As the 2008 National Football League season began for the Dallas Cowboys, fans of America’s team had high expectations of finishing with a Super Bowl victory.
What happened to the Cowboys last season? Some might speculate, “A house divided cannot stand.” Nehemiah saw a similar situation when the Jewish people did not work together to accomplish God’s purpose.
In chapter 5 of Nehemiah, wealthy Jewish brethren were calling for the debt to be paid on their borrowed money. Internal injustices and financial strains on families were putting the project in jeopardy. Nehemiah had to find a solution and act fast.
Hear the hurt (Nehemiah 5:1-5)
The volunteer workers who were rebuilding the wall were receiving no wages. To add further misery, the area was distressed because of famine.
“Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers” (v. 1). “Outcry” is the same word used in Exodus 3:9 when God heard the cry of the people held in Egyptian bondage.
Families had to mortgage their fields, vineyards and houses so they could buy grain. When time came to pay the king taxes, money was borrowed. The lenders, who were fellow Jews, demanded the impoverished to yield their fields and vineyards as collateral for the loans. The moneylenders knew the borrowers would have to surrender their property when payment was due. If no property was available, they demanded their children, who were used as slaves. God’s chosen people were hurting.
How easy is it to miss someone hurting? I will never forget the day my wife and I ran into a member of our Young Married Sunday school class while shopping at the mall.
I started off by saying jokingly to her, “Where is that good for nothing husband of yours?” Her answer back was, “He left me.”
My wife caught the hurt in her voice, but I did not. I kept kidding with her about her husband, thinking she was joking. It took me awhile before I finally saw the tears running from her eyes. Her husband really had left her. I missed the hurt because I was wrapped up in trying to be “Mr. Funny Man.”
As Christians, we should never become so engrossed in other things that we miss the hurt or desperation in others. Nehemiah recognized his brethren were in trouble.
Confront the wrong (Nehemiah 5:6-9)
Nehemiah heard what the men and their families were facing as they worked on the walls of Jerusalem. “When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry” (v. 6). He knew he had to intervene in the situation. Nehemiah realized he must confront the wrong.
Scripture indicates Nehemiah did not let rage fuel his actions as he approached the wrongdoing. Verse 7 tells us he “pondered” before he approached the “nobles and officials.” He allowed himself time to calm down before he acted.
How many times has our “seeing red” got in the way of handling a situation correctly?
What was the wrong he must address? The actions by the wealthy Jews were not necessarily illegal. If a debtor missed a payment, those holding the note could take their fields. No land to plant a crop meant they had no means to support a family. A debtor was then forced to sell their children into slavery.
Nehemiah told them, “You are exacting usury from your own countrymen” (v. 7). The practice of charging excessive interest is called usury. Charging excessive interest violated the law (Exodus 22:25, Deuteronomy 23:20). The Jews charging the interest knew they were breaking covenant law, but they did it anyway.
In verse 9 Nehemiah says, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?” There were two fears common to all Jews, punishment from God and ridicule by other nations. Nehemiah reminded them their evil actions could make their fears a reality.
Nehemiah was upset because these wealthy Jews were taking advantage of their own people for personal gain. The Lord wants his children to do what is right.
As Christians, we must confront the sin of the sinner in hopes of turning them towards Jesus.
Set the example (Nehemiah 5:10-16)
As a parent, I hear this phrase often from my two boys, “Dad, you do it.” The phrase is heard when I correct the boys about doing something they have observed me doing myself. It is difficult to provide instruction about what is correct when you do not set the correct example.
Nehemiah says, “Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them” (v. 10). These are strong words because the taking back of property was within the law; the usury was against the law.
Nehemiah reminded them to check his record from when he had served as governor for 12 years, replacing Sanballat. He knew times were tough, so he refused the “40 shekels of silver” and “food allotted to the governor” (v.15) that came from the people. Verse 17 reveals Nehemiah fed 150 members of his administrative staff out of his own pocket.
Nehemiah set an example of fair and understanding treatment of others during difficult times as a nation. Nehemiah has modeled a godly way for us to treat others.
As a Christian, should our motives be generosity and compassion or personal gain? This lesson is very applicable to what many of our neighbors are facing today due to the downfall of our nation’s economy.
Let us rise to the occasion and be Christlike in our treatment of others.
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