Do you know who to listen to and who to ignore? Nehemiah 5-9

Nehemiah 6:11-13 (NASBStr)

But I said, “ Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.” Then I perceived that surely God had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me.

Nehemiah was being threatened and oppressed by the people of the land who didn't want the city of Jerusalem rebuilt.   While this suppression was going on he also had difficulties with the citizens of Jerusalem as they oppressed their fellow Israelites.   In the above passage we see his response to a request of a false prophet to meet with in and the counsel of a "friend", also providing false counsel.   The "friend" suggested that he run into the temple to find refuge.    To a common man who had no sense of God's Word and one who had no fear of God and was only looking out for his own skin, this would have been great advice.  The Temple (just rebuilt under Ezra) would be a place of peace and safety.   Yet, Nehemiah knew that two things were wrong with this plan.  The first was that he was not a Levite.  Since he was not a Levite he could not enter into the temple on a whim.  He knew they wanted him to do so in order to give a bad report about him to the others.   Running into the temple would destroy his credibility.   The second reason he could not run from the enemy is that is not what people who fear The Lord do,   That is what people who fear man do.   In Proverbs 29:25 we read that the "fear of man is a snare."   Nehemiah was the example for all of the people in regard to what it means to be a man of faith.   He had indeed reminded God of that and asked God to bless him as a result in the previous chapter (Nehemiah 5).   Sometimes the advice we get from "friends" is wrong.   It needs to be filtered through God's Word.   Simply doing what others suggest is not wisdom.  Wisdom is to take the counsel of man and judge it against the fear of God and His Word.   Notice the next verse in this sequence.   Nehemiah stood strong for God:

Nehemiah 6:14 (NASBStr)

Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me.