Nehemiah 6:3

"And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cnanot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?"

Upon doing the work of the Lord it should be expected for the attacks of Satan's forces. Nehemiah's enemies, or the enemies of the Jews had set themselves over the people of Jerusalem. They loved it that the city had fallen and they had been carried away captive. Such is the hate of the enemies of our Lord, they love our demise. Nehemiah had set himself to the work and to restore that which was lost. This was a Divine work of God, that God had breathed into him. He was busy doing it, and the enemies will not be happy at our obedience. So they sent a message to Nehemiah that they wanted to have a meeting with him. 'Let's sit down and talk', this was their request. But in all honesty, was it not to distract and have the work to cease. So we have this verse which is the response to their plan. and I sent messengers unto them - word study, to send; He had received their invite and was responding to it. He could have ignored it and just proceeded on, but he chose to send a reply. So he chose messengers to return word to them. Why the plual, messagner(s) rather than the singular, messenger? Perhaps, for their own protection, there is strength in numbers. But he responds to them and sends forth the message, even though he knew it would not be acceptable to them. The church is sent forth in the same manner today, we are messengers. We have heard the powerful, ordaining, glorious news and are sent forth to bring the message to those that destain it and hate and reject it. Those things matter not, we are sent to delvier the message. 'Preach the Word, in season and out.' Let us not be disobedient messengers, having the message of the King and not go forth to send it. Let us speak that which is right and good. Give the message delivered unto your heart. The angels were sent at Christ birth to bear the message of 'One is born in Bethlehem'; the prophets of old were sent to speakto the children ofIsrael; elijah was sent to speak to King Ahab, 'Hast thou found me, o mine enemy?' But they was faithful in giving the message. Let us be faithful as well. 'So send I you. . .' No rise up and go and declare the message. I am doing a great work - Nehemiah's reply and reason of not being able to meet with them; He had come to rebuild. He had come to restore the broken places. It was a great work from many perspectives. They did not have the numbers; the enemy was all around; fear was overall of it.