Stand Your Ground...

When I read Nehemiah chapter 6 I can’t help but think, “this is so relevant in today’s society”. Think about all the agendas being pushed onto us by unbelievers. Pro-choice, same-sex marriage, blending restroom usage, homophobia, marijuana legalization, anti-President speech, women’s rights, sexual abuse, and on and on and on. If people don’t agree with the agenda pusher’s stance, they are called names, plotted evil against, intimidated, and slandered. The agenda pushers will stop at nothing to rid society of truth; or at least truth seekers. Nehemiah faced this exact thing. He was slandered, named called, intimidated, and even had some of his own people turned against him. His life was threatened, and he was almost deceived by a fellow Jew into going into the Temple for protection. How did he respond? He stood his ground. He knew he sided with the truth. He knew this was God’s will (to build the wall). He knew that if he stood on the truth that God would fight for him. And it all came true. It wasn’t easy, it never is, but when we decide in our hearts to side with God, we will make it through. In today’s society we must have Nehemiah’s resolve. We must take it all to God. That way when the opposition comes, and it will come, we will be able to stand on solid ground. Regardless of what society tries to convince us to be true, God’s truth never changes. And that is comforting to know. Through all the name-calling, intimidation, and threatening that agenda pushers might bestow upon us, there’s one thing they don’t have on their side; Truth. And that Truth, being the ground on which we stand, sets us free. We are battling a spiritual battle, not one of flesh and blood. Stand firm in your faith, and God will protect you, by doing the fighting for you.

1 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained–though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono.But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3 so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. 5 The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, 6 and this is what it said: “There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. 7 He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’“You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.” 8 I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.”9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.10 Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.”11 But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!” 12 I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me. 14 Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me. The Builders Complete the Wall 15 So on October 2 the wall was finished–just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.17 During those fifty-two days, many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and the nobles of Judah. 18 For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him because his father-in-law was Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 They kept telling me about Tobiah’s good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me. Nehemiah 6