Nehemiah 5

The Explanation

The people of Jerusalem are rebuilding the wall around their city. It is hard work, and it costs a lot of time and energy. But then something happens that has nothing to do with the wall, and yet it threatens to break down everything.

A loud cry rises among the people. Not from enemies outside the city, but from families inside. Fathers and mothers come to Nehemiah with tears. They say: our sons and daughters are many, we need grain to eat and live. Others say: we have had to mortgage our fields and vineyards and houses just to buy food during this hungry time. And still others say: we have borrowed money to pay the king's tax, and now we cannot pay it back. Look, our children are being taken as slaves to work off the debt, and we can do nothing about it, because our fields already belong to someone else.

Who is doing this to them? Not foreigners. Their own fellow Jews. Rich Israelites are lending money to poor Israelites and asking interest, and when the poor cannot pay, they take their land and even their children.

When Nehemiah hears this, he becomes very angry. He calls together the nobles and the officials and says: what you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God? We just bought our brothers back from the nations who had taken them as slaves, and now you are selling your own brothers again?

They are silent. They cannot find a single word to say.

Then Nehemiah says: give it back. Today. Give back their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, their houses, and also the money you charged as interest. The rich people answer: we will give it back, and we will ask nothing more. Nehemiah calls the priests and makes them promise it in front of God. Then he shakes out the folds of his robe and says: so may God shake out every man from his house and his work who does not keep this promise.

At the end of the chapter, Nehemiah tells about himself too. For twelve years he was governor, but he did not eat the food the governor was allowed to demand from the people. He paid for his own table. He did not use his power to become rich. He simply asks God: remember me, my God, for good, for all I have done for this people.

What Does This Mean?

The wall was almost finished on the outside, but on the inside the people were falling apart. God cares just as much about how people treat each other as He does about strong walls. You can build a beautiful church and still hurt the person next to you. Nehemiah sees that, and he does not stay silent.

Something else stands out. Nehemiah is angry, but he does not act out of his anger alone. He asks a question that goes deeper: should you not walk in the fear of our God? That means: do you not remember who God is? God had freed His people from slavery in Egypt. And now they were making each other slaves again. That does not fit with God at all.

The Common Thread

The Bible tells one long story about God who buys people back. In Egypt He bought His people out of slavery. Later Jesus would buy people back from a much deeper slavery, the slavery to sin and death. Nehemiah says something that sounds like a small echo of that big story: we have just redeemed our brothers, so how can you sell them again? Whoever knows he has been bought back by God cannot treat others as if they are worth nothing.

For You

You are probably not lending money with interest. But you can still use your power over someone else. At school, in your class, in your family. Someone who is a bit quieter, a bit different, a bit slower. Do you use your position to make yourself bigger, or to help the other person? Nehemiah shows that leaders serve. And every child who follows Jesus is a small leader in his own world.

Talk About It

Why do you think the rich people were completely silent when Nehemiah asked his question?

Where do you have a little bit of power, and how do you want to use it?

Praying Together

Lord God, You bought us back when we could not do it ourselves. Teach us to look at others the way You look at us. Help us not to use our power to grow bigger, but to help. Amen.