In Nehemiah, chapter six, verse twelve, all who claim to be messengers of God must be tested as to whether they are really from God. Some claim to be believers and proclaim that they are undertaking a ministry ordained by God, yet only seeking glory and prosperity for themselves. God’s people need discernment to judge their character and loyalty to God and His standards of all who present themselves as spokespersons for God. Nehemiah partly by considering the sinful nature and pernicious consequences of this counsel, and partly by the suggestion of God’s Spirit, whose direction he sought in this matter, and partly by the event, which manifested that there was no such danger from the approach of the enemy as was pretended.
Afterward, Nehemiah came to the house of Shemaiah. This man was the son of a priest, who was an intimate and confidential friend. The young man claimed to be a blessing with the gift of prophecy. Having been secretly bribed by Sanballat, he, with his pretended capacity of prophet, told Nehemiah that his enemies were to attempt that night on his life. Shemaiah, advises him, at the same time, to consult his safety by concealing himself in the sanctuary, a crypt which, from its sanctity, was strong and secure. But the noble-minded governor determined at all hazards to remain at his post and not bring discredit on the cause of God and religion by his unworthy cowardice in leaving the temple and city unprotected. This plot, together with secret collusion between the enemy and the nobles of Judah who were favorably disposed towards the bad Samaritan in consequence of his Jewish connections (Ne 6:18), the undaunted courage and vigilance of Nehemiah were enabled, with the blessing of God, to defeat, and the erection of the walls built in troublesome times, was happily completed in the brief space of fifty-two days, as in Nehemiah six, verse fifteen. So rapid execution, even supposing some parts of the old wall standing, cannot be sufficiently accounted for, except by the consideration that the builders labored with the ardor of religious zeal as men employed in the work of God.