Text: Proverbs 29:25-26; Nehemiah 6:1-16

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare:  but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. 26 Many seek the ruler's favour;  but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.  

1 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein;  (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) 2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono.   But they thought to do me mischief.   3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down:  why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?  4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort;  and I answered them after the same manner.   5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;  6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel:  for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.   7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah:  and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words.   Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.   8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.   9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done.   Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. 10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up;  and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple:  for they will come to slay thee;  yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.   11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee?  and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life?  I will not go in.   12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him;  but that he pronounced this prophecy against me:  for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.   13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.   14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. 15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.   16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes:  for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.  

Friday, 1^st March 2024

SNARE OF FEAR

Text: Proverbs 29:25-26; Nehemiah 6:1-16

Memory verse: Genesis 12: 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

Fear can lead to dread, which leads to an inability to move or act like humans. Fear of God is the opposite of the fear of man. When we face enemies while doing God's work, we're secure because it is God who stands behind us granting us strength. Those who trust in the Lord will dwell safely. Nehemiah's courage is displayed in facing opposition and threats. Despite the power and ungodliness of the Persian empire, Nehemiah believed that Jerusalem could be re-built. Having been faithful and courageous, Nehemiah now faces a lot of lies fabricated to destroy the work. Nehemiah dismisses the attack and prays that God would strengthen his hands in the work. Any involvement of the church in social and justice matters faces opposition in the media. It brings about discouragement and fear, stopping work. Many Christians and even Church leaders are too intimidated to expose the lies of evolutionary philosophy.

We need an awareness of danger; courage is the resistance and mastery of fear. We're to be obedient to God, finding security and safety in Him even during our fear. The Devil wants us to fear men and our circumstance more than God. In the face of impossible odds, God told Joshua and Gideon not to be afraid. Nehemiah was tempted to bring charges of hypocrisy and compromise to the work of God. When the church is in the midst of compromise, we make ourselves a reproach before the enemies of God. We are tempted to sin, to compromise, to be respectable, to be likable. But we are to be a “peculiar people” before the world, we're to live as Jesus' disciples. We can expect to be hated and ridiculed.

Cowardice and faithlessness won't make us appeal to a humanistic world. It was the courage of Daniel and his friends that led to their influence in the Babylonian empire. We must not be silent; the kingdom message is the proclamation of the gospel. Nehemiah said, “I will not go in” and God granted him insight to see into the enemies' tactic. Without courage there cannot be truth, and without truth there can be no other virtue. When we face enemies while doing God's work, we are secured because it is God who stands behind us granting us strength.

CGDS Hymn 11; SS & S 811:

FEAR NOT GOD IS THY SHIELD

1. Fear not! God is thy shield,
And He thy great reward;
His might has won the field:
Thy strength is in the Lord!

            Refrain:
            Fear not! ‘tis God’s own voice
            That speaks to thee this word;
            Lift up your head: rejoice
            In Jesus Christ thy Lord.

2. Fear not! for God has heard
The cry of thy distress;
The water of His word
Thy fainting soul shall bless.

3. Fear not! be not dismayed!
He evermore will be
With thee, to give His aid,
And He will strengthen thee.

4. Fear not! ye little flock;
Your Shepherd soon will come,
Give water from the rock,
And bring you to His home!

   Prayers:  

1.  Lord Jesus, I receive from you the spirit of love, power, sound mind and not of fear.

2.  LORD God Almighty, I refuse to be a fearful person, even when I find myself in a fearful situation, I draw strength and courage from You always, in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.