Nehemiah-That Sly Tobiah

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 10

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. 

The king seemed pleased to see me back in Babylon. He invited me into his courts and asked, "Tell me about Jerusalem, Nehemiah. What has been done there?"

I was very excited to share all the stories I'd already told you, and I made sure to include the mean things Sanballot and Tobias had done to try and stop our success. 

Anyway. Pleased to hear the good news, the king went about his day as usual and I went back to being his cupbearer, satisfied with what God had done in my homeland. 

The days went on like usual and I fell into my old routine of duties. I was, after all, still a slave in Babylon. As time went on though, I thought of Jerusalem and wondered how the city had flourished. If they'd continued doing as God asked, all the buildings should be in repair, the people tithing, festivals observed. Oh, I wish I could be there to see.

One evening as I served the king his meal, after tasting and insuring the food would not harm him, I asked if I could go back to Jerusalem to see the progress. To my surprise he said yes--without any hesitation.

The king wrote me a letter for safe passage and gave me an escort and a horse. As we climbed the last hill before the city I gazed at it. So beautiful. What a wonderful gift from God for His people. The walls stood strong to protect the people. Everything must be wonderful inside the city gates.

I urged my horse forward, arriving before the sun set, which is when the gates are closed for the night.

I invited the men who escorted me to the same home I'd used when rebuilding the walls and offered them food and drink. Their animals were cared for in the nearby stables. That night I slept in my own bed in my home in my own country. And slept very well.

The next morning, I met with the council. That's when I learned what had been going on in my absence. 

Eliashib, the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms for the house of God. He had close ties with that rotten bully, Tobiah. Without permission, and basically in secret, Eliashib gave Tobiah a large room which used to store the grain offerings, incense, temple articles, and the gifts of grain, new wine, and oil set aside for Levites, singers and gatekeepers, as well as the gifts for the priests.

The second I found out that Eliashib had given Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God I stormed to the room and threw all Tobiah's household goods out. I gave orders to purify the rooms then had all the equipment and offerings put back where they should have been in the first place.

That guy. Can you believe he did that?

And this was just the beginning. The next few days, I have a feeling my work would be cut out for me.

Come back next time, because interesting tales happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version

Nehemiah-The Torment My Brothers Had Faced From Bullies Finally Stopped

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 6

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

Ugh, I'm sad to report life has not been good. 

Have you ever tried so hard to get something done but ran into troubles because a bully kept getting in the way? Yeah. That has been life here.

When I worked in Babylon as a slave to the king and heard the news that the walls for Jerusalem had not been built, I couldn't understand why my Jewish brothers living in Jerusalem didn't get the work done. I, sad to say, thought they were lazy.

I was wrong.

Now I see my Jewish brothers had constantly been tormented by bullies, men who were not Jews, men who prevented and threatened my brothers if they did any work on the walls. And how could my Jewish brothers stand up to the bullies when an army of trouble makers helped?

Now I understood. 

I am so tired of fighting these guys who continually pick on us. 

I spend many hours in prayer asking God to comfort me, to help me know how to handle the situation, to...I don't know...do something. And God has. Everyday I am here I am surprised to see progress on the wall. Progress God has helped us to make.

And now, as we are closing in on finishing the work, the bullying is increasing. Remember Tobiah, the friend of Sanballat? The two who led the bullying? Yeah. Well, he has been writing letters to the nobles who live in Jerusalem. Yes, you remember those lazy Jewish nobles who felt they shouldn't have to help build the walls. The ones who paid others to do their work but expected to receive all the benefits. Well, the nobles received letters from Tobiah asking them to meet with me, although I didn't know that was why they came, and asked questions Tobiah wanted them to ask.

The nobles may be lazy but they are my Jewish brothers. I thought they just wanted to talk. But no, they were aiding Tobiah. After speaking with me they wrote my answers back to Tobiah who used the information to send letters to me. All to cause more trouble. This is just such a miserable time.

I'm not sorry I came. I am sorry I didn't realize the torment my brothers had gone through while living here.

In all fairness I brought these sorrows to God. "Remember what Tobiah and Sanballat did to us, O my God. Remember also the evil prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me."

I know God will take care of the problem. There is nothing more I can do to make them stop.

Photo Courtesy

The good news is, the wall has been completed. the gates hung. There is no way for anyone to enter the city without permission.

AND THIS....THIS...is what our enemies did not want. 

When they heard the news that they could not enter the city to cause trouble without going through a guarded gate, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence. They realized that this work of building the walls to protect the great city of Jerusalem had been done with the help of our God.


Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Nehemiah-The Bullies Tried to Smear My Name

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 6

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It's been twelve years since I arrived, and we are nearing completion. 

My job has been to encourage the men in their work rebuilding the walls, oversee plans, and work alongside those who needed help. I could tell my presence brought strength to the men. I didn't give up. So they saw they shouldn't give up.

I've told you in past stories about a couple of men who are making our lives absolutely miserable. Sanballat, Tobiah, and their army of fiends have tormented the Jews working on the wall with horrible insults. Since we've shown our solitary, the bullies have taken to picking on me. Sanballat sent me five messages trying to get me to leave the work to meet with him...in a valley...many miles away. 

Really? Why would I do something so foolish?

On one of my walks, I went to the house of Shemaiah. The poor man was a shut in, which meant he was unable to walk or was too ill to leave his home. I wanted to encourage him. Spend a little time talking to help him feel better.

Shemiah lay in his bed and asked me to sit by him. He said, "We should meet in the house of God, inside the temple. While there, we'll close the doors tight." He looked toward the window. I did too, but didn't see anyone. "There are men who are coming to kill you. They plan to come by night to kill you. Please. Meet me in the temple. I'll help you hide."

His face had sincerity, but I knew better. This was a trick. A way to pull me away from the job God had given me to oversee the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. And how long did he expect me to hide out there? Long enough for the men to lose courage to fight the bullies? Long enough for the walls to stop being built? I think not. "Tell me, Shemiah, should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his life? No. I won't do it. I won't go. 

Even as I spoke, I knew in my heart God had not sent Shemiah to give me this message. He prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by hiding from the very duty God gave me. And when I hid, Sanballat and Tobiah would give me a bad name to discredit me in front of all the Jews who were working. Then they wouldn't listen to my instructions and encouragement. No. I refused. 

I would continue my work to complete the walls of Jerusalem as God has asked me to do and no bully will stop me.


Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Nehemiah-The Lies That Didn't Work

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 5

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It's been twelve years since I arrived, and we are nearing completion. We had a ton of problems during those days. The main obstacle was the leader of a rebellious army.

Sanballat, his friend Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies worked night and day to stop us from rebuilding the walls. They tried everything from intimidation to downright bullying. Even now that we are near to finishing with the work, Sanballat is up to his cruel work even more.

Photo Courtesy

This morning, I received a message from Sanballat. It said, "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.  

Jerusalem is high up on a mountain. Ono is west of us and down in a valley. So, Sanballat thought I would leave the safety of a city surrounded by walls to meet with him in the plain of Ono? I think not. Did he really think I wouldn't know he was scheming to harm me? Well, I won't go.

I sent his messenger back with this message, "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down to meet with you. Why should the work stop while I leave it to meet with you?"

Sanballat sent back the same message four times. Each time I sent back his messenger with my same message. I'd play his crazy game as much as he wanted, but I wouldn't meet with him.

The fifth time his messenger arrived with the same message, he also carried an unsealed letter: 

It is reported among the nations that you and the Jews are p[lotting to revolt, that is why you are building the wall.  According to these reports you are about to become their king and have appointed prophets to make this proclamation in Jerusalem: There is a new king in Judah! Now this report will get back to the king of Babylon and you wouldn't want that to happen. So, come. Let us meet together.

Did he really think these lies would convince me? I sent him this reply: "Your letter is false. you are just making up these stories in your head."

I knew what he was thinking, it was so clear. He thought we would get to tired to finish the work and not complete the project. 

But, I prayed, "O God, please strengthen my hands."

I refused to let this bully stop the work God had given to us. 





Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Nehemiah-The Bullies Tormented Us...The Men Wanted to Give up...Nevergiveupstories

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 4

From Nehemiah's Journal

My name is Nehemiah. I have been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

I must admit, the years I'd spent growing up in Babylon as a servant seemed really difficult at the time. My Jewish brothers worked, how we worked to stay alive in the foreign country, to build homes, to please those who had power over us.

I thought those days were difficult.

Until now.

I was sent to Jerusalem to insure the people would rebuild the walls. Sanballat, his friend Tobiah, and their band of bullies have said the meanest, most discouraging words, or so we thought, until now. 

Until now the Jews rebuilding the city wall have endured the harassment. 

Sanballat, Tobiah, and their evil, bully friends have upped their tormenting to epic levels. 


The Jews were tired. We'd worked day and night searching for good bricks in the rubble, making new ones, spreading mortar, and hoisting the bricks above our heads until they fit in place on the wall. We hadn't taken a break. How could we with men like Sanballat and his band of bullies hanging around?

Sometimes when bullies say mean words over and over and over, the evil starts to wear a person down, right?  We know just how you feel.

This time Sanballat said to the working men, "Before the Israelites know it or see us, we'll be among them and will kill them and put an end to their work." Of course they added a dastardly laugh. 

The Jewish workers became afraid. They came to me. "Whenever we turn, they will attack us. How are we suppose to work? Tell us, Nehemiah. This is so discouraging. We can't keep working like this."

A Jerusalem gate. They are not small!! At this point
the men have built these walls half this height.
Photo Courtesy

They were right. The Jews needed help. I prayed and asked God for an idea how to give the men a sense of safety while they worked. God told me and I did as He said. I pulled some of the workers off the wall and stationed them behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places. I placed them by families so the men from Benjamin would guard where their brothers worked. The men from Reuben would guard where they worked, and so on for all the tribes of men. 

After the guards stood in place I saw the plan looked good. I went to a place where all the workers could hear me and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of Sanballat and his friends. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, you sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

When our enemies heard that we knew all about their plot and that God had ruined it, we all returned to the wall, each man to his own work.

We chose not to be afraid, God was with us, and we would stand up and fight for our family, and home. We chose to never give up.

Never. 

The wall would be finished.

And Jerusalem...rebuilt.




Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 
               

Nehemiah-Our Enemies Plot to Stir Trouble..BUT We Prayed and...

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 4

From Nehemiah's Journal

My name is Nehemiah. I have been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

I was sent to Jerusalem to insure the people would rebuild the walls. I rallied my Jewish brothers to get busy. Each to his own task. The worked moved along at a great pace...until.


Sanballat started the trouble. He was so raving mad about Jerusalem's walls rising in front of his face. He, of course, was not a Jew and enjoyed seeing hardship brought on the Jewish nation. He lived here with his body not with his soul. 

Sanballat no sooner finished tormenting the working men when his buddy, Tobiah from Ammon started in. Tobiah yelled, "What these Jews are building is such bad quality--if a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!"

Ah, Yeah. That was a wicked thing to say.

I was angry, really angry at these men who dared to stop us from completing the job God gave. So, I prayed to the God of Heaven who listens to the cries of His people, "Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn these men's insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders of Jerusalem."

I said my prayer loud and strong for all the men to hear. I would not sit around, nor cower while those who did not approve of this project ridicule us. 

I would stand strong and show the Jews that obeying God and refusing to back down to bullies was the right choice.  

I congratulated the men for each portion they completed. This was a huge job, but we had workers. Strong workers that could do the work. So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height then took a break. In truth, the people worked with all their heart..and the sight brought such a powerful energy within me I cheered them on to do more, I worked next to them, and we all praised the God who empowered us.

I knew this would not be the end, though. Sanballat and Tobiah gathered Arabs, Ammonites, and the men of Ashdod. Their spies told them we had gone ahead with the repairs to the Jerusalem walls and were filling in the gaps. 

My spies said Sanballat's furry rose to epic levels. He and his men stood and shouted, raising their fists. 

A Jerusalem gate. They are not small!! At this point
the men have built these walls half this height.
Photo Courtesy

I know what fueled this anger. 

If the Jews completed the walls around Jerusalem, they would become unified, would worship their God, and turn away from idols. The God of Heaven would protect them. 

Sanballat's men had heard the stories of what happened in the past. To the Egyptians, the Philistines. Moses. Samson. Elijah's challenge against Queen Jezebel. King David. Esther. So many more. They'd heard the stories how God protected, fought, restored, provided for...they heard them all...and were afraid.

Sanballat and his men made a plan to come and fight against us, to stir up trouble against the rebuilding of the wall. 

But...

We prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to ward off this threat.



Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 
               

Nehemiah-Standing Firm Against Those Who Are Against Us

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 2

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I have been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

I've been in Jerusalem for a few days. No, I didn't run away from my job, my servitude in Babylon. I had permission from the king to do this job.

Anyway, I stayed up most the night walking around the city walls. I'd taken a few men whom I trusted to keep me safe and record notes. What I saw bothered me...a lot.

I called a meeting with the city officials this morning. They all came, probably out of curiosity. See, to them I may have been a brother Jew, but I was also a new comer. I hadn't lived her for the months and in the case of some, years like they had. I hadn't experienced their problems and as a result didn't have a firm grasp on why important jobs hadn't been done yet.

These official didn't need to be yelled at for not doing what God asked. They needed an understanding brother to rejuvenate their desire to rebuild. 

So I hushed them and said, "You see the trouble we are in." I waved my arms to indicate the wall. The wall that should protect us from enemies creeping in and harming us. "Our beloved city, Jerusalem, lies in ruins. The gates have been burned with fire." I gave them a moment to picture the danger.

"We should rebuild the wall of Jerusalem then we will no longer be opened to other nations wanting to harm us. This is God's city. We must protect it. Look, God protected me on my journey here in amazing ways. The king of Babylon wrote me letters, gave me officers and a calvary to protect me. God wouldn't have provided all of this if He didn't want the work done now."

The men sat quietly. They looked at the ground and spoke softly to each other. The spirit of apathy was dissolving and a new spirit of bonding, hope, brotherhood, and praise to God built. The men said, "Okay. Let's start rebuilding!"

Well, they didn't run and grab tools. A plan had to be made. A huge project like this had steps.

While we planned, apparently Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard we wanted to rebuild the walls. They came to a group of us and shook their heads. Kinda like when a bully comes to you and makes fun of your work. Yeah. Like that. They said, "What are you doing?" They laughed and spoke with a sneering  mocking voice. "Are you rebelling against the king?"

Of course we weren't. I had permission. Letters. Good grief. These men were not Jews and they didn't want the Jews to build a protective wall around Jerusalem. That was crystal clear.

Fine. They want to be ornery? I stood tall and said, "The God of heaven will give us success. We, his servants, will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historical right to it."

I'd stand firm against those who were against us no matter what it took. I'd stand strong. I wouldn't let them wear us down with their cruel words. The wall will be built...just as God wanted.



Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 
               

1. Why was Nehemiah careful with his words to the Jerusalem officials?
2. Before the men would be willing to build they walls they first had to change their ____
3. What bullies came?
4. What did they say?
5. What did Nehemiah say to them?
6. Who do you think will win? The bullies or Nehemiah?