Nehemiah 5

Last week with Pastor Calvin, we looked at Nehemiah chapter 4 and details the opposition. God's people faced from outsiders while trying to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.

We looked at some strategy for how to deal with outside opposition to the mission of God in our lives in our church.

We find in Nehemiah chapter 5 is a different kind of obstacle an internal threat.

We are going to see something that we still see today, I would call it: Christian Cannibals OR Christian Parasites

What is a cannibal? Someone/something which eats its own kind

What is a parasite? Is a plant, animal, or microorganism that lives on or inside another living organism (called a host) and gets its nutrients at the host's expense without providing any benefit in return.

Lets look at this passage and keep watch for cannibals and parasites.

The Threat:

Nehemiah 5:1–2 ESV

1 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. 2 For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.”

Food Shortages

Nehemiah 5:3–4 ESV

3 There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.” 4 And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards.

Financial Ruin - Payday loans, credit cards, mortgages

Nehemiah 5:5 ESV

5 Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”

Enslavement - Selling themselves to pay their debts and keep their family from starving

That sounds really bad. Did you catch though who they were upset with back in verse one?

They mention the King's Tax in verse three as being burdensome, but it's almost like they say you know how Kings are “they be Taxin”

Nehemiah 5:1 ESV

1 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.

Why are these guys to blame?

The Response

Nehemiah calls out the ones who are responsible:

Nehemiah 5:6–7 ESV

6 I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7 I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them

Seeing injustice should produce righteous anger which leads to corrective holy action.

If you see someone treated badly it should make you mad and that anger should lead you to do something to help them.

Notice he does not just GO OFF, he “took counsel with himself” some of us need to lean this. Take counsel with yourself. breath. count to 10. pray.

These jewish leaders/ wealthy people were profiting off of the pain of their brothers and sisters by high interest loans

Leviticus 25:35–37 ESV

35 “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. 36 Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. 37 You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.

What else are they doing?

Nehemiah 5:8 ESV

8 and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say.

When they are unable to pay. They are forcing them into servitude until they're able to pay the debt back.

Leviticus 25:39–40 NLT

39 “If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and is forced to sell himself to you, do not treat him as a slave. 40 Treat him instead as a hired worker or as a temporary resident who lives with you, and he will serve you only until the Year of Jubilee.

This isn't just a handout, but it's a way for those who have a lot to help those who are struggling in a dignified way that respects them as a BROTHER and a fellow image bearer.

The Repentance and Restitution

Nehemiah 5:9 ESV

9 So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?

You have sinned against your brother - you saw him as a resource to mine and not a family to love, help and care for.

You have sinned against God - you know His law but chose to shake your fist at him and make your own rules because it made you a few bucks.

You have failed in our testimony to the outside world - “they dont even treat each other right.” they cant get along, TYPICAL CHURCH

Nehemiah 5:10 ESV

10 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain.

You are making it even harder for those of us who are trying to do right

Nehemiah 5:10–11 ESV

…Let us abandon this exacting of interest. 11 Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.”

Repent

Make restitution

Nehemiah 5:12–13 ESV

12 Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. 13 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

Hold them accountable

The Example

Nehemiah 5 ESV

14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. 15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. 16 I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.

So What?

I have a few applications. Some are uncomfortable some are fairly comfortable

The Nation-Wide Application: You are part of a system that has exploited, abused, and commited injustice against the marginalized and still is exploiting, abusing and committing injustice against the marginalized.

I didn’t say its all bad. I didn’t say its all your fault. I am not trying to give 5420 Campbell Street back to the Wyandot native American people.

What I can do is Realize that the way things are RIGHT NOW is impacted by injustice in the past and IF there was injustice in the past to think that there is right now?

SO i should be aware of it and expect to see it in my own life, my community, my country etc.

AND

Christians should be a voice and an active force for justice in our world

The American Church Size Application: The Kingdom of God and the people of God are not a meal ticket.

People should not be getting rich off the church. Period.

Can people in the church be rich? yes

Can pastors of the church have money? yes

Sandusky Life Church Size Application: We need to continue to love one anther in deed and truth by tangibly helping each other.

1 John 3:17–18 ESV

17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

The Personal Application: on an individual level, are you a christian cannibal or a parasite?

We see this kind of thing on a micro-level when we consistently choose our comfort and our preference and refuse to sacrifice for each other.

ALL of these things, like the issue in Nehemiah

are not living worshipful lives in fear of God

are not living in the mission God has called us to

are a billboard telling they world “What you are looking for, we aint got it” Peace? you are not going to find that here. Kindness? HA! Mercy? no, we are gonna judge each other and you.