Nehemiah 6:14

My God, thinke thou vpon Tobiah, and Sanballat, according to these their workes, and on the prophetesse Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would haue put me in feare. Nehemiah 6:14 (KJV)

Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I of Persia when he received news about the state of Jerusalem. The city walls were broken down, and the people were in great distress. Burdened by this report, Nehemiah sought the king’s permission to travel to Jerusalem and oversee the reconstruction of the walls. Throughout the rebuilding effort he encountered numerous challenges and opposition from several individuals, including Tobiah, Sanballot, and the prophetess Noadiah, all of whom are mentioned among the opponents in Nehemiah chapter 6.

Tobiah was an Ammonite official, while Sanballat was the governor of Samaria. They opposed the reconstruction efforts, trying to intimidate Nehemiah and discourage the work through false accusations, rumors, and threats. Noadiah, identified as a prophetess, also opposed Nehemiah’s mission and joined the other prophets who would have put him in fear.

In his prayer Nehemiah asks God to remember the actions of Tobiah, Sanballat, and Noadiah, and to turn the hearts of the hostile peoples, bringing shame upon them and causing them to abandon their attempts to thwart the work. He entrusts judgment and justice to the Lord, asking that God deal with his adversaries according to their deeds. Rather than seeking personal vengeance, Nehemiah leaves the outcome in God’s hands, demonstrating his reliance on divine justice, his humility before God’s sovereignty, and his desire for God’s righteousness to prevail.

This passage reveals Nehemiah’s deep trust in God’s sovereignty and his willingness to submit to divine judgment. His example encourages believers to place opposition and fear into God’s hands, to pray for God’s righteous judgment, and to remain steadfast in God‑directed work, confident that God will act according to His perfect timing and justice.