No one likes being intimidated or threatened. But these weapons have always been used by the unscrupulous to get what they wanted.

“The Klan had used fear, intimidation and murder to brutally oppress African-Americans who sought justice and equality and it sought to respond to the young workers of the civil rights movement in Mississippi in the same way.”

- Charles Russel

DIG

The enemies of the Jews had no interest in seeing them reestablish themselves in Jerusalem. In the aftermath of the exile, which saw the removal from Jerusalem of the best and the brightest, the populace limped along. Into this power vacuum stepped men like Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab. They enjoyed the wealth and influence that came to them with the Jewish citizens at their mercy… and had no intentions of relinquishing their power. They immediately marked Nehemiah as a man to be destroyed.

• When Sanballat and Tobiah heard about Nehemiah’s efforts, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites (2:10).
• Sanballat and Tobiah saw the work of rebuilding the wall and accused the Jews of rebellion against the king. (2:19).
• Sanballat became very angry and incensed at the efforts of the Jews to rebuild the wall (4:1).
• Sanballat and Tobiah mocked and ridiculed the efforts to rebuild (4:2-5).
• When the mocking fell on deaf ears, this bunch plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it (4:7-8).

Let not him who is homeless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own will be safe from violence when built. ? Abraham Lincoln

Nehemiah 6:1-14 tells the account of the relentlessness of Sanballat & Co. They continue their campaign of harassment and intimidation, and despite their pressure, Nehemiah refuses to back down. Consider a few questions:

• Was the offer to meet Nehemiah at a neutral site to talk made in good faith? Had Nehemiah accepted, what likely would’ve happened?
• Why is Nehemiah’s answer (6:3) to Sanballat an example we should follow today?
• Do you see any parallels between the charge Sanballat made against Nehemiah (6:5-7). And the charges made against Jesus (John 19:12)?
• How is Nehemiah’s response different than that of Jesus?
• How does prayer help Nehemiah in this battle of intimidation?

From this discussion, what are those things you feel compelled to pray about?

Pray about these matters one by one and bring them before your Heavenly Father.