Leader who sets a good example

Nehemiah 5:6-19

⁶ When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. ⁷ I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them ⁸ and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.

⁹ 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 Gentile enemies? ¹⁰ I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! ¹¹ Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil."

¹² "We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say."
Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. ¹³ I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!"
At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

¹⁴ Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. ¹⁵ But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels ^[a] of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. ¹⁶ Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we ^[b] did not acquire any land.

¹⁷ Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. ¹⁸ Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.

¹⁹ Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.

1. Message

Content

1. Nehemiah was very angry at the mutual exploitation of the people which caused much suffering and grumbling and he was determined to properly address this. (v.6-7a)

2. Nehemiah first condemned the leaders and officials, followed by convening a public meeting to deal with the matter and to point out their mistakes; the people were speechless. (v.7b-8)

3. Nehemiah came up with a solution which was to have all pawns and mortgage returned unconditionally. (v.9-12a)

4. Nehemiah summoned the priests and strengthened the promise by which the people took oath. (v.12b-13)

5. Nehemiah tells of the time when he was governor of Judah for 12 years; times were difficult for him, trying to understand people and setting a good example by many deeds. (v.14-19)

Themes:

1. The spirit of restoring the law

2. Leader who sets a good example

2. Who is God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit?

- God worthy of reverence (v.9, 15)

- God who judges (v.13)

- God worthy of praise (v.13)

III. What does the passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations and warnings)?

1. Violation of the law

When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say. (v.6-8)

If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest. (Exodus 22:25)

" 'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind ^[a] from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you. (Leviticus 25:35-36)

You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a brother Israelite, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess. (Deuteronomy 23:20)

The law of Moses clearly requires that whoever lends money to God’s people who are poor, must not charge interest. Also, if there is a countryman who cannot support his own life, we must help him like we would to an alien or temporary resident so that he can continue living among us. We must not charge interest; we must fear the Lord so that he can continue to be our neighbor.

Furthermore, when lending money to aliens, the people may charge interest but not to their own countrymen. If they follow this law, God will bless the land which they occupy.
Although the law is stated very clearly, due to man’s selfishness and greed, pawns and mortgages still occur which oppress his own people causing Nehemiah to be angry.

Reflection: Have I ever fallen into the mindset of “the Bible teaches one thing, and acting in reality is another?”

2. The spirit of restoring the law

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 Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil." (v.9-11)

Nehemiah required the rich and those who exploited others to give up their power and to return unconditionally regarding pawns, mortgage and interest. Nehemiah did so to restore the spirit of the law. The so-called return to the spirit of the law, if converted to today’s context, would be to require all to return to the principles taught in the Bible.

Reflection: Do all my actions and the way I deal with people conform to the principles taught in the Bible?

3. Heavenly standards

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 Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil." (v.9-11)

Interest charges, pawns and mortgages, on a social aspect of the system, are, to a certain degree, quite reasonable. However there is much difference between the principles in the social system and the principles in the kingdom of God. The point is that the way of doing things in the kingdom of God should be beyond the social system; the principle of “sharing in love” and to have the attitude of “sacrificing oneself”. These are the standards in heaven that are much higher than social standards.

Reflection: As a subject to the kingdom of God, is the way I deal with people only in accordance with the social system or is it beyond that?

4. Leader who sets a good example

Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels ^[a] of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we ^[b] did not acquire any land.

Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people. (v.14-18)

Nehemiah is truly one who is able to take the whole picture into account and a leader who sets a good example for others. Since when he took responsibility by using wisdom to resolve their grievances, to understand the people’s hard work, followed by 12 years as governor of Judah, he and his family did not eat the food that was meant for the governor.

In accordance with the system, the people were obliged to fulfill the needs of the governor. Even the former governors accepted their offerings. However, because Nehemiah feared the Lord, and because he sympathized for the people, he insisted on not accepting their offerings in order to reduce the people’s burdens.

Though he did not accept the wealth that he was due, he was still wholeheartedly involved in the work of reconstruction, along with all of his servants. Although there were many expenses involved in the reconstruction, he still insisted on not accepting the wealth he deserved.

Reflection: What can I learn form Nehemiah? Do I have a heart of compassion? Also, do I walk the walk and not only talk the talk? Or do I act according to what I have said and even go as to set a good example for others to follow?

5. Asking God to remember our good deeds

Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people. (v.19)

Nehemiah asked God that He remember all that he had done for the people. Therefore, we may ask God to remember all those, including ourselves, who have done good, according to his good intentions.

Reflection: Do I often ask God to remember all the good deeds done, according to his good intentions?

IV. My prayer / Life applications