Nehemiah 6:10-13 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said… 1. In the prosecution of this work, whilst building the spiritual wall of Zion, there are many artifices to be resisted. Our enemies will seek to draw us away from our work. We shall be invited to enter into friendly conformity with the world, and we shall be told that conciliation on our side will be met by concessions on theirs; but this is a mistake, for the world will take all and give none. 2. Our spiritual enemies will resort to intimidation. If they cannot draw they will drive. What fair offers were made of seeming friendship to the noble army of martyrs, and when these failed, intimidation followed. The offence of the Cross has not ceased. It is "through much tribulation" we must enter the kingdom, and the Christian will be threatened with the loss of caste or of business if he determine to maintain his consistency. Evil motives will be ascribed to him, wicked reports will be propagated concerning him. Ridicule and reproach are weapons of great severity. "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."Let the earnest Christian resist the solicitations of evil in a similar manner. 1. Consider your relation to God. Say to yourself, "I am a child of God, a disciple of Christ, a temple of the Holy Ghost, and 'should such a man as I flee,' give way to temptation, dishonour my high calling, disobey my blessed Captain, and grieve the Spirit of grace?" 2. Consider your obligations to redeeming mercy. Say to your heart, "O Christian, I have been loved with an everlasting love, called by sovereign grace, washed in the blood of Jesus, and comforted by innumerable tokens of goodness and mercy, and 'should such a man as I flee?'" 3. "Consider your expectations. You are a candidate for eternity. Say to yourself, 'O Christian, life is short and uncertain; death may be near; my Lord Himself may come in His glory. In that day of His boundless mercy He will call me His brother, His own, and He will bestow upon me an inheritance of surpassing lustre; and 'should such a man as I flee?' shall I be guilty of base cowardice or perfidious ingratitude?" (J. M. Randall.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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