“So I sent messengers to them with this reply:
‘I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?’
Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.”
Nehemiah 6:3-4 NIV
Last time we saw Nehemiah discern the intent of a message sent from those who were enemies of God’s work of rebuilding in Jerusalem. Today we see the reply and persistence of our governor.
So I sent (shalach – cast off, forsake, urgently sent away) messengers (malak – angel, ambassador) with this reply:
“I (myself – ani) am doing (asah – accomplishing) a great (gadol – exceedingly, major, mighty, prominent, spacious, far, high) melakah (work: craftsmanship, cattle, business) and am not able (yakol – endure, have power) to come down (yarad – come down, descend, bow, to a lower region/shore) to you.
In other words: I myself am accomplishing an exceedingly spacious project and am not able to descend to you.
If we follow Jesus, we know descent is a primary purpose. To follow our Savior’s lead by humbling ourselves, bowed down in a position so any lifting comes from His own hand. Our takeaway from Nehemiah is clearly not to avoid bowing but to hold fast to our purpose. If you have seen God working and joined Him, spurred on by His Spirit, His Word, and His people, you know distractions and attacks will come. The goal is not to waste precious energy focusing on it. Rebuilding is hard work and will require us to live decided. Resolved. There is no need to descend to the attacks or negativity. We course correct as trusted people in our life speak truth, but we still stay the course.
I think it’s also important to remember exceedingly spacious work is a posture of humility and obedience. It may not seem world changing, but if we’re surrendered to the Exceedingly Spacious Spirit and allowing Him to move in our faithfulness, it changes our spheres of influence. And that is world changing. Speak up when you need to, sit down and listen when it’s right. Take time for your most important relationships and be a person of honor. Be kind with your words and be a genuine friend to someone different than you. Use any influence you possess to build others up and point to Him.
Nehemiah continues in his reply with “Why (mah – of what end/good purpose) should the work cease (shabath – cease, desist, cause to fail) while I leave (raphah – fail, abandon, lose courage, slack) the work and come down (yarad again) unto you (el – against, toward, beside)?”
In other words: “Of what good purpose should the work sabbath while I slack on it to descend toward you?”
We know Sabbath is crucial. The art of regularly resting to acknowledge God is the Giver of all Good Things, Jehovah Jireh our Provider, is a command. But this form of ceasing, giving up when God is clearly on the move, is an act of rebellion. One way we can know this is so in this context is the use of raphah for leave. For Nehemiah to leave the work, it would be slacking or abandoning God’s call on his life.
One way to keep us on course with exceedingly spacious projects of the Spirit is to ensure healthy resting. Pray so you remember Who is in control. Sabbath so You can focus on relationship over results. Meditate on His Word so truth guides you not emotions. Live in healthy community to avoid burn out and temptation. Cook a meal, paint a picture, walk in nature, laugh over coffee. Play a board game, read a book, write someone a handwritten note. Fill your lungs with air and let it out slowly. Relish your creatureliness and your Creator. Give away something, play in the rain, get off your phone. Look at old photos, listen to people, exercise, be generous with hugs. Play with children, say you’re sorry, look people in the eye. His world is exceedingly spacious and delightful. So is His love. Rest in that regularly, even as you work.
In the last verse we see Nehemiah’s persistent resolve:
“They urgently sent away (shalach) this (zeh) same answer (dabar – word, answer).
And I refused (shub – to turn back, return, refuse) and returned this (zeh) same answer (dabar).”
In other words:
“They urgently sent away this same word four times.
And I refused with this same answer each time.”
To be resolved means to cling to what is true. There is a way to cling to truth that alienates others and lacks the fruit of the Spirit. And there is a way to hold fast to truth in one hand and love in another. Grace and Truth like our Master. Resolve is very different from needing to be right. Resolve puts obedience ahead of popular opinion without putting self above others. Resolve clings to truth because it is the best way to love.
Where do you need to cling to truth in a situation? Not so you can be right, but so you can be obedient to God and loving to others? Nehemiah knew to obey the message would be to disobey God’s call to complete the work, put those he loved at risk, and descend toward the enemy. So despite the repeated attempts to get him away from his calling, he persistently refused.
Let’s be loyal like Nehemiah. Let’s put obedience to God above approval so we can love others. Let’s use our voice and influence on behalf of others in an exceedingly spacious and joyful work. And let’s refuse to be deterred from what He’s called us to do, no matter how urgent or persistent the message.
Let’s resolve.