Clean the Air - Nehemiah 5:1-16 - March 22, 2009

Sunday School Lesson – Clear the Air – Match 22, 2009

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitles “Stepping Up to Serve.”

Our scripture is Nehemiah 5:1-16.

Our Bible study this week reminds me of the situation we are facing in the world today, “greed.”

We can learn a lot from Nehemiah. We can think of Nehemiah as the CEO who is trying to rebuild a city that has been ravaged by those who had no interest in the city but only interested in themselves. Does that sound familiar?

Nehemiah led by example. He did not lead to draw attention to himself or to gain for himself but as GOD wanted him to lead. It is easy to take advantage of circumstances when you have power and influence. In our study, we will see how Nehemiah handled a serious situation by practicing what he preached. He was in Jerusalem to serve GOD, not himself.

Let’s read Nehemiah 5:1-5:

1 There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. 2 Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.” 3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.” 4 Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 We and our children are [just]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. 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[1] Lit but there is not the power in our hand because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

Nehemiah had to deal with injustices being brought upon the Jews by fellow Jews. In every society you will always have the “haves and the have nots.” There was a famine in the area, the people had dedicated themselves to rebuild the walls and some of the people had to mortgage whatever they had of value just to purchase something to eat. Those who were able to keep their farms and vineyards had to borrow to pay the king his taxes. Even others had to sell either themselves, their wives or children into slavery. The Hebrew word “enslaved” used in verse 5 has sexual overtones. Jewish law had strict guidelines regarding “debt slavery.” However, the Jews were not following those laws.

Here are some of the laws, as Jews, they were supposed to practice. They can be found in Exodus 22:25-27, Leviticus 25:35-37, Deuteronomy 24:10-13, such as:
- A Jew can make a loan to a fellow Jew without interest.
- Creditors could take pledges to ensure repayment but the debtor had rights.
- A creditor could not take anything essential to the debtor’s earning a living.
- A creditor could not could not enter a debtor’s house and take what the debtor had pledged.
- If a debtor offered his cloak, the creditor had to return the man’s cloak at night. Then the next day the debtor had to offer his cloak back to the creditor.
- Pledges were not required for widows and orphans.
- Creditors who did not follow the law were condemned.
- Creditors who followed the law were commended.
- The attempt was to preserve the dignity of the debitor.

According to Jewish law a Jew could lend money to a fellow Jew without interest. They could lend a Gentile money and charge interest. The problem was these Jewish countrymen were lending money to their fellow Jews and charging interest. When a Jew became the slave of a fellow Jew, it was for six (6) years. The law of the Sabbatical Year required that the slave be freed in the seventh year. The system had gone astray and the rich Jews became greedy. Does this remind you of some CEO’S in today’s society?

This societal situation was causing a problem which Nehemiah had to address.

Let’s read Nehemiah 5:6-9:

6 I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints. 7 After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.”[2] Ex 22:25 So I called a large assembly against them 8 and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” They remained silent and could not say a word. 9 Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the • fear of our God [and not invite]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the reproach of our foreign enemies?

Nehemiah became very angry when he learned of this situation. So Nehemiah called them all together. This implies that he called the rich as well as the poor together.

Nehemiah explained that they had already bought back the Jewish people that had been purchased by Gentiles. When a Gentile purchased a slave it was forever. In order to obtain the freedom of a Gentile slave, the slave had to be purchased or redeemed for a certain price. Does that ring a bell? JESUS purchased us with the price of HIS shed blood. HE redeemed us from the slavery of sin and death. Every believer has been purchased with a price and set free to live the abundant Christian life. WOW!!! Think about it.

Apparently the poor Jews became a commodity and the rich Jews bought them and sold them to either Jews or Gentiles. Nehemiah had been “redeeming” them only to learn that the situation was much larger than he thought. He went straight to the root cause.

Silence usually means guilt. Nehemiah reminds them of their relationship and commitment to GOD. They had strayed from serving GOD. They were serving their master “greed.” Being a Jew, they were to be an example to the world and these foreign leaders were watching them and their business practices. This hit home with those guilty.

Let’s read Nehemiah 5:10-16:

10 Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest.[3] Or us forgive these debts 11 Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage[4] Lit hundredth of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil that you have been assessing them.” 12 They responded: “We will return [these things]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this. 13 I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “• Amen,” and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised.

Good and Bad Governors

14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah—from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, 12 years—I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor. 15 The governors who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking food and wine from them, as well as a pound[5] Lit 40 shekels of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but I didn’t do this, because of the fear of God. 16 Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn’t buy any land.

This is the heart of our scripture. Nehemiah had been practicing what he was asking them to do. They knew it. Nehemiah did not have to change his lifestyle. They knew what he had been doing was for the good of the people to help them during this time of trouble. They knew Nehemiah was a man of character and served GOD.

So they agreed. Then Nehemiah went a step further, he had them take an oath before the priest. I understand that it was custom for men to keep things of value in the folds of the robe they were wearing. I imagine it is much like men carrying things of value in their pants pockets. I know when growing up, when we wanted to show that we had nothing, we would turn our pockets inside out and show an empty billfold. When Nehemiah shook the folds of his robe, whatever he had of value fell to the ground or floor. This was a gesture emphasizing that if they did not honor the oath they were taking, GOD would strip them of all the things they had of value.

They all agreed by saying Amen, which means “so be it.”

Nehemiah revealed what he had done since being appointed governor. He had power and influence. The governors before him took advantage of their position but he had not exercised the rights that he had. He had not placed undue burden on the people, rich or poor. They all knew what he had been doing. His power, position or influence had not gone to his head. When he asked the people to cooperate with him, they did, because he had lived the example.

The king appointed Nehemiah governor when he commissioned him to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and gate. He served twelve (12) years as governor and returned to the king. The king reappointed Nehemiah for a second term as governor and he returned to Jerusalem.

The scripture states that the wall was completed in fifty-two (52) days, yet Nehemiah talks about what he has done over a twelve (12) year period. What I am about to say is my opinion. I think the major breaches in the wall were completed in fifty-two (52) days but the wall took longer to fully complete.

We have recently heard of corporate greed, misuse of power, position and influence that has almost brought our nation and the world to its knees. The circumstances of our day reminded me of the situation Nehemiah was facing. Nehemiah was a man that served GOD, which was reflected in his lifestyle. His obedience to GOD prepared the way to solve a serious problem, which led to the completion of the project.

We need men and women of character who are dedicated to serve GOD to lead us and help us rebuild the walls and gates of our nation. I think GOD has brought us close to the brink of destruction as a wake-up call. What will we do? We have the freedom to voice our opinion and concern. We have the freedom to vote into the office the people who represent us. We must exercise that freedom or run the chance of losing it.

But more important, are we serving GOD as HE desires for our lives? Are we believers of character and integrity? Are we honoring GOD by the way we are living, working and conducting business?

GOD has chosen all believers to obediently serve HIM. HE has a wonderful plan for every believer. Seek the relationship with HIM and HE will guide your path to obedient service.