Wise Master Builder #12 | A War of Nerves

Introduction 

Have you ever had to answer difficult questions from someone? A teacher, boss, coach, or parent? Your palms get sweaty. Your stomach is trying to do it’s version of an Olympic figure skating routine. Your tongue inflates to the size of a watermelon. What if you could flip a switch and turn off the nerves entirely? What if, in all of life’s trials and tribulations, in the face of evil, in the face of fear you could not flinch? Nehemiah demonstrates such faith.

The Text

And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? […]
Nehemiah 2:1ff

Summary of the Text

After four months of praying for a ripe opportunity (1:1 & 11), Nehemiah is presented with a chance to bring his request to the king (v1). Nehemiah’s sad countenance catches the king’s attention (v2), and though fearful (v2), Nehemiah respectfully explains to Darius the sorrow weighing him down, and he shrewdly describes his ancestral city as being in ruins (v3). The king invites Nehemiah to make a request; and Nehemiah breathes out a prayer to God (v4). He then makes his great request to be deputized to rebuild a city in Judah (v5). The king has one last question: how long would he be without Nehemiah’s services (v6)? The narrative goes out of its way to inform us that this interview between Darius and Nehemiah took place in the presence of the queen. What queen would be significant for the Jews? Well, Esther of course! Having detailed a timeframe for his absence, Nehemiah asked for authentication papers to show in case he were challenged, and the king granted this request, because God’s hand was upon Nehemiah (vv7-8).

Accompanied by some soldiers, Nehemiah made his way to Jerusalem, much to the chagrin of two powerful neighbors (vv9-10). Upon arriving, Nehemiah undertook to survey the damage; but did so at night so as not to tip his hand (vv11-16). Presumably, the next day Nehemiah lays his plans before the Jews. The condition of Jerusalem is a real disgrace to God’s people (v17). But Nehemiah doesn’t simply rub the disgrace in their face, he offers real hope, for God’s hand is good and this is manifest in the king’s commission for Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem (v18). Thus heartened, the people respond, “Let us rise and build.” 

Now that Nehemiah’s mission is made public, the Jews’ enemies begin what one commentator vividly called “the war of nerves” (v19). Who would flinch? Nehemiah responds to their threats with a stunning retort. First, God (not merely king Darius) would prosper the Jews, therefore they are going to rise and build (v20). Secondly, these enemies have no portion (past), nor right (present), nor memorial (future) in this city of peace.

Nehemiah’s Enemies

We meet three principle opponents in this book: Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian. All three are attested in different extra-Biblical sources. Sanballat is mentioned in a papyri as governor of Samaria. Tobiah’s name is well-recorded in various papyri around and after the time of Nehemiah. Lastly, Geshem (or Gashmu) was likely the most powerful of the three, but the least personally involved. His name is inscribed on a silver vessel donated to a goddess, it identifies him as the king of Qedar.

Sanballat’s name is Babylonian (Sin-uballit) and means “the moon god (Sin) gives life”; but we find in the aforementioned papyri that he gave his sons Jewish names (Delaiah, Shelemiah), and later in Nehemiah (13:28) we find Joiada (the son of the High Priest) marries Sanballat’s daughter. Similarly, Tobiah (whose name is very Hebrew and means God is good) has clear ties with the Jews through his son’s marriage (6:18), and through some sort of marital alliance with the High Priest Eliashib (13:4). Despite these Jewish connections, Nehemiah’s record heaps scorn upon Tobiah, calling him “the servant, the Ammonite”.

A Lion Skin in the Hands of an Ape

Given the letters from the king, these enemies could not easily oppose Nehemiah’s work without openly opposing King Darius. So, they resort to intimidation tactics. We will see a variety of ways that they oppose the work. In this chapter we learn a few things about the disposition of the enemies of God’s people. They are grieved be Nehemiah coming to seek the welfare of the children of Israel (2:10). It is their desire to see God’s people in misery, dependent on them, and easily manipulated. But when they hear Nehemiah’s full purpose, they laugh it to scorn while introducing the notion that Nehemiah was in rebellion to the king. Make the accusation, see if it sticks.

But more to the point, the toxin of idolatrous marriages which Ezra sought to reform and remedy (Ezra 9-10) is revealed here in ugly detail. These men will repeatedly connive to undermine and thwart the good work of God. But the lethal nature of their threat is that they parade under the banner of union to God’s people, while bearing the rotten fruit of their moral compromise. The most pernicious danger within the church, both ancient and modern, is found in those who arise from within the people of God only to lead others into error, idolatry, and sin (1 Jn. 2:19, Acts 20:30). The warning here is to beware of those who wear Christianity like a skin-suit, but who are ravening lions seeking to destroy your soul. They are, as Jude says, empty clouds. They are like the donkey draped in a lion’s skin in Lewis’ The Last Battle.

Sinful men are grieved by the good work which God in His providence brings about. Thus, they strive to mock it, and to weaken the hands of the people. Instead of coddling these voices, Nehemiah gives us the proper response to such men: you have no portion, no right, and no memorial in this work. To break with such men is to hide yourself under the good hand of God.

Faith in the Midst of Fear 

Despite fearfully high stakes, Nehemiah acts in faith. We see this faith in his quick prayer before the king interrogates him. We see it in his moonlit ride around Jerusalem to survey its damage. We see it in his frank rebuke of the residents of Jerusalem. We see it in his defiance of his enemies.

Not for the last time will we see shadows of Christ in Nehemiah. Nehemiah surveys the ruined walls of Jerusalem, mourning over it at midnight, as Christ would one day agonize in Gethsemane over the price to be paid for the restoration of mankind through His sufferings. In the brightness of the morning Nehemiah reveals that God’s good hand was upon Him, and by this word the people are inspired to reply, “Let us rise up and build.” The Psalmist foreseeing the sunshine of Christ wrote this, “Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself (Psa 80:17).”

Make no mistake, Jerusalem in ruins really is a shame. Christendom is in shambles right now. The evangelical church has far too many instances of glorying in our shame. Like Nehemiah, we are to survey it, offer up our plans of restoration to God, and then get busy with the hard work. But for each of us as individuals, all you bring to God is a pile of rubble. But Christ is not content to leave you as a pile of rubble. Earthly rulers may ply you with their questions. Wicked men may assail you. The idleness of the saints may discourage you. But you must live in the daylight of God’s Word. He has set His hand upon you in Christ, and you are summoned to reply: I will arise and build.

Charge and Benediction

What hard thing have you been putting off? Is it a hard conversation? Is it an act of obedience you’ve been delaying? Is it a sin you’ve been coddling? Do not flinch in fear any longer. Look at the ruined walls & gates of Christendom, and of your own life, and say in faith, “I will arise and build.”

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14