1 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. 5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” 8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
The wall was complete and had no gaps in it. Doors still needed to be set up in the gates but the city was secure. Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem and their cronies had to change tact. Their jeers and accusations wouldn’t work anymore because the building was near completion. They now turned to a series of personal attacks on Nehemiah. Their first attempt was on him personally. They invited him to a meeting but he recognised their intentions and declined the meeting citing the important work he was doing as a reason. They sent four messages trying to get him to come to their “meeting”. The fifth time, Sanballat changed to an attack on Nehemiah’s character. Instead of a sealed letter intended for Nehemiah’s eyes only, this time he sent an open letter. This meant that the letter could be read by anyone and everyone along the way. What he wrote reveals that his intentions were to smear his name. He accused Nehemiah of planning a revolt by the Jews and that he intended to become their king. The accusation included that Nehemiah had setup up [false] prophets to proclaim his kingship. Nehemiah denied the accusation. He knew their intentions were still to get them to stop the work and he would not let that happen. Instead, he prayed that God would strengthen his hands.
Nehemiah gives us a solid procedure for dealing with false accusation. Calmly deny the accusation, focus on the work God has given you to do, and trust God to help you get His work done. Accusations will come but if you live a life above reproach then at the right time God will vindicate you.