to meet with them at a point some distance away so they could settle their differences at a friendly con ference. When this scheme failed, Sanballat proceeded to pen an “open letter” (w . 5-9). When he sent the fifth time for Nehemiah, his servant brought this “open letter” —a com munication in some way made open to the public, so that not only Nehe miah but everyone in the city of Jerusalem could read it. Nehemiah immediately answered Sanballat, writing him bluntly that the whole story was a fabrication concocted by Sanballat himself. Thus in various ways these enemies tried to terrorize the faithful Jews into discontinuing their work. Nehemiah closes the paragraph with one of his brief but fervent prayers: “Now therefore, 0 God, strengthen my hands” (v. 9). Before the wall was finished, one final attempt was made by the ad versaries to thwart the work (w\ 10-14). One of the Jews, claiming to be a prophet, advised Nehemiah that he had received a prophecy which indicated an attempt would be made that night on his (Nehe- miah’s) life. Later Nehemiah dis cerned that Shemaiah was not a true prophet at all, but actually had been hired by Tobiah to attempt to inti midate Nehemiah into committing the sin of unlawfully entering the holy place. Again a brief prayer uttered by Nehemiah is recorded (v. 14). He prayed that God would reward these evil deceivers “according to ¿¿¿hese their works.” Other prophets are mentioned (and also a prophetess, Noadiah), who evidently also were bribed to terrorize Nehemiah. The completion of the wall is re corded in verses 15, 16. Despite all the cunning opposition, the work was finally finished in slightly less than two months. Critics of the Bible have asserted that this period of time is too brief to be credible. However, it must not be overlooked that the peo- 31
residents and visiting Jews from other lands. In this connection Nehe- miah describes the amount of food he used for such a purpose. But de spite all this he still did not take anything from the people for him self, knowing that their taxes to Persia were heavy. Nehemiah was evidently a man of independen t wealth at the time he first came to Jerusalem. All of the things he did PRAYER FOR A NEW HOUSE Walk through the rooms of this house, dear Lord, Making them fair and sweet; May every wall know the touch of Thy hand, Each floor the print of Thy feet. Help us to look through Thine eyes, dear Lord, To stand at our windows and see Not commonplace people who walk the streets, But souls who have need of Thee. Kindle a fire on our hearth, dear Lord, Warming all who may come. Build Thou an altar where prayer shall arise, For prayer is the heart of the home. Sit at our table with us, dear Lord, Making each meal a feast, Breaking the bread and pouring the drink, Our Host and our Guest and our Priest. Dwell in the rooms of our house, dear Lord; Making them sweet and fair. Till even the people passing will say, "The blessed Lord Jesus lives there!" — Martha Snell Nicholson were not because he sought the praise of men, but rather because he desired to please the Lord. “Think upon me, my God, for good” (v. 19). When all the breaks in the wall finally had been closed and the time for the gates to be fastened in was drawing near, once more the ene mies attempted to hinder the work by deceit. They invited Nehemiah
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