Nehemiah Rebuilding A Community: The Poor: Nehemiah 5:1-19

Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community
The Poor

Nehemiah 5:1-19

 

The Poor (v. 1-6)

• Last week the problems were from the outside
  • This week, the problem is closer to home
• Fellow Jews taking advantage of their own brothers and sisters
  • Inequality and Injustice
• There was a great “outcry” from men and women (v. 1)
  • Because both were involved in this building process
  • The word “outcry” is the same word used in Ex. 3:9
• It affected 3 different groups of people:
  • Workers with no land ownership (v. 2)
    • Large families needing to buy food
    • Prices increased during times of famine
    • Families were working on the wall and were not able to earn money through normal employment
  • Landowners forced to borrow for grain (v. 3)
    • The land was not producing enough because of a famine
    • Interest rate was adding to their financial problems
  • Those unable to pay the taxes due (v. 4)
    • King Artaxerxes was still getting his during this time
    • Forced to sell sons & daughters into slavery

 

Dealing with the Issue (v. 7-13)

• Nehemiah takes time before speaking (v. 7)
  • Knows he needs to let his anger subside
  • Deals with the issue biblically
• Usury: charging excess interest
• Called a “large” meeting
  • All parties together to get this resolved
  • Work stopped on the wall
• Jews in slavery were bought back only to have their brothers enslave them again
  • Nehemiah leaves them without words
  • And he explains why it is wrong (v. 9) (Deut. 10:12)
• Nehemiah calls them to stop the usury and return what was gained off the backs of the poor
• To their credit, they acknowledge their wrong and agree to correct them
  • Nehemiah calls the priests to bind the agreement
• “Shook out the folds of my robe”= God will take away from those that disobey
• They all praised the Lord!

 

Setting the Example (v. 14-19)

• Nehemiah had been made the governor of Judah
  • He was able to take his share for the title but never did
• He and his men focused on the work at hand and did not further tax the people
  • Instead, they opened up their house and resources to serve others
• Ends with a statement about his right actions
  • Not that God needed reminding

 

So What?

• External forces could not stop the progress, but internal strife brought things to a stand still
• A story of Inequality and Injustice
  • Do we view ourselves as equals with those in our community or above those in need?
  • Does the injustice others face cause us concern or are we comfortable because it is their problem?
• Unity allows God’s plans to move forward

Meditation Verse: Phil. 2:4