Title Remedy for Criticism (Nehemiah 04:1-6)
In the Bible, criticism is sometimes used positively and sometimes negatively. Positive criticism is almost synonymous with discernment. The motive of discernment is ultimately concerned with building individuals and communities by accurately grasping reality. The motive of discernment is love. Discernment, like discernment of spirits, is a gift given by God. The prophets of the Old Testament were such people. We should be ready with an open ear and an open mind to our neighbors who give advice with love, discerning our situation. But negative criticism is ultimately concerned with breaking down individuals and communities. These criticisms come from Satan, not from God. The Bible teaches us to refrain from such criticism. don't criticize For with the criticism you criticize you will be judged (Matthew 7:1,2). And our hearts should not be shaken by these criticisms. Satan seeks to destroy God's people and God's work with these negative criticisms.
In today's text, Nehemimah was receiving such destructive criticism while rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. This is what verses 1-3 of the text say. But he set an example for overcoming such criticism brilliantly. We want to learn from him the biblical recipe for responding to destructive criticism. What is the prescription for criticism?
1. Pray to God.
The criticism of the neighboring tribal leaders in Nehemiah's day was almost ridiculed. Read verses 2-3 again. What wrathful ridicule they must have been on the part of Nehemiah. We can sympathize with the humiliation and anger he felt at the time in Nehemiah's prayer in verses 4-5. In verse 4, he says, 'You are being despised.' - I pray that he will turn his revilings on his head and become a prey and lead them into captivity in the Gentiles. Verse 5 says that such people must not be forgiven. Do not cover up their evil from your presence, and do not blot out their sin. Do you feel that you prayed too much? Would you have prayed such a prayer if you felt how unfairly you would have prayed such a prayer? But what is noteworthy here is that he did not respond directly to the opponent who attacked him. Instead, he decided to come to the Lord with the matter and pray to the Lord. Prayer was his first prescription for responding to criticism.
The Bible teaches that sometimes these enemies can be close people. He says that the enemies will be members of his household. Sometimes the husband is the enemy, sometimes the wife is the enemy. These days, when I went online, there was a post about when my sister looked like an enemy. Would you like to listen to me, who is said to be my brother in my family register, when I call a handsome man who doesn’t even have a drop of blood in him without ever calling me “oppa?” / When I ask him to cook me at home, he doesn’t even cook ramen properly. When you go out to deliver / When your younger brother refuses to run any errands in the middle of the night because he is afraid, goes to see his brother and returns home after 1:00 a.m.) Even then, don't stick together and fight back and try to fight back, come out and appeal to the Lord who knows everything. If God is the one who perfectly knows our injustice, what better remedy is there than to appeal to Him, especially when we are unfairly criticized and attacked?
2. It's about focusing on what you're doing.
One of the operations of the enemies who attacked Nehemiah was a kind of de-weeding operation. This was to thwart the will to build the city of Jerusalem. At this time, if Nehemiah had given up on building the castle because of his disappointment, how pleased his enemies would have been. This is Satan's plan. Satan is one who opposes God. The ultimate goal of his work is to prevent the progress of God's work. Fortunately, Nehemiah and the Israelites at that time were not involved in this operation. See verse 6. So we built the castle, everything was connected, and the price reached half the price, because the people worked with their hearts and minds, so they could still focus on their work despite the enemy's criticism. So, do you feel that you are being criticized or ridiculed? Pray. And you still have to focus on the task entrusted to you.
In James Boyce's Essay on Nehemiah, he introduces the legendary baseball game of the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Braves. At that time, the New York Yankees had catcher Yogi Berra, known for being tough, and Milwaukee had legendary slugger Hanke Aaron. The catcher and the batter went head-to-head in the final final of the World Series. Catcher Yogi, a hard-nosed talker, started teasing Aaron to distract him when he got to the plate. You're holding your bat wrong. You have to hold the bat so you can read the label Hanky Aaron said that he made a home run by attacking the next ball thrown by the pitcher without saying a word. As he stepped on homebase, he said he famously said to opponent catcher Yogi Berra. Hey Yogi Berra, I didn't stand at the plate to read the label. Hanky Aaron was focused on his goal, not getting caught up in distraction tactics. And he became a winner.
The most significant developments in human history have been made by people who overcame criticism and ridicule and worked with a sense of duty. When the first steam engine in human history left New York for Albany, it took 32 hours (now an hour is enough distance). People mocked and criticized him for doing something reckless. When the first motor car in human history was commissioned, it was later than a cart pulled by two horses. People ridiculed and criticized it as a reckless attempt. When the first light bulb in human history was tested, it was so dim that it had to be illuminated by a gas lamp. People mocked and criticized. When the first airplane in human history was lifted into the sky, it stayed in the air for only 59 seconds before crashing down. People mocked and criticized. However, those who received such criticism and ridicule had one thing in common. That is, they did not give up. And they focused on what they thought was their mission. What is the biblical remedy for destructive criticism? First, pray. Second, focus on your work.
3. Remembering God.
The person who received the most criticism while walking the shortest path of the world was Jesus. Do you remember the charges of criticism he received? A friend of tax collectors and sinners, a deceiver of the people, a breaker of the law, a blasphemer, a self-proclaimed King of the Jews, a self-proclaimed Christ, an instigator against paying taxes to Caesar. , who lied that he would demolish the temple and build it in three days Jesus had two attitudes toward these criticisms. One was silence. Another was prayer. Whenever he was in distress, he opened his lips and prayed, “Father.” He remembered the all-knowing Father in moments of loneliness and pain and entrusted everything to him. The last words he left on this earth were, Father, into your hands I entrust my soul. Remembering the Father was His victory. Isn't it a victory for you and me to remember this Lord, to remember God his Father and God our Father?