Nehemiah - Restore the Poor

Introduction:

Transition to the text: For the first few chapters of Nehemiah, everything was going great. Then we got to chapter 4 last week and Nehemiah starts to experience his first taste of opposition. Now that didn’t come to anything. In chapter 5 something potentially more dangerous comes up and Nehemiah has his greatest challenge yet. It seems that there are those in Jerusalem who are taking advantage of their brothers and sisters and leading them into poverty.

Why is this so important to address? Because one of the greatest issues that led to God’s judgement on the people of Israel, sending them into exile, was that they didn’t obey His law. It wasn’t just accidental sinning from time to time, but outright indifference. And one of the unique things with regard to God’s law is that written in it to guard against generational poverty.

You couldn’t exact interest.

Every 7 years all debts within the nation were cancelled even if what was borrowed was in the 6th year.

Every 50 years, all people were to return to their ancestral land. No land could be sold in perpetuity. Every 50 years, families had a clean slate.

As tells us that if the law is followed, there will be no poor people in the land of Israel.

So when Nehemiah finds out about this blatant disregard for God’s law, he is rightfully concerned. He is not about to have all that that he worked hard for come crashing down because a few greedy people can’t follow the law.

Remember that this was not about rebuilding a city or even a nation, but it was about restoring a people for God’s own possession.

And today, we learn that....

Big Idea: Restoring God’s people requires that even the poor are restored.

This is important when we see what Nehemiah was doing. The people of Israel were a people that, through their words and actions, shined the glory of God to the nations. How would Nehemiah respond to this growing crisis? How would you respond?

Let’s read...

Nehemiah 5:1–5 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.” 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. 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.”

1. Listen to the plight of the poor. ()

Explanation: When people bring a complaint, it’s easy to dismiss it as their problem. Nehemiah had other issues to deal with like ongoing construction of a half built wall. But he stops what he is doing and listens. He could have even passed it on.

But Nehemiah, knowing his scriptures and knowing the consequences of such a blatant sin stops everything to deal with it. Nothing is more important than people. The wall can wait. People take priority.

So what does Nehemiah do? He listens.

Illustration: But listening is hard sometimes, because we have to put aside our agenda and listen. Listening is especially important in marrirage. There was a certain husband who admited that his wife said he has 2 faults, 1. he doesn’t listen but he couldn’t recal what the 2nd one was. Sometimes the very best things we can do is to listen. It doesn’t matter if their problem is imaginary or perceived as unimportant in comparison to everything else we have going on. But when we listen, we restore their dignity. We restore their sense of belonging and purpose.

So what did Nehemiah learn when he listened?

They didn’t have enough food to eat so they were selling or mortgaging their ancestral homes to buy food.

They are borrowing money to pay the taxes on their fields and when that runs out they are selling their children.

2 things are happening here. The more wealthy jewish people are making money off of their brothers and sisters’ poverty and allowing the children of poorer jewish people to be sold into slavery.

So the problem is that there is already a distinction between the rich and poor. This is an issue of unity of the nation. When one person is poor, the whole people suffer. And those are your children being sold into slavery. The nation must be restored and that includes everyone.

Application: Now it is easy to get bogged down with the overwhelming nature of poverty in the world around us. It is just too much to bare. And to be honest, this verse doesn’t speak to ending poverty around the world. But it does speak to how we treat those who are a part of the kingdom of God. So yes, our primary concern should be to listen to the plight of other Christians and making sure that we are doing our part to alleviate their poverty.

With regard to poverty and the poor in the church, who do you need to listen to? Who can you give your time to where you just listen without judgement or offering easy fixes. Can you just listen?

Nehemiah first listened but he didn’t stop there or say....”well…I’ll pray for you.”

He got to work. Let’s continue reading.

Nehemiah 5:6–13 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 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. 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? 10 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. 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.” 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.

2. Address the problems. ()

Explanation: Nehemiah got angry. Now many of us assume that anger is a sin, but it’s not. There are times when anger is the only appropriate response to what’s going on. But let’s be careful lest we are consumed. vs. 7 goes quick, but there are 2 parts that separated by an unknown length of time.

1. I took council with myself.... Nehemiah didn’t just run to the offenders. He took time to breath. It doesn’t say it here, but based on previous history, he probably prayed.

2. He went directly to the offenders…we’re sometimes tempted to go to others and gather support for our case. It turns out that is just gossiping. Nehemiah went directly to the people and called them out.

2 charges: 1. Exacting interest and selling their brethren as slaves.

Now, here is something that we can’t miss. vs. 9 shows us that Nehemiah cares for these people as well. He cares for their souls and wants them to do what God wants them to do. You don’t destroy one part of the family for the sake of another. Part of the restoration was restoring the poor as well as the rich. So what’s Nehemiah’s plan?

Nehemiah is going to lend them money and grain. They will stop charging interest to their brothers.

Their ancestral homes will be returned to them.

They will restore to them the interest that they took.

Nothing more will be required from them.

This is a beautiful picture of what repentance looks like. You don’t just say, “I’m sorry.” You fix what was broken. But that is exactly what they did. They repented of their sinned and swore to not let it happen again.

Illustration: I remember one day I went to the refridgerator to get some milk for my cereal. As I opened the door the milk must have been on the edge of the shelf and it fell the floor. The cap came out and milk went everywhere. All over me the floor, the counters, the upstarts closet. It was everywhere. So I called amanda and said, we have to sell the house. I could have walked out the door and left it, but eventually that milk is going to start to stink. The same is true of the unrepented sin in our lives and the lives of those in the church. You must address the mess. For many of us the idea of confronting a bad situation is terrifying. Not all of us have letters from the King that implore people to listen to us. But the truth is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ requires that we first help people to see their sin and lead them to repentance at the cross of Jesus.

Application: Nehemiah’s role in this was to call people to repentance. Our role is to do the same. You can’t fix everyone. You can point them to Jesus…the only one that can restore them.

But it’s not enough to call people to live a lifestyle. Those who have attained it, must model it. And Nehemiah modeled it.

Let’s finish this chapter.

Nehemiah 5:14–19 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.

Nehemiah

Nehemiah cared for the people of Israel. He always saw their burdens and resolved not to add to it.

3. Lead by example. (Nehemiah 5:14-19)

Explanation: Now we learn here that Nehemiah didn’t make a changer here to stop exacting the governor’s allowance from the people. We learn that he never did. He was always leading by example.

Nehemiah cared for the people of Israel. He always saw their burdens and resolved not to add to it.

He lead by example in...

Working on the wall

He bought no land.

He led in generosity. The 150 people who ate at his table were fed at his person expense.

Notice that Nehemiah definitely put the burden of the poor on the rich. Just think about that for a minute. Not once are the poor criticized for poor choices that made them poor. That’s definitely something to take to heart.

So far in the book of Nehemiah and we should believe it will continue (if you have read ahead), Nehemiah has exercised an incredible degree of humility. When many in his position would be demanding their due rights afforded his position, he seems to flippantly set them aside choosing the greater good of the people of which he is one. He’s not ashamed to work. He’s not ashamed to be generous and doesn’t seem to hold his generosity as a virtue since we just now are learning of it.

Illustration: This should remind us of Jesus as he washed his disciples feet. But even beyond that it reminds me of Paul who did likewise.

Acts 20:33–35 ESV

33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

I wonder if Paul were reading as his example.

acts 20:33

Illustration: I’m always reminded of a Christian businessman who has resolved to reverse tithe his income. He lives on 10 % and gives 90 % to God. His 10 % is still large, but the principle stands. We have to recognize that all of our money is God’s anyway who has given us the gifts and the abilities to get to where we are. We are to be good stewards and examples of generosity, leadership and humility. Now in many cases we expect this kind of attitude of Pastors and Missionaries. We call church leaders to a life of sacrifice. But is it possible that God has called everyone to a life of sacrifice. To the best of our ability resolve ourselves to not add to the burdens of the poor and to the best of our ability to alleviate some of their poverty. This doesn’t necessarily mean always giving money, but teaching people how to make good decisions with budget. Help in financial planning as well as setting goals.

Application: Is there someone you could invite into your story to help get out of poverty? Remember we’re talking about the Christian first.

Reflection: What are you doing to restore the poor in the kingdom of God?

As we come to the Lord’s table we must remember that the first account of the Lord’s supper that was written down was in the book of 1 Corinthians. The gospels didn’t come until a few years later.

But Paul doesn’t write in terms of instructions, but as a rebuke, because the people had created these false divisions between the rich and the poor. And thereby the church was a mess.

1 cor 11:17-

1 Corinthians 11:17–22 ESV

17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

And then Paul goes on to tell us the proper way to take the lord’s supper

1 cor 11:23-

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.