Nehemiah 5:1 – 19 Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed
“About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.”
Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”
When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry, and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!”
So I called a large assembly against them and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!”
But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.
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 foreign enemies? I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil that you have been assessing them.”
“We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.”
So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised. I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of His house and possession every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!”
The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
Nehemiah’s Generosity
Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (12 years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.
The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. (40 shekels is approximately 1 pound or 453.6 grams of silver.) Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God. Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land.
There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy. Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.
It never fails. Just give a few rich people the opportunity and the next thing you know, they’re extorting money from the poor. Evidently, there has been a famine and now the poor are mortgaging their familial lands to survive and pay the king’s tax. Some families have even sold their children, particularly their daughters, into slavery.
Nehemiah is truly appalled! He and his men have been doing everything they can to buy back Jews who have wound up enslaved and now these haughty Jewish leaders are practicing usury. Not only are these practices totally contrary to the Law of Moses, but it’s likely that the Samaritans are quietly laughing up their sleeves at the way the richer Jews are oppressing the poorer ones.
Amazingly, the leaders do accept Nehemiah’s rebuke, even swearing oaths before the priests to cease such activities at once. Nehemiah even goes so far as to pronounce a curse on anyone who goes back on his word. “I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of His house and possession every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.”
Why are the leaders willing to listen to Nehemiah? Nehemiah and his men have already set a sterling example. Not only has Nehemiah been buying back Jews sold into slavery, but he has also steadfastly refused to accept the food allotted to the governor. In addition, Nehemiah has also refused to demand bread and wine and 40 shekels of silver a year from each inhabitant, as have the previous governors. Nehemiah has refused to allow his servants to oppress the people, focusing solely on rebuilding the wall. Finally, Nehemiah has refused to indulge in a land grab, using his resources to buy more people out of slavery. Given such an example, the leaders of Israel have little else they can say.
APPLICATION: “We didn’t need your help; we would have found the money somewhere else.” This conversation took place many years ago. A group of nurses was attempting to strike, paralyzing our hospital. When I tried to encourage them to remember that the hospital had paid for their nursing education, this was their answer. What these people refused to recognize was that I had foregone allowances from the hospital so that the hospital would have more money to pay nursing school fees. At that point, I could really identify with Nehemiah!
Sometimes no example is sufficient to prevent people from behaving in a selfish fashion. It is truly miraculous that Nehemiah was able to influence the Jewish leaders to such an extent that they repented and relented in their persecution of the poor. The key was Nehemiah’s generosity and honesty, plus his refusal to allow his servants to take advantage of their situation. While it was true that Nehemiah was probably entertaining nearly 200 people a day, the amount of food prepared was not excessive for that many people.
Through the years, we have repeatedly observed that upper-level leadership determines the direction any organization will go, whether it is a church, a mission, a school, or a secular business. When leaders determine to serve those around them, they set a positive tone. But when leaders choose to abuse power, the stage is set for disaster. Middle and lower-level managers will copy the example of those above them, creating miserable working conditions. Organizations that have been started to offer services may wind up existing for themselves alone, with resources being diverted rather than used appropriately. Blessedly, our mission hospital continues to offer care to the poor and indigent, despite economic constraints.
May God bless all leaders, so that they follow the example of Nehemiah! And may we all remember that when we are faithful to give generously, God will continue to pour resources into our situations!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow Nehemiah’s example and to pray for all those in leadership that they will do so as well. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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