Sermon Tone Analysis

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So, before this Sunday, please read the following: , , , .

Next, ask yourself these questions, "The last time you felt intimidated by another individual, what was your initial reaction?"

and "The last time you didn't get your way, would you say you resorted to intimidation to get your way?"

“Overcoming Intimidation”

“Overcoming Intimidation”

This morning we will take time to go thru the first 14 verses in chapter 6 of would like us to walk away from this with a better understanding of how the enemy will use intimidation to derail God’s plan for our lives.

My prayer is that we will also be armed with the Trust and Complete Rest in Christ to then thwart Satan’s agenda.

We will learn these principles, these patterns to follow by Nehemiah’s example in these first 14 verses.

We will also look at what we have “open” in our lives…either Gates or Letters.

You’ll see where this goes when we land at the end.

Just please keep this idea, “What’s Open in your life today?”

Who would like to read?

Thanks...

Now, let’s get a Historical and Cultural Background on these verse:

The precise location proposed by the enemies for a meeting with Nehemiah in 6:2 is uncertain.

Where the CSB has “villages” (following the reading of the Septuagint and Vulgate), Hebrew manuscripts have the name of a currently unknown town, “Kephirim.”

The plain of Ono itself was probably at the edge or just outside of the Judean territory where Nehemiah was in charge ().

It was close to Samaria.

A meeting there would have required a day’s journey for Nehemiah.

Thus, accepting their proposal would have been time consuming and might have made it easier for them to harm him physically.

Now...Before we break down the scriptures to see what this all means, I would like us to get a foundation by understanding the definition of Intimidation.

Before we break down the scriptures to see what this all means, I would like us to get a foundation by understanding the definition of Intimidation.

Intimidation: To inspire fear or shame in an individual for personal emotional gain.

To make one fearful or shameful by intentional actions.

Let’s start with “Intimidation Attempted” starting in verse 1 thru 9

6:1 No gap was left...I had not installed the doors.

What “Door” is being left open to allow intimidation to occur in your life today?

I don’t expect an answer right now, but as we see, those wanting to inspire shame or fear in our lives will look for the opening that we neglect to secure.

We’ll come back to this picture.

6:3  I am doing important work and cannot come down.

Although Nehemiah perceives that the enemies intend to harm him (v.

2), his response attributes to them neither that motive nor a desire to stop the work.

Instead he simply and honestly states that his priority is to continue the work without delay.

Question: “Do you have a tendency to ‘Overreact’ or ‘Interact’ when someone makes a statement you don’t agree with or know is one of malice?”

Nehemiah 6:5-

6:5  an open letter.

The point of the unsealed or open letter is to ensure that the rumors contained in it become public knowledge and that Nehemiah knows they will.

The hope is that he will be alarmed enough to meet with the enemies to try to stop the rumors from reaching the king.

Question: “How often are you affected by ‘Gossip?’” Better question, “How often are you holding an ‘Open Letter?’”

6:5  an unsealed letter.

The point of the unsealed letter is to ensure that the rumors contained in it become public knowledge and that Nehemiah knows they will.

The hope is that he will be alarmed enough to meet with the enemies to try to stop the rumors from reaching the king.

Matthew 5:

We need to stop our selfishness and camp building.

What “Open Letter” are you still holding to intimidate the one who has offended you?

6:6  It is reported.

The enemies have been informed of the progress on the wall, but in response they launch a misinformation campaign to get Nehemiah into trouble.

The point is to use lies to put a false and damaging spin on what actually is true.

They intend that when others, including the king, hear that the wall has been rebuilt, it will make the falsely slanted impression that serves the enemies’ purposes.

Although Nehemiah has obtained support from the king for this project, attempted rebellions within the Persian Empire were not unusual.

The satrap of Syria had even led a revolt not more than five years before Nehemiah traveled to Jerusalem.

It would have seemed at least possible that Nehemiah was leading a revolt.

6:6  It is reported.

The Hebrew word translated “is reported” is the same word translated “came” in verse 1 and “get back” in verse 7. The enemies have been informed of the progress on the wall, but in response they launch a misinformation campaign to get Nehemiah into trouble.

The point is to use lies to put a false and damaging spin on what actually is true.

They intend that when others, including the king, hear that the wall has been rebuilt, it will make the falsely slanted impression that serves the enemies’ purposes.

Although Nehemiah has obtained support from the king for this project, attempted rebellions within the Persian Empire were not unusual.

The satrap of Syria had even led a revolt not more than five years before Nehemiah traveled to Jerusalem.

It would have seemed at least possible that Nehemiah was leading a revolt.

So we’ve seen “Intimidation Attempted” and how did that work out?

Now, let’s close with these last 5 verses “Imitation Thwarted!”

6:9  They will drop their hands.

This idiom refers to inner state rather than physical strength.

The enemies expect that the Judeans will become discouraged and unmotivated.

The same expression was behind “discourage” in , where the enemies of the Judeans were successful in preventing them from rebuilding.

The enemies hope to stop the process once again.

6:9  Their hands will get too weak.

This idiom refers to inner state rather than physical strength.

The enemies expect that the Judeans will become discouraged and unmotivated.

The same expression was behind “discourage” in , where the enemies of the Judeans were successful in preventing them from rebuilding.

The enemies hope to stop the process once again.

But I prayed.

These words are not in the Hebrew text, but since the words of Nehemiah that follow sound as though they are addressed to God, most English translations indicate in some way that Nehemiah prays at this point.

The parallel structure of 6:1–9 and 6:10–14 also favors this interpretation.

Each begins with a general description of the situation, followed by a report of the enemies’ scheme, Nehemiah’s response, and a statement that the point of the scheme was intimidation.

then concludes its section with a prayer.

A prayer at the corresponding place in 6:9 maintains the pattern.

strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah asks God to produce the exact opposite of the result the enemies seek.

This idiom denotes motivation and determination.

Instead of being intimidated, Nehemiah wants to have courage.

This continues the theme of the Judean community needing to be strong as they carry out their role in the process of restoration (; ).