September 27, 2026
Nehemiah 6
“Courage for the Call”
Service Overview: As Jerusalem’s wall nears completion, Nehemiah faces intimidation, false accusations, and spiritual manipulation. Nehemiah 6 reminds us that faithfulness requires discernment, perseverance, and focus. God’s people must learn to resist fear and intimidation in remaining committed to the work God has called them to complete.
Memory Verse for the Week:
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Background & Miscellaneous Insights:
- In Nehemiah 6, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem made one final effort to keep Nehemiah from hanging the doors in the gates and completing the walls of Jerusalem. It was their most subtle and insidious attack, and Nehemiah was their sole object. If they could get to him personally, they might have a chance once again to demoralize the people. (Gene Getz, Hope Under Construction, 78)
- God had raised up an influential spiritual leader. So his enemies set their hearts on destroying him, and the only way to get at such a well-protected citizen was to lure him from his colleagues and on to enemy territory. Once kidnapped, they could easily dispose of him. (Raymond Brown, The Message of Nehemiah, 100)
- Three plots of varying subtlety were tried in order to trap Nehemiah. The first was to try to lure him away from Jerusalem (verse 2). The second was to accuse him of rebellion against the Persian Empire (verse 6). The third was to get him to sin by entering the area of the Temple where only a priest could go: for everyone else it could invoke the death penalty (verse 10; see Nu.1:51; 3:10; 18:7). (Dave Cave, Ezra & Nehemiah, 168)
- Letters to officials were rolled up and secured with seals so that only those with authority could open and read them. Sanballat wanted the public to know the contents of the letter because he hoped to undermine Nehemiah’s reputation and authority. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Determined, 87)
What does courage for God’s call look like?
- Remaining focused on the mission God has given.
(vv. 1-4 cf. Luke 9:62; John 4:34; 9:4; Acts 20:24; 1 Cor. 15:58; Gal. 6:9)
As no amount of theory will help a would-be golfer who will not keep his eye on the ball, so no amount of wisdom will make one a leader if one cannot keep one’s priorities steadily in view. (J. I. Packer, A Passion for Faithfulness, 129)
- Looking to God for strength in the face of intimidation.
(vv. 5-9 cf. Josh. 1:9; Ps. 27:1; 56:3–4; Isa. 41:10; Eph. 6:10; Phil. 4:13; 2 Tim. 1:7; Heb. 13:6; 1 Pet. 5:10)
Consider the catalog of personal attacks in these chapters. There is intimidation. There is sabotage. There are threats. There is slander. And yet, Nehemiah’s prayer is not, “Lord, change this!” What is it? “Lord, strengthen me. Silence my fears and make me strong in you. (Paige Brown, Learning from the Book of Nehemiah, 76)
Nehemiah did the only two things possible: he denied the rumor in sharply matter-of-fact terms to Sanballat, its source (6:8); and he prayed, “Now strengthen my hands” (6:9). In other words, he asked God to enable him to ignore the gossip and to keep on keeping on, as inspirer, organizer, and overseer, till the rebuilding was actually completed. (J. I. Packer, A Passion for Faithfulness, 131)
- Choosing obedience over self-preservation.
(vv. 10-14 cf. 1 Sam. 15:22; Dan. 3:16–18; Matt. 10:28; 16:24–25; 26:39; Luke 22:42; John 12:25–26; Acts 5:29; Rev. 12:11)
Tobiah, through marriage, had close connections to the priesthood. He also had business connections and a network of loyalists within the ruling hierarchy of Jerusalem. These associations provided Tobiah with leverage among the elite throughout the city. Shemaiah was only one case in point, and he had been hired to intimidate Nehemiah so that he would commit a sin. Tobiah and Sanballat used this priest to lure Nehemiah, hoping that through fear and the urge for self-protection he would violate the sanctity of the temple. (Knute Larson, OT Commentary-Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, 197)
Nehemiah’s greatest fear is not death; it is offending the Lord. (Paige Brown, Learning from the Book of Nehemiah, 82)
What do we need to remember when following God’s call becomes difficult?
- Don’t come down from what God has called you to do.
(Josh. 1:7; Ps. 37:5; Prov. 4:25–27; Isa. 50:7; Luke 9:51; Acts 20:24; 1 Cor. 15:58; Gal. 6:9; Phil. 3:14; Heb. 10:35–36)
Here, as on other occasions, Nehemiah showed great courage—a quality that has been well defined not as an absence of fear, but as a resolute doing of what is known to be right however much we feel afraid, disturbed, or hurt. (J. I. Packer, A Passion for Faithfulness, 132)
If Nehemiah’s life demonstrates anything, it is purpose. He was focused. His heart was gripped by the desire to serve and honor God. His adoration and reverence of God propelled him through the challenges, dangers, and threats that each new day brought. Worship characterized his decisions and his actions. He was not distracted by empty arguments and endless discussions. He was not restrained by intimidation or stopped by fear. He was a man who knew where he was going because he was following God. (Knute Larson, Holman OT Commentary-Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, 199)
Even the most formidable of tasks, undertaken in the most difficult of circumstances, can be achieved with God’s help. (Dave Cave, Ezra & Nehemiah, 171)
Gospel Connection:
Jesus did not come down from the cross to save Himself because He had come to the cross to save us.
(Isa. 50:5–7; 53:4–6; Matt. 20:28; 27:40–42; Mark 10:45; John 10:17–18; 19:30; Phil. 2:8; Heb. 12:2–3; 1 Pet. 2:24)
We hear the echo of Nehemiah’s words, “I cannot come down; I am doing a great work.” “He saved others, himself he could not save.” And what a work! If He had come down, there would not have been salvation for one single individual, and the whole world would have been plunged into an eternal hell. Jesus said, in effect, “No, I cannot and ___ will not come down, for then nobody will be saved. (Alan Redpath, Victorious Christian Service, 132)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions during your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with your friends, family, or Life Group.
- In verses 1–4, why do you think Nehemiah was so determined not to leave the work, even after being asked four times? What does his response, “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down,” tell us about how he understood his calling?
- Not every distraction is necessarily a bad thing. What are some good or seemingly harmless things that can distract us from what God has called us to do?
- Instead of primarily asking God to change his circumstances, Nehemiah prays, “Now strengthen my hands.” What does that prayer teach us about how we can respond when difficult circumstances do not immediately change?
- Paige Brown writes, “Nehemiah’s greatest fear is not death; it is offending the Lord.” What would it look like for our fear of God to become greater than our fear of people, consequences, criticism, or loss?
- Is there something God has called you to right now from which you are tempted to “come down”? What distraction, fear, discouragement, or pressure makes faithfulness difficult? How could your group pray, “Strengthen their hands,” for you?
- Jesus did not come down from the cross to save Himself because He had come to the cross to save us. Read Hebrews 12:1–3. How does fixing our eyes on Jesus change the way we understand the call to persevere when following Him becomes difficult?
General Confession
From The Book of Common Prayer
LEADER: Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.
Silence is kept. People are welcome to kneel if they like, the Officiant and People say
ALL: Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done,
and we have done those things which we ought not to have done;
and apart from your grace, there is no health in us.
ALL: O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Spare all those who confess their faults.
Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises
declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.
LEADER: The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.