Page 12 - November 2020 - Truth & Tidings

ehemiah had no sooner begun men speaking twisted things, to draw
to assess the rebuilding work in away the disciples after them” (Act 20:30).
NJerusalem than the enemies of the We should be on guard against those who
Lord’s work began to marshal their forces. build “power bases” or foster rivalry in
the assembly, talking up favoured allies
The Challenge of Opposition and talking down or passing over others.
Sanballat and Tobiah’s opposition
hardly took Nehemiah by surprise. Using The Challenge of Oppression
a combination of derision, intimidation, Nehemiah was a strong but sensitive
distraction and deception, they maintained leader. He was incensed by the exploitation
a prolonged campaign against him and his of the weak and vulnerable by the wealthy
work. We should not be surprised when and powerful (5:1-13). It may seem
the world opposes us. The Lord Jesus unnecessary to state that there ought to be
warned, “If the world hates you, know no place for such practices in the assembly,
that it has hated me before it hated you” yet, sadly, honest and careful examination
(Joh 15:18). Nehemiah kept a cool head. sometimes reveals uncomfortable realities.
1
Recognising their ploys (6:2,9,13), he Presumably, the complaint by the
encouraged the people to pull together Hellenists which “arose against the
(4:19-21), focus on the goal (4:14), keep Hebrews because their widows were
at the work (4:21; 6:11), and, above all, to being neglected in the daily distribution”
commit the situation to the Lord (6:14) and (Act 6:1) did not develop overnight.
trust Him for the victory (4:20). We should While we should not be swayed by
learn from his example. secular populist movements, overseers
More subtle, and certainly more sinister, today must be vigilant to ensure that
was the opposition from within. Tobiah individuals or sections within the
had brought many in Judah under his assembly do not begin to feel neglected
influence (6:18) and compromised the or marginalised because of race or
leadership in Jerusalem by a forbidden ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender
marriage bond (6:8; 13:4,7). His allies (notwithstanding biblical teaching on the
waged a propaganda war against respective roles of brothers and sisters)
Nehemiah (6:19). Regrettably, the or any other grounds. Extra sensitivity
opponents of the Lord’s work are not all may be necessary where assemblies are
without. Paul warned the Ephesian elders: blessed with immigrants who could feel
“From among your own selves will arise disadvantaged by language or cultural
¹ All Scripture quotations in this article are from difficulties or economic constraints.
the ESV. The assembly does not belong to the

332 TRUTH kTidings November 2020