Nehemiah 5
1 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”
3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”
4 Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”
Human Perspective
During the building of the wall, many people are struggling. These are real problems. They need grain to eat. Some are mortgaging their fields, vineyards and homes in order to eat. Others are borrowing money to pay taxes, and some are even so destitute that they are selling their daughters into slavery because they can’t pay their debt.
Spiritual Perspective
We have to understand that satan doesn’t always attack from he outside. Some things happen just because we live in a fallen world. Things break down. Systems break down. And these things can happen inside out spiritual walls. Ou inner turmoil, and even turmoil generated from believers around us, can sideline us from the work that God wants us to accomplish. Both of these things can halt our progress.
6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them 8 and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.
9 So I continued, “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? 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”
Human Perspective
Nehemiah becomes angry, but he doesn’t react. He confronts the officials and tells them that what they are doing is wrong. He also reminds him that they not so long ago were under Gentile authority and God brought them out of that. He demands for them to stop.
Spiritual Perspective
When confronting wrongdoing, we must first pause, then confront in love. Nehemiah does this in verse 7 (I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials). This is a very important skill we must capture in our life. Too many problems arise in our life because we react irrationally. James tells us that “everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20). The motive for confrontation must always be love for the other. It is meant to bring understanding. Once we are able to move forward, we must move forward with confidence. As Nehemiah did, it is important to bring God into the equation (shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?) Finally, we must demand change.
12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”
Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!”
At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
Human Perspective
The officials agree to restore the practice of not gouging the people. As you see, Nehemiah holds them to it with an oath before him and before God, telling them that if they recant on the pledge, God will shake them into poverty.
Spiritual Perspective
This section is about correction. Our ability to accept correction is important; it grows us. But correction is worthless if not followed by action. In the story, the officials understand the errors of their ways and quickly correct it, but only after confronted. That’s why it is important to follow God and his leading in matters and act out in courage.
14 Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15 But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. 16 Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land.
Human Perspective
Nehemiah does not tax the people for 12 years. The food allotted to the Governor was really a tax of both money and food taken directly from the people. As it was, the people were paying taxes to Artaxerxes as well as the governance of Jerusalem, which was breaking them financially. Nehemiah does not do this. He looks for the provision of the people first. He and his men also acquire no land, meaning that Nehemiah has no agenda in getting rich off the people of Jerusalem.
Spiritual Perspective
The ministry has to come first. Nehemiah understood that his own provision was handled by God. It is why he could be generous. He understood the mission and the flowing of his generosity was from his own heart. Our own provision is handled by God. If we get this backwards, and rely on our strength, we lose perspective easily.
17 Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.
19 Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.
Human Perspective
Nehemiah generously shares among his people. He did not take the provision because the cost was high to the people.
Spiritual Perspective
Our generosity to others is an example of the spirit working in us. Our love for others must not, however, equal a “display” (Matt 6:1-4). The generosity that flows from us reveals the condition of our heart. We must keep this perspective: to love God and to help others.
1 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”
3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”
4 Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”
Human Perspective
During the building of the wall, many people are struggling. These are real problems. They need grain to eat. Some are mortgaging their fields, vineyards and homes in order to eat. Others are borrowing money to pay taxes, and some are even so destitute that they are selling their daughters into slavery because they can’t pay their debt.
Spiritual Perspective
We have to understand that satan doesn’t always attack from he outside. Some things happen just because we live in a fallen world. Things break down. Systems break down. And these things can happen inside out spiritual walls. Ou inner turmoil, and even turmoil generated from believers around us, can sideline us from the work that God wants us to accomplish. Both of these things can halt our progress.
6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them 8 and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.
9 So I continued, “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? 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”
Human Perspective
Nehemiah becomes angry, but he doesn’t react. He confronts the officials and tells them that what they are doing is wrong. He also reminds him that they not so long ago were under Gentile authority and God brought them out of that. He demands for them to stop.
Spiritual Perspective
When confronting wrongdoing, we must first pause, then confront in love. Nehemiah does this in verse 7 (I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials). This is a very important skill we must capture in our life. Too many problems arise in our life because we react irrationally. James tells us that “everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20). The motive for confrontation must always be love for the other. It is meant to bring understanding. Once we are able to move forward, we must move forward with confidence. As Nehemiah did, it is important to bring God into the equation (shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?) Finally, we must demand change.
12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”
Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!”
At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
Human Perspective
The officials agree to restore the practice of not gouging the people. As you see, Nehemiah holds them to it with an oath before him and before God, telling them that if they recant on the pledge, God will shake them into poverty.
Spiritual Perspective
This section is about correction. Our ability to accept correction is important; it grows us. But correction is worthless if not followed by action. In the story, the officials understand the errors of their ways and quickly correct it, but only after confronted. That’s why it is important to follow God and his leading in matters and act out in courage.
14 Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15 But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. 16 Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land.
Human Perspective
Nehemiah does not tax the people for 12 years. The food allotted to the Governor was really a tax of both money and food taken directly from the people. As it was, the people were paying taxes to Artaxerxes as well as the governance of Jerusalem, which was breaking them financially. Nehemiah does not do this. He looks for the provision of the people first. He and his men also acquire no land, meaning that Nehemiah has no agenda in getting rich off the people of Jerusalem.
Spiritual Perspective
The ministry has to come first. Nehemiah understood that his own provision was handled by God. It is why he could be generous. He understood the mission and the flowing of his generosity was from his own heart. Our own provision is handled by God. If we get this backwards, and rely on our strength, we lose perspective easily.
17 Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.
19 Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.
Human Perspective
Nehemiah generously shares among his people. He did not take the provision because the cost was high to the people.
Spiritual Perspective
Our generosity to others is an example of the spirit working in us. Our love for others must not, however, equal a “display” (Matt 6:1-4). The generosity that flows from us reveals the condition of our heart. We must keep this perspective: to love God and to help others.