We'll begin our worship this evening. We're going to sing to God's praise.
We're singing in Psalm 119 in the Scottish Psalter version, page 413.
We're going to sing from verse 153.
Psalm 119, the 20th section of the psalm, at verse 153.
Psalm 119 is a psalm that speaks about the centrality, the importance of God's Word,
how when we turn away from it, we go astray, but the blessing of always seeking to listen to the Word of God and live out the Word of God.
So Psalm 119 at verse 153.
Consider mine affliction. In safety do me set. Deliver me, O Lord, for I thy law do not forget.
After thy word, revive thou me. Save me and plead my cause.
Salvation is from sinners far, for they seek not thy laws.
We'll sing this section down to verse 160, and the tune is Martyrdom.
Consider mine affliction.
Salvation is from sinners far, for they seek not thy law do not forget.
For they seek not thy law do not forget.
God forbid.
After
thy word
they
hide
thou me.
Save me
and lead
my cause.
Salvation
is
of
sinners
by
our
ways
seek not
thy
love.
O
Lord,
bold
and
magnified
thy
tender
ne'er
she's
be.
According
to
thy
judgment
just
be
my
and
will be.
be.
By
persecutors
many
are
and
fools
shall
do
and
love.
God
do
Your righteous God, is there the one forevermore endure?
Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer. Let us pray.
Amen.
The regular routines of the rest of the week, whether it be the busyness of work or just generally life,
or the many other things that go on around us from a day-to-day basis,
we thank you that there is a day where the purpose is to rest and to refresh ourselves in your presence and with your people.
And we thank you that the activity of worship, as it is aware, is to be something that is alive and something that blesses us in our hearts.
for we come to meet with you as our Lord and as our God.
We come to see that you are one who is alive,
one whose words are alive,
one who gives life and who gives life abundantly.
And we thank you for every blessing that is ours.
We have them all around us, Lord.
We have them within us.
We have the ones that we see around us,
but we have so many that are even unseen to us.
But as your word reminds us that there are blessings that are ours through Christ.
And we thank you that he is the cornerstone for all our hope,
that he is the one who we look to,
the one who we long for,
to know him more, to serve him more,
to honour him more.
For he has done all for us.
As we remembered even last weekend,
as we gathered around the Lord's table,
as we took part in the sacrament of the Lord's supper,
as we were around your word,
we were reminded of what has been done for us by him,
that you sent your son into this world
to seek and to save sinners.
We were reminded of his coming this morning,
as we heard of the name that was given.
You shall call his name Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.
And so we thank you for your great purpose
in sending your son.
And even as he gave,
and gave ultimately his life,
we thank you too that this is a day that reminds us
that he is risen.
And that even as we pray,
we pray in his name and for his sake,
that we come knowing that he ever lives,
as your word says,
and that he will return
to take his people to himself.
We thank you too for the promise
of your Holy Spirit,
the Comforter,
the one who was promised in your word
that would come alongside,
and the one who is still that promise
to us all today,
that we have one who is not just alongside,
but within,
that we can know the power of the Holy Spirit
leading us into your word
and into your truth,
showing us ourselves,
but above all,
showing us you,
as the God who is a God of great compassion
and a great love towards his people.
And we thank you that we have your word
to show us just how precious it is,
the word we have before us
in a world that seeks after its own truth,
even makes up its own truth.
We thank you that your word is truth,
that we have sung of it even in this psalm.
We are reminded of the dangers
of not keeping your word,
but we thank you too
that there is power in your word,
and we pray that for every one of us
we may be able to say,
as the psalmist said,
see how I love thy law,
see how I love your word
and how rich it is to us,
and we pray that we will always be hungry
for your word,
to learn more from it,
and not just learn it,
but to apply it to our lives,
to live the truths that we find in it,
that we would live them out.
As we see your promises,
as we see your challenges to us,
Lord, help us to have listening ears
to understand what you are saying to us.
But we thank you that your word
does indeed endure forever,
that from the beginning
all your word has been most true and sure,
as we have sung,
and that we can come to it anew this evening,
and that your people all over the world today,
and whatever hour of day it is
where your people meet even now,
that your people hear your word,
that it is true and sure
in a world that is so often filled
with so much chaos.
And we pray that throughout the world
your word will bear much fruit,
that people will hear it
and rejoice in it,
that it will be the salvation
of sinners throughout all ends of the earth.
And that for ourselves here tonight
and for all who are at home and listening
and for all who may be tuning in
at a later point,
O Lord,
that your word will be blessed to each of us,
that as we read it and share from it,
your voice will be truly heard,
that you would speak into our hearts,
reminding us, Lord,
that you are the God of truth
and a God of hope.
So bless us together, we pray, Lord,
and remember us in our different needs,
in our homes, in our families,
in our communities at this time.
We know for so many, O Lord,
that going through different trials in life
just now is hard for so many,
that there are people who are struggling
in different ways.
And we pray, Lord,
that you will always help us
to have our eyes open,
not to be like those
who walked past
the one who had been robbed on the way
as Jesus spoke the parable
of the good Samaritan.
They rushed by the one who was beaten
and bruised at the side of the road
because they had other things
that were seemingly more important,
but help us to have
the heart of the good neighbor,
the good Samaritan.
although he saw one
who was perhaps foreign to him,
yet he showed compassion
and he loved him.
And we pray, Lord,
that that's how we would see
people all around us as well,
that we would see them
as those made in your image,
those who are made by you
and who all have the need,
everyone does,
the need of a Savior,
Christ Jesus.
And so, Lord,
give us that heart
to reach out,
to reach out with the good news,
to reach out in compassion,
to reach out in love,
and to share with all around us
the hope that is Jesus Christ.
We pray, Lord,
that in every endeavor we have,
even in this coming week,
that we will be seeking
to do just that,
to share a hope like no other,
to share the one
who is a friend
that stays closer
than any brother,
to share the good news
of the gospel.
And so we pray
that as we join together,
even in different times
throughout this week,
whether it's in times
of prayer and worship,
whether it's at the 55 plus
on Friday,
whether it's through
the work among our young people
at Explorers or Toddlers
or the Christmas Club,
that in every endeavor, Lord,
we would seek
to share the gospel,
the good news,
with all we see around us.
But may you bless us, Lord,
in all of these things,
that as we prayerfully prepare
for the week ahead,
that you would go before us in it,
that you would give strength,
that you would help us
in every task,
in every duty,
to do all as unto the Lord.
That everywhere we go
and whatever place
we represent you,
whether it's before
brothers and sisters in Christ
or whether it's before
people in our workplaces
or homes
or even the strangers
we see around us,
that we would seek
to reflect the beauty of Christ
and to show him.
So, Lord, we pray
all these things,
acknowledging our dependence
upon you
and our need of you.
We pray, too, Lord,
for the seminary
in Edinburgh at this time
as well
and all the students.
Remember this period
of exams
just now
in our seminary.
We pray that all the students
who are sitting exams
and finishing coursework
just now for this session,
that they will be
upheld by you
and strengthened by you
in it.
We pray for Scott
as he will go away
tomorrow for the week.
We pray for safety
and travel.
We pray for him
as he sits his exams
in this coming week,
that you will give him
clarity of thought
and mind,
that you would uphold him
and strengthen him for it,
that you would guide him
throughout this week
to know that you are with him,
that you will uphold him,
that you will keep him.
We pray for Fiona
and the girls, too,
in the busyness of a week
without him at home.
We pray, Lord,
that you will bless them
and all the family together
at this time, Lord,
that you will be near to them.
And as we pray that for them,
we pray it for ourselves
as families, too, Lord,
that together we would
encourage one another,
strengthen one another,
and remember one another.
Remember those who are
grieving at this time, too, Lord.
We know that throughout
our communities,
week by week
and even sometimes
day by day,
the pain of grief
comes into our midst
and it's a pain
like no other.
It is unnatural for us
because it is an enemy
in this world.
And yet we pray
for you to comfort,
for you to give help,
and as your word says
that you will bind up
the brokenhearted,
we pray that many people
will know the real truth
of that,
that you are a God
who is able to comfort,
to strengthen,
and to uphold.
So surround us, Lord,
we pray,
and go before us
tonight and in all
the days ahead.
We commit ourselves
into your hands
asking for your help,
for your blessing,
for your peace
to be with us,
asking forgiveness
for all our sins
as we confess them anew.
In the name of our Lord
and Savior,
we ask all these things
and for his glory.
Amen.
Well, let's sing again
to God's praise.
This time in the Sing Psalms
version of Psalm 14.
We'll find this on page 15
of the Psalm books.
Psalm 14.
We'll sing the whole
of this Psalm
on page 15.
Psalm 14.
This is a Psalm
that speaks about
the one who says
in his heart
that there is no God
and the Word describes
this person
as the fool
and we do want
to be foolish
to say
there is no God
because the Word
of God,
the truth of God
makes it clear
that he has made
all things
and that we are
accountable to him.
So the fool
speaks in his heart.
There is no God,
he says.
They are corrupt,
but their deeds
are vile,
none walk
in godly ways.
But then we sing
at the end of the Psalm,
may help from Sion come,
the Lord
his captive spring,
and then let Jacob's
tribes rejoice,
let Israel
gladly sing.
We'll sing the whole
of this Psalm
the tune of Selma
and we sing
to God's praise.
Amen.
O heaven, of all the human race,
to see him may he understand
if may he see all things.
We all have turned aside,
all of them have become.
Not one of them does any good,
no, not a single one.
Will sinners never learn,
my people get deeper,
as if they were once to be laid,
they may not seek the Lord.
Strong doubt they are with them,
our God is without us.
Purely, the loomer,
in the blue,
but in the Lord they trust.
We have from Zion come,
the Lord is now dead free,
and let let the hope's right rejoice,
let Israel have we sing.
We'll turn to read together now
in the book of Nehemiah
and the Old Testament.
The book of Nehemiah,
we're reading in chapter 6 together this evening.
You'll find it around page 479
in the church Bibles.
Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job.
So Nehemiah chapter 6,
as we continue our study in this book,
where we've seen it's not just
about the work of building the wall of Jerusalem,
that's going on,
but that's not really the major lesson
that we're taking from it,
because it's a reminder to us
that in the work of the Lord
that there are many challenges for us,
as Nehemiah faced up
to so many challenges along the way.
And we see again more challenges
that he faces here in chapter 6,
and just how he deals with these challenges
is really what we want to focus on.
So we'll read together in Nehemiah chapter 6
from the beginning of the chapter,
reading down into chapter 7.
Now when Simballat 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.
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me,
saying,
Come, and let us meet together
at HaKepharim in the plain of Ono.
But they intended to do me harm,
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 have it,
while I leave it,
and come down to you?
And they sent to me four times
in the same manner.
In the same way,
Simballat for the fifth time
sent his servant to me
with an open letter in his hand.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah,
the son of Deliah,
son of Methabal,
who was confined to his home,
he said,
Let us meet together in the house of God,
within the temple.
Let us close the doors of the temple,
for they are coming to kill you.
They are coming to kill you by night.
But I said,
Should such a man as I run away,
and what man such as I
could go into the temple and live?
I will not go in.
And I understood and saw
that God had not sent him,
but he had pronounced the prophecy against me,
because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
For this purpose he was hired,
that I should be afraid
and act in this way and sin,
and so they could give me a bad name
in order to taunt me.
Remember Tobiah and Sanballat,
O my God,
according to these things that they did,
and also the prophetess Nadiah
and the rest of the prophets
who wanted to make me afraid.
So the wall was finished
on the twenty-fifth day
of the month Elul,
in fifty-two days.
And when all our enemies heard of it,
all the nations around us
were afraid and fell greatly
in their own esteem,
for they perceived that this work
had been accomplished
with the help of our God.
Moreover, in those days,
the nobles of Judah
sent many letters to Tobiah,
and Tobiah's letters came to them.
For many in Judah
were bound by oath to him,
because he was the son-in-law
of Shekaniah,
the son of Ara.
And his son Jehonanan
had taken the daughter
of Mesushalim,
the son of Berchiah,
as his wife.
Also they spoke of his good deeds
in my presence
and reported my words to him.
And Tobiah sent letters
to make me afraid.
Now when the wall had been built
and I had set up the doors
and the gatekeepers,
the singers,
and the Levites
had been appointed,
I gave my brother Hanani
and Hananiah,
the governor of the castle,
charge over Jerusalem,
for he was a more faithful
and God-fearing man
than many.
And I said to them,
let not the gates of Jerusalem
be opened until the sun is hot.
And while they are still
standing guard,
let them shut and bar the doors.
Appoint the guards
from among the inhabitants
of Jerusalem,
some at their guard posts
and some in front
of their own homes.
The city was wide and large,
but the people within it
were few
and no houses
had been rebuilt.
And so on.
And may God bless that reading
from his word.
Before we turn back
to look at this passage,
we'll again sing together
to God's praise.
Again in Psalm 119,
but this time
in the Sing Psalms version,
page 157.
We're singing the section
from verse 9
down to verse 16.
Four stanzas.
The tune is
Head and Gate.
Again, this psalm,
as I said,
reminds us of the importance
of God's word.
And here this section
speaks of
the young ones,
really.
How can the young
keep their life pure?
So as we think of this,
we see the word of God
is for everyone,
young and old alike.
And the command
is there for us,
even from our young days,
to keep the word of God
by listening
to what the word does
and not to be
led astray,
as it were,
by so many of the lies
and temptations
of this world.
So we'll sing this section,
verse 9 to 16,
to God's praise.
Amen.
How can the young
keep their life pure?
By doing what
you're working must,
I see you with my heart and soul,
let me not stray from your command.
Your word I've laid in my heart
To keep me from
hope and in you
Praise be to you,
O Lord my God,
teach me your
Sagittarius,
learn my truth,
each love proceeding
from your heart,
I gladly with my lips
have told,
I love to follow you
from us,
as others
love to count their gold.
I meditate upon your ways,
And all your
precepts I repay,
I take delight
in your decrees,
Your word I never will
be paid.
Amen.
Let's turn back to our reading
in Nehemiah chapter 6
and study this passage
together for a time
this evening.
We can read again
at verse 8 and 9.
Nehemiah chapter 6
at verse 8.
At this point,
the reports have been
sent to Nehemiah
from Geshem
and Tobiah
and Sambalat,
these three men
who came into
his life
in this way,
and they're bringing
false accusations
against him,
and then
Nehemiah's response
to them is this
in verse 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,
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.
Well, as we've been
going through this
book of Nehemiah,
we've seen how
Nehemiah was given
this real burden
and vision
for the work
that needed to be done
in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah was a Jew
who had been living
in a land
many miles away
from Jerusalem.
He'd never even been
in Jerusalem.
His parents
had been taken captive,
there,
many years prior to this
and been taken into
captivity in Persia
and Babylon.
But Nehemiah had come
to be in an important
role there.
He was a cupbearer
of the king
in Persia,
a very important job.
But God came to him
through his brother
with a word
that gave him
a real sense
of burden
for Jerusalem
and especially
for God's people,
that they were suffering,
that the walls
had been burnt down,
that the city
was in ruin
and God gave him
this vision
to rebuild.
And so he traveled
back to the city
and began
this great work
of restoring
the wall
of Jerusalem.
But it was more
than just restoring
the walls.
It was about restoring
the people,
restoring them
to a right worship
of God,
restoring them
in their faith
and their desire
to serve the Lord.
And what we've seen
up to this point
is how faithful
Nehemiah was
to this call.
He had encountered,
yes,
many problems
and oppositions.
Every corner
seemed to have
someone or something
that would challenge
this work
and seek
to stop this work.
But the work
has gone on.
He's leading
the people
with this vision
and this sense
of this is what God
has for us
to do.
His kingdom
is so important.
His people
are so
important.
And what we saw
the last time
was that
in chapter 5
Nehemiah's work
was going on
he had to be open
to just everything
that was taking
place all around.
And the point
really was
that we can become
so consumed
in just one aspect
of the work
that we fail
to see
suffering
that is going on
in other places
and other ways.
What happened
with Nehemiah
in his day
was a famine
had come
that was affecting
the people
who were still living
outside Jerusalem
in villages
and towns
around it.
They were suffering
because many
or nearly all
of the men
were involved
in the building
work of the wall.
But those
who were still
left in the villages
and towns
were suffering.
They were in
great debt.
They were in famine.
They were starving.
And so Nehemiah
was challenged
by men and women
from these towns
to remember them.
And we saw
how every aspect
of the work
was covered.
Nehemiah
was again
challenged
and burdened
by the word
of God
to him
at that point
and led
by example.
He didn't
take things
that he had
the right to
but he made
sure that everyone
was looked out
for and looked
after.
Nehemiah
was a wise
leader,
a good leader.
And in leading
the people
he made sure
that everyone
was looked
after and cared
for and that
everyone was
going in the
same direction.
But as with
any good leader
they're always
going to face
opposition.
And for
Nehemiah
it just seemed
to come
again and
again.
As with any
good work
that's happening
in the work
of the kingdom
of God
there's always
going to be
challenges.
And we're
always going
to see that
there is one
who wants
to spoil
and to hinder.
So when there's
something good
happening
there's another
one who wants
to come in
and spoil.
and this
one will
use any
means possible.
We are of
course talking
about the
devil and
how he will
come in and
seek to
spoil so
many things.
And as we
come into
chapter 6
we see
another
challenge
arise for
Nehemiah.
We see a
familiar foe
return and
this time
they've got a
different kind
of attack
to bring to
Nehemiah.
They're going
to start
telling lies
about Nehemiah
about the
work
about what
he's doing.
They're going
to try and
disgrace him
to make him
stop the
work that he
has been
involved in.
Lies are
central to
what they're
going to
do.
Have you
ever told
a lie?
Have you
ever been
lied to?
I'm sure
if we had
a show
of hands
for both
these
questions
pretty much
every hand
would go
up.
Lying can
almost become
second nature
to us and
if we're
telling lies
we know
there'll be
others around
us who are
telling lies
as well.
And as we
look around
us it's so
difficult for
us sometimes
to tell what
is a lie
and what
is truth.
truth.
There's a
program on
television called
Would I
Lie to
You?
In many
ways it's a
funny program
to watch.
You have two
different teams
two different
panels and
each team has
to try and
convince or
not the
other team
whether what
they're saying
is a truth
or a lie.
And it can
be very
amusing at
times.
They can be
so convincing
whether it's
delivering something
that is a
lie and
trying to
make it out
as truth
or something
that is
true.
And they're
trying to
make people
think it
is a
lie.
And it's
so hard
sometimes just
to tell the
difference.
But there's a
serious side to
that kind of
thing as well
because of the
kind of world
that we live
in.
Where we're
trying to
work out
well who
is telling
the truth
and who
is lying.
It's a
challenge for
us on a
daily basis
when we're
hearing from
others,
when we're
reading things,
when we're
listening to
the news,
what is
truth
and what
is a
lie?
And how
do we
tell the
difference?
We can so
easily get
pulled in
by what we
believe is
truth but it's
actually a
lie and vice
versa.
Is it fact
or is it
fiction?
It's a
challenge to
us.
And that
was a
challenge in
Nehemiah.
his day
as well
and for
his people
there as
well.
Samballet,
Tobiah and
Geshem came
on the attack
to try and
bring fear
among them
because that
is so often
what trying to
suss out what
is lie and
truth does
for us.
It leaves us
confused.
It leaves us
afraid.
And so we
need to try
and work
out what
is truth.
Truth is
what we
should be
seek but
our world
has turned
away from
truth because
we've turned
away from
the word of
God.
Therefore
truth is so
difficult to
find.
But this
is not
new.
In Romans
chapter 1
verse 24
it tells us
there,
therefore God
gave them up
in the lusts
of their
hearts to
impurity.
to the
dishonoring of
their bodies
among themselves
because they
exchanged the
truth about
God for a
lie.
They exchanged
the truth
about God
for a
lie.
And that's
the recurring
problem of
a sinful
heart, a
sinful people.
We replace
the truth
about God
for a
lie.
And
therefore it's
so hard for
us then
to see
what is
truth
and what
is a
lie.
Wouldn't it
be great to
have somewhere
to go to
find truth?
Well we
do.
We have
God's
word.
Jesus
himself as
he prayed
for his
people in
John 17
he said
this,
sanctify them
in the
truth.
Your
word is
truth.
We have
truth.
And what we
have to do
is replace
a lie
for the
truth
about God.
We need to
reverse the
situation that
we read of
in Romans,
the situation
that is so
common in
every generation
and every
people.
exchanging the
truth about
God for a
lie.
We need to
replace the
lies of this
world for the
truth about
God and his
word is
truth.
We have
it but do
we believe
it and do
we live
it?
That is a
challenge that
Nehemiah
faced.
That is a
challenge that
he stood up
to in a
world full of
lies.
He shows us
how to
respond by
standing on
truth and
surrounding
ourselves with
it.
So tonight I
want us to
take three
lessons again
from Nehemiah's
life and
experience so
we can
apply to
ourselves.
Three things
that we see
here are
first of all
fear or
faith.
What is
our dependence
in?
How are we
living in
that sense?
Are we
living in
fear or
are we
living in
faith?
And secondly
we will see
here the
false friends
that can so
often lead us
astray.
And then
thirdly we are
going to think
about what is
our defense
in the midst
of all of
this.
faith.
So the
first thing
we want to
consider is
fear or
faith.
How are we
going to
live?
What kind
of people
are we
going to
be?
How important
is truth
to you?
Does every
word that
come out of
your mouth
do you make
sure I
want that
word to
be truth?
truth?
I want
every word
that I
say to
be truth.
Do you
listen to
every word
and think
I want to
hear every
word that
is truth?
Or are there
times where
you twist
the truth
or twist
what you
hear or
enjoy hearing
something that
maybe is
only a half
truth?
It's so
hard for us
at times.
But truth
should be
essential
to us.
Truth
should be
what we
live by.
If we
live by
God's
word we
are to
live by
truth because
his word
is truth.
But what
is true?
That is so
often the
challenge.
One group
of musicians,
one band,
they wrote
an album and
the title of
the album
was This
is my
truth,
now tell
me yours.
Can we
all have
a different
truth?
Can we
all believe
something that's
different in
every part of
our life or
society or
our world and
think that's
okay, we
can all have
our different
truth?
No, because
everything cannot
be true.
That is not
possible.
There are
things that are
fact and
there are
things that
are fiction.
And if we
listen to
the lies of
this world,
listening to
lies is what
so often
leaves us in
a state of
fear because
we're not
leaning upon
truth.
We're not
depending upon
truth.
And so this
is a very
challenge that
Nehemiah faced
here when these
three familiar
people came
into his
experience again.
We'd seen
them before in
chapter 2,
how they had
come to try
and stop
the work.
They had
come on the
attack and
here they are
returning again
in chapter 6
just before the
work of building
the wall is
nearly complete.
So you maybe
think to
yourself, the
reappearance of
Sanballat,
Tobiah and
Gershom, they're
going to maybe
come and
apologize for
their poor
behavior previous.
They're going
to look around
and see actually,
Nehemiah, you
were right in
what you've done
in rebuilding
this wall.
they've come to
congratulate him
in this work.
No.
Even though the
work is nearly
complete in terms
of the outside
of the wall
of Jerusalem,
they come to
intimidate
Nehemiah,
attempting to
make him fear.
And attempting
to make him fear
in order that the
work will come
to a standstill
once again.
And fear is
central to
their plans.
You see this
as you go
through this
chapter,
verse 9,
11,
13,
14,
19.
Each of
these verses,
it says,
they wanted
him to be
afraid.
In verse 9,
it says,
for they wanted
to frighten
us.
In verse 11,
he said,
a false prophet
was hired to
make him
afraid.
Again,
he reiterates
that.
In verse 13,
he was hired
that I should
be afraid.
Verse 14,
he prays
and asks
God to
remember
these people,
Tobiah,
Sambalat,
and these
prophets,
who wanted
to make
me afraid.
In verse 19,
Tobiah sent
letters to
make Nehemiah
afraid.
Fear.
They're trying
to plant
this fear
in Nehemiah
and the
people so
that the
work will
stop.
Because fear
paralyzes.
And especially
when it comes
to doing the
work of the
Lord,
so often
it is fear
that will
paralyze
and stop
the work
of the
Lord going
on.
But how
are they
going to
implement
this plan?
How are they
going to
get this
to work?
Well,
first,
they're going
to use
flattery.
In verse
4,
well,
between
verse 2
and verse
4,
they start
to invite
Nehemiah
to meet
together in
this place
called
Olo.
Four times
they invited
him.
They're trying
to flatter
him.
Come,
let us
come together
and let's
talk about
this.
Surely we
can come
to some
kind of
compromise.
But you
read in
verse 3,
he knows
that their
intention was
not right.
it says
in the end
of verse 2
and into
verse 3,
he said,
but they
intended to
do me
harm.
You see,
he knew
them too
well.
He knew
their
intentions,
but he
knew God
better.
And when
you look
at it,
what they
were trying
to do
is take
him away
from the
work.
But he
says in
verse 3,
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?
Now,
he's not
saying that
his work
is what
he's proud
of,
his own
handwork.
What he's
saying is
the work
that he
is involved
in,
God's
work,
is a
great work.
It's the
most important
work.
To him,
this is the
chief work.
To be
involved in
doing what
God is
wanting him
to do and
giving him
a vision
to do.
So their
flattery isn't
going to
work.
He puts
them off.
He puts
them away.
But then
there's another
plan.
This doesn't
work, so
they have
another plan.
This is when
the lies
come in.
In verse
6,
they sent him
a letter,
that.
And in
it is
said,
it is
reported
among the
nations,
and Geshem
also says
that you
and the
Jews intend
to rebel.
So this
is their
new plan.
It is
reported.
This is
their way
to get
him.
Lies.
Let's
just make
up stories
about.
Fake
news is
something that
seems to
be a new
phenomenon,
especially over
the years of
President Trump
when it
seemed to
just come
to the
fore.
Fake
news was
spoken about
every week.
Everything
that was
said against
certain people,
that's just
fake news.
And again,
it just adds
to the
confusion.
What do
we believe?
And it's
based around
really what
we read
here.
It is
reported.
Let's
just make
up something
that's
going to
get
Nehemiah
in trouble
and disgrace
him.
This
still goes
on.
The
intention
behind
these
lies
is to
disgrace
and to
bring a
leader
down.
And
well,
it's
nothing
new.
Telling
lies is
not a
new
thing.
When
was the
first lie
told?
All you
have to
do is
go back
to
Genesis
and there
you see
it.
Did
God
actually
say?
Satan
comes
into the
garden
and it's
almost
like he's
saying,
well,
it is
reported
that God
has said,
but did
he really
say,
you shall
not eat
of any
tree in
the garden?
What did
it lead
to?
It led
to fear
because you
read just
further on
that they're
trying to
hide then
in the
garden and
they're
trying to
defend
themselves
before God
saying,
I heard
the sound
of you
in the
garden and
I was
afraid.
So they
hid from
God.
And that
is what
lies
seeks to
lead us
to.
We end
up replacing
fact for
fiction and
it only
leaves us
afraid and
hiding from
God.
That's the
intention of
Sanballat and
Tobiah and
Geshem here
to get
Nehemiah away
from the
work of
God and
get him
hiding from
God.
And it's
still the
tactic of
Satan to
this day.
You read of
Jesus in the
New Testament
in the
Gospel of
John.
There he's
speaking in
chapter 8 to
Jews who
are, some
are believing,
some aren't.
But what he
says is as he
speaks in
chapter 8
verse 44,
he's speaking
about the
father of
lies, the
devil.
He says he
was a
murderer from
the beginning
and has
nothing to
do with
the truth
because there
is no
truth in
him.
When he
lies he
speaks out
of his
own
character
for he
is a
liar and
the
father of
lies.
This is
the enemy
that prowls,
this is the
enemy that's
at work in
Tobiah and
Sanballat and
Geshem.
He's at work
in them to
disgrace Nehemiah,
the father of
lies.
And he's
still at work
to this
day to
discourage all
of God's
children,
all of
God's
people,
away from
the work
of the
Lord,
of trusting
the Lord.
This is
his tactic.
Replace
the truth
for a
lie.
Make
them afraid
and hide
from God.
But as
somebody once
said,
we were not
made for
fear,
we were
made for
faith.
Fear is
not my
native land,
faith is.
I am so
made that
worry and
anxiety are
sand in
the machinery
of life.
Faith is
oil.
Sand will
destroy
machinery,
oil will
keep it
going.
I live
better by
faith and
confidence and
by fear,
doubt and
anxiety.
And so he
went on to
say that
this is what
we are made
for.
To live by
worry is to
live against
reality,
but to
live by
the way
God made
us is to
live by
faith.
Fear or
faith,
how are we
living?
They came
to make
Nehemiah
afraid,
discouraged,
fall away
from the
work.
But Nehemiah
was a man
of faith.
He trusted
God, he
listened to
him, and
so should
we.
The second
thing we see
here is the
false friends
that we can
see around
him.
They tried to
get him with
fake news,
they tried to
get at him
with lies,
but the
second thing
we see here
is they
tried to
come at
him through
a prophet
in verse
10.
Now when
I went
into the
house of
Shemiah,
the son of
Deliah,
son of
Methabel,
who was
confined to
his home,
he said,
let us meet
together in
the house
of God
within the
temple.
So again,
there's this
subtle way
where this
man,
Shemiah,
was a
prophet who
was one
who should
be able to
trust and
to listen
to.
And if he
is saying
something,
Nehemiah
should listen
to him
because a
prophet should
speak from
the Lord.
So it
should be a
safe place,
a secure
place.
But Shemiah,
he falsely
led Nehemiah
to think that
people were
going to
kill him.
And he
encouraged
Nehemiah
to flee.
And not
only to
flee,
but to
run into
the place,
the temple.
And you
see it in
verse 10,
the house
of God
within the
temple.
And it is,
close the
doors within
the temple
so that
you can
be safe.
But notice
how Nehemiah
responds.
But I
said,
should such
a man
as I
run away?
And what
man such
as I
could go
into the
temple and
live?
I
will not
go in.
What's he
saying here?
How could
he go into
the temple
and live?
Well,
if this
prophet,
this message
from God
is saying
this is
the place
you are
to go
and live,
why wouldn't
you listen?
But Nehemiah
is close
to God
and he
knows God's
law,
he knows
God's
word,
and he
knows that
he has
no right
to go
into the
heart of
the temple.
Because
when you
look in
the Old
Testament,
the inner
sanctuary of
the temple
was the
Holy of
Holies.
And that
was a
place where
only the
high priest
could go.
And so
Nehemiah
had no
right to
go in
there.
And if
he did
go in
there,
he was
likely to
be put
to death.
But what
he begins
to see is
this is
not of
God.
this is
further
lies.
In
verse 12,
I understood
and saw
that God
had not
sent him,
but he
had pronounced
the prophecy
against me
because Tobiah
and son
Ballant had
hired him.
Again,
you're just
buying
lies for
a price.
And how
difficult it
is sometimes
to understand,
well,
what is
truth and
what is
lies?
one
commentator
said of
Nehemiah
here,
had he
tried to
save himself
in such
a way,
that is
going into
the temple,
he would
have lost
possibly his
life,
certainly his
honor,
and would
have jeopardized
the very
cause,
the very
work that
he had
at heart.
It would
have brought
disgrace.
And that
is what
they were
trying to
achieve.
And this
is beginning
to sound
a familiar
picture.
telling lies
against
someone,
seeking
for him
to break
God's
law.
Who else
did they
do this
with?
The Lord
Jesus in
the New
Testament.
They
sought to
get at
him in
these ways,
to make
up stories
about him,
to tell
lies about
him,
to try and
get him
to break
the law
of God
as they
saw it.
but he
stood
firm in
the truth
of God,
his
father.
And Nehemiah
too is
strong in
the Lord.
And it's a
reminder for
us not to
be afraid to
have confidence
in the word
of God,
not to be
embarrassed or
ashamed about
the word of
God,
but to see it
as truth
and to
surround
ourselves with
people who
see it as
truth.
the book
of Proverbs
speaks about
surrounding
ourselves with
people who
are wise.
Proverbs 13
verse 20,
whoever walks
with the wise
becomes wise,
but the
companion of
fools will
suffer harm.
Surround
ourselves with
people who
love the
Lord, who
trust the
Lord, who
keep us
right in
the Lord.
We live in
a world where
so many
friendships,
as it were,
can be
superficial.
They're just
on the
surface,
especially in
a world of
social media.
We have to
be careful
what we
believe and
who we
listen to.
When you
look at
social media
today,
Facebook,
TikTok,
all these
things is
about friends
and followers,
listening to
what they
have to
say, but
can we
believe
everything?
Even when
it's intended
for good
sometimes,
we have
to ask
questions
about it.
For example,
just now in
these days,
there's been a
story going
around Facebook
about the
Lord's Prayer
being banned
on Facebook,
that the
CEO of
Facebook,
Mark Zuckerberg,
has put this
down as
something that
is not
allowed,
that it goes
against their
policy.
They're not
allowed to
post the
Lord's Prayer.
And so many
people are
posting this and
saying this is
wrong,
and they
post the
Lord's Prayer
up just to
make that
point.
They think to
themselves,
this is good,
this is right,
we should
stand up on
the Lord's
side here.
It's not a
bad thing,
and of course
there is a
time for it,
but it's
not true.
The Lord's Prayer
has not been
banned from
Facebook.
Mark Zuckerberg
has not
banned it.
So it's
just a
reminder to
us that we
should be
looking into
everything that
we're hearing
and seeing
and reading
and asking,
is it
true?
And especially
when it comes
to dealing
with people,
are we
dealing with
facts or
fiction?
Are we
listening to
what is
true or
what is a
lie?
When it
comes to
speaking about
people,
how do we
speak about
them?
Do we
hear something
and just
pass it on?
Well,
we've heard
it,
it must
be true.
Or do we
check,
do we
listen and
do we
think,
is that
actually
right?
Is what
I'm saying
to my
neighbor or
my friend
true about
that person?
Young and
old alike,
we need to
think about
these things.
As Christians,
we should
set an
example for
truth and
not for
lies in
everything that
we do,
in every
aspect of
our lives
when we're
dealing with
people.
Let us
deal with
truth.
And let
us surround
ourselves with
people who
will be
truthful to
us and
tell us
truth.
Not
superficial
friends,
but deep
friendships.
People we
can trust.
Like one
person said,
a friend is
the first
person who
comes in
when the
whole world
has gone
out.
friends.
What kind
of friends
do we
surround
ourselves
with?
Nehemiah
had enemies,
but he
also had
people he
could trust.
It says in
verse 2 of
chapter 7,
I gave
my brother
Hananiah
and Hananiah
the governor
of the
castle,
charge over
Jerusalem,
for he was
a more
faithful and
God-fearing
man than
many.
He had
people he
could trust
around him.
I'm not saying
here we
abandon all
our friends
just because
they don't
believe in
God's word.
We are to
be witnesses
to our
friends and
our families
and our
neighbors about
God's word.
But what we
don't allow
to happen is
to let
them take
us away
from the
truth,
misrepresent
the truth
of God,
but to
see for
ourselves
especially
the friend
who is
our Lord
Jesus Christ,
the friend
that the
book of
Proverbs
describes as
a friend
who stays
closer than
any brother,
that we
stay close
to the
Lord.
Because that's
our final
thing we
see here,
our defense.
What could
Nehemiah do?
What can
we do?
When we
live in a
world where
truth and
lies are
so interwined
and so
difficult to
separate at
times,
what can
we do?
Well,
the answer
is found
in verse
9.
For they
all wanted
to frighten
us thinking
their hands
will drop
from the
work and
it will
not be
done.
So this
is what
they wanted,
but look
at Nehemiah's
response.
But now,
O God,
strengthen
my hands.
That is the
answer for
us too.
Now,
O God,
strengthen
our hands.
Strengthen
our hands
that the
work will
go on.
Strengthen
our hands
so we
will know
the
difference
between
truth and
lie.
That we
will stand
firm in
the truth
because God
is sufficient
for all
things.
He is the
one who
strengthens.
You know,
as Christians,
there are
those who
will cast
stories claiming
everything we
believe is
fiction.
It will be
one big joke
to so many
in this world.
There is no
truth in
God's word,
it is just
fairy tales.
That's what
we hear so
regularly,
just fairy
tales.
And yet
God's word
says this
is truth.
Who do you
believe?
Who will
you listen
to?
Do you just
listen to your
friends or
those who claim
this is just
fairy tales
without any
real knowledge
of the word
or God
himself?
Or will you
believe the
living word
of God?
The one
who says,
I have
made the
heavens and
the earth.
I have
formed you
in my
image.
I have
breathed into
your life.
I am the
one who
keeps you.
I am the
one who
has sent
my son
that you
will have
life and
have it
abundantly.
I am the
one who
will take
you through
life and
through death
into eternity
if you
will believe
in me.
Who do
we believe
in?
Nehemiah
was feeling
the pressure
of attack
but he
knows where
to go.
He says,
but now
O God
strengthen
my hands.
Isn't it a
blessing to us
to be able
to have one
to call
upon,
to have the
Lord
himself?
Nehemiah
and the
word could
have crumbled
here but
instead what
you read is
in verse 15
the wall
was finished.
The work
was complete
on the
walls.
And look
at the
change that
this brings.
In verse
16,
when all
our enemies
heard of
it,
all the
nations
around us
were afraid
and fell
greatly in
their own
esteem.
For they
perceived
that this
work had
been accomplished
with the
help of
our God.
The tide
is turned.
the nations
are afraid
because they
see that
God has
been at
work.
A day
will come
when every
knee will
bow and
every tongue
confess that
Jesus Christ
is Lord.
But today
is the day
to find our
defense in
him.
God is the
only help
we need
for life
and for
eternity.
he is
not
fiction.
He is
fact.
And as we
heard this
morning,
he is the
only one
who can
save.
You know,
when Jesus
was speaking
to the
Jews in
John
chapter 8,
there were
those who
were just
putting him
away, but
he was
saying,
my word
is truth.
You have
to believe
it.
And he
says to
them in
verse
31 and
32,
if you
abide in
my word,
you are
truly my
disciples,
and you
will know
the truth,
and the
truth will
set you
free.
He was
speaking because
there was
one, the
devil, who
was the
father of
lies.
But he
is saying,
you will
know the
truth in
me, and
the truth
will set
you free.
Do you
have that
freedom?
Do you
doubt, or
do you
have faith?
Well, let
me leave
you with
these words,
a little
verse that
speaks about
doubt and
faith and
the difference
between them.
It says,
doubt sees
the obstacles,
faith sees
the way.
Doubt sees
the darkest
night, faith
sees the
day.
Doubt
dreads to
take a
step, faith
soars on
high.
Doubt
questions,
who
believes?
Faith
answers,
I.
are you
a man or
woman of
doubt, or
are you a
man or
woman of
faith?
The lies
of the
devil will
make us
fear and
turn away
from God.
But thank
God we
have his
word, his
truth, to
lead us to
the rock, to
lead us to
Christ.
And may we
cry with
Nehemiah, but
now, O
God, strengthen
my hands,
strengthen our
faith, that
we will go
on in your
strength and
in your
work.
May God
bless his
word to
us.
We'll
conclude by
singing to
God's praise
in Psalm
86,
in the
Scottish
Psalter,
page 341.
Psalm 86,
on page
341.
We'll
sing from
verse 10
down to
verse 12,
three stanzas,
and the tune
is St.
David.
Because thou
art exceeding
great, and
works by
thee are
done, which
are to be
admired, and
thou art God
thyself alone,
teach me thy
way and in
thy truth.
O Lord, then
walk will I,
unite my
heart, that
I thy name
may fear
continually.
We'll
sing from
verse 10
to 12,
to God's
praise.
Amen.
and the
heart of
thyself
alone.
Teach me
thine
ring and
in
thy
truth.
O Lord,
then
all will
I,
unite
my
heart,
thou
thy
name,
may
hear
of
genuinely.
O Lord,
my
God,
with
all
my
heart,
to
thee
I
will
give
praise.
and
thy
love,
glory,
will
ask
thy
unto
thy
name,
o
praise.
After the
benediction, I'll
go to the door to
my left.
We'll close with a
benediction.
Now may grace,
mercy, and
peace from
God,
Father,
Son, and
Holy Spirit,
rest upon
and abide
with you all.
No one
forevermore.
Amen.