him was different, but each was designed to take his life or discredit his effectiveness as a leader.
This first attack was more subtle than the others.
Sanballat and Geshem invited Nehemiah to meet with them in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.
Lets go to a town one day away --- get him in our territory
The plain of Ono was named after the town of that name (cf. ; ; ; ).
It was near Lod about 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem, about 6 miles southeast of Joppa.
Ono was near the border of Samaria, Sanballat’s home province.
On the surface it appeared that Sanballat and his cohorts wanted to have a peace conference, but their hidden motive was to harm Nehemiah.
Nehemiah suspected foul play. Why would they want him a day’s journey away from Jerusalem?
Then he could not oversee the work, and by outnumbering him they might do him harm. Though he could not prove his enemies’ motives at the moment, he chose a method that would eventually demonstrate whether they were sincere.
vs 3 - He simply sent messengers to tell them he was involved in a great (important) project and could not leave it unsupervised. By responding in this way Nehemiah was not openly questioning their motives. In fact he was giving them an opportunity to prove their motives were sincere, if they had really wanted to make peace.
vs 3 - He simply sent messengers to tell them he was involved in a great (important) project and could not leave it unsupervised. By responding in this way Nehemiah was not openly questioning their motives. In fact he was giving them an opportunity to prove their motives were sincere, if they had really wanted to make peace.
vs 4 - many times the same answer .....
6:4. Sanballat and Geshem’s response tipped their hand. Rather than countering with an offer to meet with Nehemiah in Jerusalem, four times they sent … the same message and Nehemiah responded four times with his same refusal.
Just pull you away from God’s plan ------ get you in the devils Territory .....
Illustration - working on Sunday
Traveling too much
Going to Yemen
II The Second Scheme: Slander (6:5–9)
II The Second Scheme: Slander (6:5–9)
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; 6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. 7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. 8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. 9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
Just make up a lie and then watch him compromise.....
Note this is the 5th time they have come to him
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
vs 10 - day by day ------
6:5–7. When Nehemiah’s enemies realized he would not leave Jerusalem and meet with them, they tried another tactic. They put pressure on him, trying to force him to meet with them in the plain of Ono. Sanballat sent his servant to Nehemiah with an unsealed letter. The letter reported an alleged rumor that Nehemiah was trying to set himself up as the king of the Jews, which in turn would be a threat to Artaxerxes (the king).
This letter was insidious in several ways.
First, the letter made it seem as if they had Nehemiah’s welfare at heart. The letter implied that their reason for conferring with him was to protect him.
Second, and more basic to their motive, they were attempting to get Nehemiah to respond out of fear,
Third, the letter may have contained an element of truth. Possibly some well-meaning religious leader in Judah had interpreted Nehemiah’s presence as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah-King.
Not true lets proceed....
You made it up ......
8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. 9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
6:8–9. Nehemiah’s bold response demonstrated his trust in God. He outrightly denied the accusation. He told his fellow workers that the letter was designed to frighten them into thinking their wall-building would bring Artaxerxes’ wrath down on them. Then, as Nehemiah regularly did, he prayed, this time asking God for strength.[1]
6:8–9. Nehemiah’s bold response demonstrated his trust in God. He outrightly denied the accusation. He told his fellow workers that the letter was designed to frighten them into thinking their wall-building would bring Artaxerxes’ wrath down on them. Then, as Nehemiah regularly did, he prayed, this time asking God for strength.[1]
How many lies have stopped God’s work?
2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. 3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; And fought against me without a cause. 4 For my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer.
don't believe it!
romans 16.17-18
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
III The Third Scheme: Treachery (6:10–14)
III The Third Scheme: Treachery (6:10–14)
Hire an imposter or use someone close to him that he will trust....
9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.
It was no secret that Nehemiah was a devout man and one who feared the Word of the Lord.
Just get him to compromise one time - then he will loses all credibility
So false prophets were hired to trick him into sinning and incurring God’s displeasure.
A Jew named Shemaiah, who was a secret informer for the enemy, warned Nehemiah about a supposed plot on his life and suggested that the governor accompany him into the temple for safety. Nehemiah saw through the prophet’s ruse.
God’s Word forbade any but the priests to enter the temple. Nehemiah would rather lose his life than violate the law.
And so Sanballat’s third scheme fell harmlessly to the ground.[1]
6:10. Persisting in their evil planning, Nehemiah’s enemies then tried to destroy his credibility by luring him into the temple. They hired Shemaiah, a man “on the inside,” to propose a solution to Nehemiah.
6:10. Persisting in their evil planning, Nehemiah’s enemies then tried to destroy his credibility by luring him into the temple. They hired Shemaiah, a man “on the inside,” to propose a solution to Nehemiah.
Claiming to be a prophet, he purposely locked himself in his house, supposedly from some debility or ritual defilement, and sent word for Nehemiah to visit him. Perhaps Shemaiah devised an urgent situation that would arouse Nehemiah’s curiosity.
Shemaiah must have been a man Nehemiah trusted, for it would have been illogical for him to meet secretly with someone he did not trust.
When Nehemiah arrived, Shemaiah suggested they meet in the temple behind closed doors. He pretended to be protecting Nehemiah from would-be nighttime assassins.
Anythings that stops the wall is not of God!
Maybe a familiar friend
6:11–14. Nehemiah discerned two flaws in Shemaiah’s so-called prophecy.
First, God would hardly ask Nehemiah to run when the project on the walls was nearing completion.
Second, no true prophet would ask someone to violate God’s Law. Only priests were allowed in the sanctuary (; ).
If Nehemiah, not being a priest, entered the temple, he would have desecrated it and brought himself under God’s judgment.
He would not disobey God to try to gain safety from his enemies.
Nehemiah was convinced that Shemaiah was a false prophet, employed by Tobiah and Sanballat to trick him. If the governor had entered the temple and lived, his people would know he disregarded God’s commands.
Once again Nehemiah prayed, this time that God would remember (see comments on ) his enemies and judge them for their evil scheming. In this imprecation he also included the Prophetess Noadiah, mentioned only here, who with other false prophets was seeking to intimidate him.[1]
9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.
The last ditch effort failed!
What will the devil get you to do to stop?