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CHAPTER 6 (ESV)

10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” 11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” 12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 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. 14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

REFLECTION:

The enemies were full of tricks and deceits. They seemed to be considerate for us, but in reality what they did was a trap. The trick of Shemaiah was to tell Nehemiah that they would meet together in the temple because the enemies were coming to kill him. Nehemiah knew that he did not commit any crime and did not need to hide inside the temple. Nehemiah did not fall into the trap because he knew the Bible and understood that only the priest can enter the temple while it was against the Law of Moses for ordinary people to enter the temple at will. Otherwise, the enemies could taunt Nehemiah by giving him a bad name that he violated the Law of Moses because he was a coward. Knowing the Bible is an important weapon for demolishing the enemy’s tricks. Reflect to what level you know God’s Word. Are you willing to read the Bible, pray, and meditate on God’s Word more? If yes, your wisdom will increase daily.

PRAYER:

Christians face a lot of temptations as there are many hypocritical and deceitful people. Ask God to increase your wisdom so that you have the ability to discern. God’s Word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path when you are confused. Ask God to give you humility and passion to know His Word through reading the Bible more often so that you will not deviate from the right path.

HYMN:

Thy Word – www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ycs23FQDRI