You can’t eat walls Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain… Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.” Nehemiah 5:1-2, 5Nehemiah’s alarm When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. Nehemiah 5:6A heart restoration I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say. Nehemiah 5:7-8•Blessed to be a blessing“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing....and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3•Love for people“If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them...Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you.” Leviticus 25:35-36The flow of wisdom 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 us stop charging interest! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.” Nehemiah 5:9-11Starts with GodFor where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:16-18Leads to justiceThen Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Mark 3:4-5Food for life“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...the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised. Nehemiah 5:12-13 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34(Mariners Church Chapel, Irvine, CA)
