Nehemiah Series #10

Friendly Fire

Text: Nehemiah 5

Introduction

As we have seen thus far, Satan has engineered several different attempts to bring this God glorifying work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem to a screeching halt. Here are a list of those push through moments:

Enemies have come directly against them.

Contending with mockery by the enemy.

Had to push passed the halfway point while facing discouragement.

Hallelujah, none of these efforts were successful! The people continued to labor and ready to fight against the OUTSIDE enemey.

That being said, they forgot about a battle that any group of people, city, country, nation, or church can arise; a conflict that rises among themselves (aka friendly fire). What you will find is that at the root of their family conflict is something called SELFISHNESS.

Quote: Warren Wiersbe commented, “When the enemy fails in his attacks from the outside, he then begins to attack from within, and one of his favorite weapons is selfishness.”

If Satan can’t power over you with discouragement, he will then turn to DECEPTION (life is all about you or accepting something that is not true and biblical). This will inevitably lead to division.

Satan suddenly becomes neutral and simply supplies the ammunition to both side!

What I want to leave you with tonight are some steps to prevent the destruction of SELFISHNESS in your personal life, family life and church life.

Let’s first get a good grip of the narrative and then glean from some solid application.

1) The People Complain

VERSES 1-5

This was a cry against their own brethren (v1)

There were four groups involved in the crisis:

1. People going hungry didn’t own land to farm (vs. 2).

2. People owning land had to mortgage their property in order to buy food (vs. 3).

3. People owning land were so financially strapped that they were forced to borrow money in order to pay taxes (vs. 4).

4. Wealthy Jewish leaders loaned their kinsmen money to take care of the problem but for collateral took land and took children as slaves (vs. 5). Stephen Davey, Nehemiah, ed. Lalanne Barber, Wisdom Commentary Series (Apex, NC: Charity House Publishers, 2012), 107–108.

This kind of slavery was NOT prohibited in the Law!

Fellow Jews were to be considered as hired laborers, not as slaves.

(v5) The language here infers that their daughters either married their owners or they had been sexually molested.

All of this was brought about by a famine in the land.

While the majority of citizens faced economic hardships, a few wealthy nobles and rulers (v. 7) took advantage of the situation. They loaned money to their fellow Jews and took property as security. From some they even purchased their children as slaves. Mark Roberts and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, vol. 11, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1993), 202.

2) Nehemiah’s Wise Response

VERSES 6-13

The cross-roads Nehemiah came to is one we have all come to or are currently facing: Do I respond in my adrenaline rush of anger (or) take time to think my response through?

A. Nehemiah consulted with himself

He took time to consider what was at risk:

Not only the building project, but the future of the people’s unity before God.

B. Nehemiah confronted the nobles and rulers

He addressed their disobedience of Scripture (v7)

They could loan money and goods, but NEVER charge interest.

Every fiftieth year was to be a year of Jubilee of which any debt was to be wiped

He addressed how their selfishness violated God’s purposes for Israel. (v8)

“Do you really want to enslave the Jewish people? A people whom God has redeemed out of slavery?”

They were silent.

He addressed how their selfishness falsely represented God (vv9-11)

What the nobles and rulers were doing was not only shattering Judean unity, it was also making the nation a laughingstock among other nations. Mark Roberts and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, vol. 11, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1993), 204.

It’s one thing to say, “I’m sorry, I won’t be selfish any longer.” It’s quite another thing to say, “I’m sorry, I won’t be selfish any longer—and I’m returning the money which I took from you.” Stephen Davey, Nehemiah, ed. Lalanne Barber, Wisdom Commentary Series (Apex, NC: Charity House Publishers, 2012), 110.

He commanded a certain UNSELFISH strategy to be followed (vv11-13):

They had to make a promise to Nehemiah

They made a vow before the priests

They had to demonstrate submission to God’s authority

Nehemiah even counted himself as part of the problem (v10)

Don’t miss the power of removing selfishness in verse 13:

It prompted a celebration!

Their generosity brought gratitude out on display.

Quote: “People who live unselfish lives encourage those around them to praise the Lord.” Stephen Davey, Nehemiah, ed. Lalanne Barber, Wisdom Commentary Series (Apex, NC: Charity House Publishers, 2012), 112.

Nehemiah demonstrates to us all what SERVANT LEADERSHIP looks like!

Leading by demonstrating the same things he was commanding the people to do.

Do you get the picture here? Nehemiah was no ordinary ruler who lived off the labor of his subjects or took advantage of his position. Stephen Davey, Nehemiah, ed. Lalanne Barber, Wisdom Commentary Series (Apex, NC: Charity House Publishers, 2012)

Nehemiah was mixing mortar and hauling rock right along with the rest of them? Stephen Davey, Nehemiah, ed. Lalanne Barber, Wisdom Commentary Series (Apex, NC: Charity House Publishers, 2012)

Nehemiah wanted the praise of only one person; GOD!

True Story: Dr. Campbell, former president of Dallas Seminary, told the story of a young man who once studied violin under a world-renowned master. The time arrived for his debut. The performing arts center was filled with expectant observers and the media. Following each selection, despite the cheers of the crowd, the young man seemed dissatisfied. Even after the last number, when the shouts of “Bravo!” were the loudest, the talented violinist stood looking toward the balcony. Finally, an elderly man smiled and nodded in approval. Immediately, the young man relaxed and beamed with happiness. Stephen Davey, Nehemiah, ed. Lalanne Barber, Wisdom Commentary Series (Apex, NC: Charity House Publishers, 2012), 113.

3) Way To Prevent Selfish Destruction

A. LISTEN

One of the most important parts of leadership.

Listening is not lending your ears while developing some kind of defensive response.

Often times forgotten, WHY?

Takes time and effort.

Uncomfortable info.

You might actually be wrong in something you said or the attitude you chose to communicate truth.

You owe someone an apology.

You are actually a contributor to the current problem.

Leaders, companies, and church of all sorts succeed with the hearts of people when they take the time to intentionally listen.

It is consider by successful leaders as a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.

Question: How many of you would like to know how to grown and expand your relationship with your family, friends and church? YOU MUST LEARN HOW TO LISTEN.

I welcome any of our church family to speak lovingly about your concerns to me, even if they are criticisms.

B. THINK IT THROUGH

Now anger can be a valuable force, motivating us to affirmative action, but it can also be like a loose garden hose with the water turned on full throttle, flailing about aimlessly—doing much more harm than good. Mark Roberts and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, vol. 11, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1993), 208.

This is the part you actually take time to think about you are getting to unload on someone.

It is the part where you submit you words and emotions to the only one who used them perfectly; JESUS!

The one being criticized and the criticizer would do well to imitate Nehemiah’s example.

C. CONFRONT THE ISSUE DIRECTLY

Notice how Nehemiah did not begin with the great assembly.

Matthew 18:15 “15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”

Quote: Lloyd Ogilvie said, “Never say about someone something you are unwilling to say to that person within 24 hours.”

I have been given this advise over the years, “Keep short accounts.”

Here is some advice for yourself and for those who may come to you to talk about their complaint about someone: “Well, have you spoken to ________?”

D. ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES

What do we commonly see from state and national leaders?

ANS — rather than admitting their mistake, they play the blame game.

Nehemiah was open about his failures!

In the book “In Search of Excellence,” it is quoted from one business leader, “You need the ability to fail. You cannot innovate unless you are willing to accept mistakes.”

We would all agree that Corporate America needs leaders who can honestly say, “I WAS WRONG.”

So much more, we need church leaders and church members, Christian as a whole to admit, “I was wrong.”

Conclusion

Worship seeks the pleasure of God above all else. Mark Roberts and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, vol. 11, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1993)

For we Christians already know that we are failures, and we can freely admit it because we also know that God forgives us by grace and loves us without limits. Mark Roberts and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, vol. 11, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1993), 210.