2022 is our new year. For most of us the new year is a time of renewal, new beginnings, new aspirations, hope, a forgetting of those things that are in the past and looking forward to the new things the year will bring. It is a joyous and expectant time.
But, on January 6, 2022, this nation will be subjected to remembering a time of unrest, turmoil, and words of division. Our joyous time of reflecting on the new is going to be cut short and we are going to hurled ‘back’ into the past.
Until the 2022 midterm elections, the American public is going to be subjugated to a deluge of rhetoric focusing on January 6, 2021; Trump; Covid; voting rights; spending bills; and possibly expanding the number of justices at the SCOTUS. And lying-in wait, quietly or unquietly, is the decision regarding abortion.
What is the purpose of keeping these topics ‘front and center’ in the headlines of our newspapers, on the internet, and constantly dialogued about on news broadcasts?
I submit that the purpose of pursuing these topics is to keep the mindset of the American public upon these issues. It is a diversion tactic. The word diversion means to “divert the mind from tedious or serious concerns.” Why? The Democratic party leaders believe they can endear the voting public to keep them in power if they keep these topics in front of the American populace. Each of the issues mentioned above demonize the Republican party leaders and characterize republican voters as people who live lives centered on discrimination. Discrimination, that’s the political war cry.
Googling the word ‘discrimination’, it says, “the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.” Therefore, because I disagree with the Democratic agenda and their policies, and prefer the Republican agenda and their policies, in many circles, I am labeled a person who practices discrimination. I just read the following statement in the critique of a book I just finished reading, CHANGING OUR MINDS, by David P. Gushee. The critique made this statement, “disagreement is not discrimination”. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that purports that if I disagree with you, then I am one who discriminates.
This diatribe has been perpetrated upon this nation for many years; however, it has gained momentum and dominated our thinking especially in the past 5 to 6 years. We will see and hear its escalation between now and the midterm elections.
As untenable as these positions are (the ones enumerated above), they are entrenched in our national mindset because, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the worldly forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, Tree of Life Version, TLV)
II Corinthians 10:3-6, (TLV), “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful through God for the tearing down of strongholds. We are tearing down false arguments and every high-minded thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah–ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”
Our nation is embedded in a war of words. This has been going on ‘ad infinitum’; but it has seriously escalated in the past 5 to 6 years. I have suggested in previous blogs that we are ‘A Nation of P.O.W.s’, meaning we are Prisoners of Words.
When we study the events in the Book of Nehemiah, we see spiritual warfare, the battle of words, in operation. I would like to highlight that warfare in Nehemiah.
When Nehemiah, the king’s cupbearer, heard about the condition of Jerusalem, it grieved his heart. He prayed and asked King Artaxerxes, whom he served, if he would permit him to return to Jerusalem. “If it seems good to the king and if your servant has found favor in your sight, send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried that I may rebuild it.” (Nehemiah 2:5 TLV). “The king granted me the request because the good hand of my God was upon me.” (Nehemiah 2:8b TLV).
One might think that this was a simple request with a simple answer; however, preceding his request, Nehemiah hearing the report of the devastation and situation of Jerusalem, “…sat down and wept and mourned for days.” He “prayed and fasted before the God heaven” and then he appealed to God (Please read Nehemiah 1:4-11) As Dutch Sheets would say, Nehemiah made ‘An Appeal to Heaven’. God heard Nehemiah’s prayer and answered. Nehemiah’s countenance had changed because of his intercession with God. The king took notice of this and asked him what was going on; observing: Nehemiah, your disposition is not normally sad. Nehemiah shared with the king what was going on in his life. The king putting the pieces of Nehemiah’s story together asks (Nehemiah 2:4 TLV), “…What is your request?” Nehemiah hearing these words “prayed to the God of heaven”. This quick interchange between the king, Nehemiah, and God lays the foundation for God’s works of grace through Nehemiah in Jerusalem and surrounding Judah. [See Ephesians 2:10 TLV, “For we are His workmanship–created in Messiah Yeshua for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand (before the foundation of the world) so we might walk in them.” This is what Nehemiah was experiencing. There are works which God has prepared for you to do, too.]
Nehemiah responds to the king (Nehemiah 2:5 TLV), “If it seems good to the king and if your servant has found favor in your sight, send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried that I may rebuild it.”
Nehemiah left for Jerusalem fully funded with the king’s blessing and letters to back him up so that he could rebuild Jerusalem (See Nehemiah 2:6-8 TLV). Here’s the bottom line. Nehemiah 2:8b says, “The king granted me the requests because the good hand of my God was upon me.” Nehemiah knew that God was directing his path and the work. In any work that we are asked to do by the Lord, He will provide the means to accomplish that task.
Nehemiah presents himself to the leadership in the surrounding area of Judah. He gives them the letters of reference that the king had provided him to do the work in Jerusalem. These letters were also the means of obtaining the supplies that Nehemiah needed to rebuild the city. However, Nehemiah’s coming to rebuild the city was not well received by all in the area. There were two in particular that were “grieved…exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.” (Nehemiah 2:10b TLV). Nehemiah was marked for opposition. As he embarked upon his task of rebuilding Jerusalem, the opposition created by these two men and others grew in intensity. [This would be a good time to read Nehemiah 2:10-4:23 NKJV]
All through the conflict with the opposition, Nehemiah maintains his composure, his civility, and his resolve. He constantly turns to God and declares to the opposition what God has put in his heart. In Nehemiah 2:20, he responds to the enemy, “The God of heaven will bring us success. We, His servants will arise and build. But you have no part right or historical claim in Jerusalem.” (TLV). Nehemiah has drawn a verbal line in the sand. This was Nehemiah’s, ‘I declare’ to the enemy.
In Nehemiah 3:36-37, (TLV), summing up the opposition’s words, Nehemiah says, “Hear, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insult back upon their head! [Read Psalms 64] Give them as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover their guilt or blot out their sin from before You for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.” (or, See Nehemiah 4:4-5, NKJV)
Moving forward to Nehemiah 4:1-2 (TLV) (or See Nehemiah 4:7-8 NKJV), the opposition “became extremely angry”…”They all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to stir up trouble against it.” Question: How did Nehemiah respond to the opposition’s plan? He prayed. Nehemiah 4:3 (TLV) (or See Nehemiah 4:9 NKJV), “But we prayed to our God and stationed a guard against them day and night.” Thought: We have a tactical part in God’s plan.
The narrative continues explaining that the people of Judah (Nehemiah 4:4 TLV or See Nehemiah 4:10 NKJV) were losing heart. This is the opposite mindset of Nehemiah 3:38, TLV (or See Nehemiah 4:6 NKJV) where it says, “So we rebuilt the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a heart to work.” Why the change of heart? The people started to doubt. Tiredness does take its toll. In Nehemiah 4:4 (TLV), their tiredness affected their outlook. “Meanwhile, the people of Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing. There is so much rubble that we are unable to rebuild the wall.” [an aside, Nehemiah addresses this issue, see Nehemiah 4:7-17; or see Nehemiah 4:13-23 NKJV]
In Nehemiah 4:5 (TLV), we are told that the enemy planned a surprise attack on the people of Judah. “Our adversaries also said, “They will not know or perceive anything, until we come among them and kill them, and put an end to the work.” But the enemies plan was made known. Verse 6 says, “So it happened that Jews living near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn they will attack us.” The opposition had become relentless. Now what?
Nehemiah responds, verse 7, by setting up a defense against the enemy. Having put the defense in order and surveying the situation he (vs. 8) “rose up and said to the nobles and the rest of the people, do not be afraid of them. Remember the great and awesome Lord and fight on behalf of you brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
Nehemiah 4:9 (TLV) says, “Now when our enemies heard that their plan was known to us, and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own works.” They didn’t abandon their preparedness to fight. In Nehemiah 4:14, he instructs them, “whenever you hear the sound of the shofar, join us there, our God will fight for us.” They remained battle ready. Verse 17 says, “So neither I nor my brothers, nor my workers, nor the guard who were with me took off our clothes; and each man even had his weapon at the water.”
Skipping to Nehemiah 6:1, we encounter the opposition scheming to obstruct Nehemiah. This time they seek to meet with him personally. They said (Nehemiah 6:2, TLV) “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” The next sentence says, “But they were scheming to do me harm.” Nehemiah discerned their intent.
How did Nehemiah respond to the opposition? His answer was, “I am doing an important work, so I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”
The opposition tried to wear him down with a ‘persistent mantra’. Nehemiah 6:4 (TLV), “They sent me the same message four times, and each time I returned a similar response to them. But the fifth time Sanballat sent his young aide to me in this way, he had an open letter in his hand. Nehemiah 6:6-7 reveals the text of the letter. The letter is accusatory, a concocted scenario, a blatant lie.
Sanballat’s appeal is let’s talk this over. Nehemiah sent him this response, “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are devising them from your own heart. (See, Psalms64)
Nehemiah discerns their intent. Verse 9, “For they were all trying to intimidate us, thinking, “Their hands will become weak from the work and it will not be done.” Nehemiah interjects these words, “So now strengthen my hands!” (I think this is an obvious prayer to God.)
One might conclude that the opposition is tired of being put off and not succeeding; however, this is not the case. The hostility escalates. The opposition continues to wrestle against the ‘man’ of the Lord, who had been sent “for the welfare of Israel”(Nehemiah 2: 10, TLV). Nehemiah goes to the “house of Shemaiah”. Shemaiah is a priest. It says in Nehemiah 6:10 NKJV, that he “was a secret informer.” Shemaiah said to Nehemiah, “Let us meet in the House of God, within the Temple. Let us shut the doors of the Temple, for they are coming to kill you. Indeed, they will come at night.” (Nehemiah 6:10 TLV)
Nehemiah responds (6:11), “Should a man like me flee? Who in my position could go into the Temple and live? I will not go in.” Why this response? First of all, Nehemiah is not a priest. He could not enter without repercussions. Second, he discerned that this invitation was a trap. Nehemiah 6:12-13 (TLV) says “I recognized that God had not really sent him, for he had pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired so that I might become so frightened that I would do this and thereby sin. Then they would give me a bad name in order to discredit me.” [This reminds me of 2 Timothy 1:7 TLV, “For God has not given us spirit of timidity (fear), but of power and love and self-discipline.”]
Nehemiah 6:14 (TLV)continues, Nehemiah prays, “Remember my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also the prophetess, Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me. [In Deuteronomy 32:35, TLV, God had said through Moses, “Vengeance is Mine, and payback,]
What conclusions can we glean from these events in the life of Nehemiah? The work of God will be challenged. Accusations, deceptions, and lies will be the basis of the attack of the enemy. Nehemiah exhibited a calm reassurance in God through all the turmoil that the enemy used against him. He knew God was with him. Nehemiah exercised a calm resolve leading the people. Nehemiah was able to discern between good and evil, regarding the intents of man’s heart. Nehemiah constantly kept focused on God. Nehemiah called upon God throughout his ordeal. Nehemiah did not exalt himself in his duty; he remained humble before God. God honored Nehemiah who honored Him. What happened to Nehemiah is not strange to the teachings in the New Testament? Jesus had told His disciples in the upper room (John 16:33b TLV), “In the world you will have trouble (tribulations) but take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Nehemiah 6:15-16 (TLV), tells us, “So the wall was completed…in just 52 days. When all our enemies heard, all the surrounding nations were afraid and fell greatly in their own eyes, because they realized that this work had been accomplished by our God.” (Again, please see Psalms 64) [If you are interested, see my blog entitled: The A.R.R.O.W. of God]
I encourage you to revisit Nehemiah’s responses to the attacks, accusations and lies that he encountered. I recommend that you pray his words of response when you are faced with similar circumstances. Pray God’s Word!
As I pointed out at the outset of this blog, we as a nation are going to face a continual outpouring of virulent words from now until the midterm election in November. (Unfortunately, the election will not stop the negative rhetoric.)
Like Nehemiah, we must refute the words of the enemy, call on the name of the Lord, and persevere in the battle of words. We use God’s Word to tear down and dismantle man’s words that mock God, His people, and His purposes.
Let me close with Nehemiah 4:14, “Whenever you hear the sound of the shofar (call to battle), join us there. Our God will fight for us.”
Be diligent to respond to what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
a brother in Christ, deo
addendum: I don’t know if I have corrected all my errors. But as I was proofreading this blog for the ‘umteenth’ time it dawned on me how this story of Nehemiah and his opposition compared to Christ and His temptation in the wilderness. Satan presented verbal scenarios to Jesus, and Jesus responded, “It is written”. Sanballat, a type of Satan, presented his verbal scenarios to Nehemiah, and Nehemiah responded with what God had told him; Nehemiah also prayed; and Nehemiah kept his focus on God. He didn’t allow Sanballat’s fiery darts to penetrate his shield of faith. Nehemiah did the work that God asked him to do because he had the full armor of God upon his person. (Ephesians 6:10-20 TLV, NKJV, NIV, etc.)
Thank you, Holy Spirit for enlightening us.
Living Words of Encouragement 