QT 07/01/2025 Tue. Nehemiah 6. Resisting Intimidation. 抵制恐吓。
QT 07/01/2025 Tue. Nehemiah 6. Resisting Intimidation.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/neh6
You would probably have experienced intimidation before, where others threatened you with a consequence if you do not accede to their requests. When being shouted at, the physical decibel of the sound waves reaches your ears and results in fear being formed in your heart. Other types of intimidation are more subtle, like hinting to you who she/he is connected to, or know, implying that she/he can instruct others to cause detriment to you.
Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem set up a distraction for Nehemiah so that he might be distracted from the rebuilding (6:1–4). The fifth attempt to harm Nehemiah consisted of intimidation by way of an open letter accusing him of rebellion against Artaxerxes the king of those days. "And now the king will hear of these reports" (6:7) escalated their threat more explicitly if Nehemiah chose not to meet them.
When the direction was right (wall rebuilding was God's will for them, for now), Nehemiah's response to intimidation was to forge ahead without fear and asking God to "strengthen my hands" (6:9) in contrast to the enemies' efforts to weaken his hands.
REFLECTION: As you serve God in ministry fervently this year, what would do if others intimidate you? How can you be sure that this ministry is God's will for you (correct direction), and for now (correct timing)?
Verse 10-14 narrated the intimidation where this was designed to get Nehemiah (not a priest) to take refuge in the temple, breaching his own laws and thereby undercutting his legitimacy before the eyes those whom he led.
Nehemiah 6:13 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. (ESV)
The above verse revealed the real politicians who hired others for the scheme of intimidation—the real masterminds might not be those who approach you. Their end purpose, was nevertheless the same—instilling "fear" and sin in the attempted remedy to allay this same fear. How cunning!
The narrator's report in 6:15–17 that the wall took only fifty-two (52) days to complete was evidence of the LORD's miraculous help for Nehemiah and his people when they continued to trust God and proceeded with God's plan courageously with faith in God.
(1) Instead of the king hearing about the rumours of rebellion, "all our enemies heard of it" (the completion of the wall, 6:16a);
(2) Instead of Nehemiah succumbing to intimidation with fear, "all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem" (6:16b).
(3) Relationship connections (6:18-19) frequently complicates straight forward compliance with the will of God. Relationships risk being abused to accomplish intimidations against doers of God's will if one is not careful or alert. However, connection with God and accomplishing ministry "with the help of our God" (6:16) direct others to perceive the glory and power of God.
REFLECTION: Fear of God should supercede fear of others or other things (intimidations included), don't you agree?
QT 07/01/2025 星期二. 尼希米 6. 抵制恐吓。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/neh/6
你可能曾经经历过恐吓，别人威胁你如果不答应他们的要求，就会有后果。当你被大声呵斥时，声波的物理分贝会传到你的耳朵里，从而在你的心里形成恐惧。其他类型的恐吓则更加隐蔽，比如暗示你她/他与谁有联系，或者认识谁，暗示她/他可以指示其他人对你造成伤害。
参巴拉、多比雅和革示设局分散尼希米的注意力，使他无法专心从事重建工作（6：1-4）。第五次伤害尼希米的企图是通过一封公开信进行恐吓，指责他反抗当时的国王亚达薛西。而 “现在这些话必会传到王那里”（6:7）则更加明确地威胁尼希米，如果他不答应的话。
当方向正确时（重建城墙是神对他们的旨意，时间也对），尼希米对恐吓的回应是无所畏惧地勇往直前，祈求 “我的手更坚定作工”（6：9），与敌人试图削弱他的手形成对比。
反思：今年，当你热心事奉神的时候，如果别人恐吓你，你会怎么做？你如何确定这个事奉是神对你的旨意（正确方向）和现在（正确时机）？
第 10-14 节叙述了尼希米受到的恐吓，恐吓的目的是让尼希米（他不是祭司）躲进圣殿，违反他自己的律法，从而在他所领导的人面前削弱他的合法性。
《尼希米记》6:13 他被收买，是要使我惧怕，照着他说的去作，以致犯罪，他们就破坏我的名声来毁谤我。
上述经文揭示了雇佣他人实施恐吓计划的真正政客--真正的策划者可能不是那些接近你的人。然而，他们的最终目的是一样的--在试图消除这种恐惧的补救措施中制造 “恐惧 ”和陷入犯罪的圈套。多么狡猾！
叙述者在 6:15-17 中报告说，城墙只用了五十二（52）天就完工了，这证明了当尼希米和他的子民继续信靠神，带着对神的信心勇敢地执行神的计划时，耶和华对他们的奇妙帮助。
(1) 王没有听到叛乱的谣言，而是 “我们所有的仇敌听见了” 城墙竣工 (6:16a)；
(2) 尼希米没有屈服于恐惧的威吓，而是 “我们四围所有的民族都惧怕，敌人的声势一落千丈”（6:16b）。
(3) 人之间的关系（6:18-19）常常使顺从神的旨意变得复杂。如果一个人不小心或不警觉，关系就有可能被滥用，以达到恐吓遵行神旨意的人的目的。然而，“靠着我们神的帮助”（6:16）与神建立联系并完成事工，会引导他人感知神的荣耀和大能。
反思：对神的敬畏应该超越对他人或其他事物（包括恐吓）的 “敬畏”，你同意吗？
