This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
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Genesis through 2Kings are
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NEHEMIAH
CHAPTER 5
1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Anytime God is doing a work through His people, there will be oppostion; both from without and from within.
7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
These people had committed sin when they chose to charge interest on a loan. Nehemiah let them know that this was "not good," because it was breaking God's law.
12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
Having been told of their sin, the lenders responded in a repentant action. They agreed to restore the collateral and the interest. Further, they agreed to require nothing from the borrowers!
13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
Nehemiah's gesture portrayed his prayer to God that if a lender didn't comply with their promise, they would be EMPTIED, or lose all their money and possessions. That's a pretty strong prayer!
14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
The "bread of the governor" mentioned here was the earnings from taxation. The governor was given an allotment of money from the king upon which to live. But the governor was also given the authority to tax the people for feeding him, his family, and his servants.
16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17 Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah didn't tax the people, and lived within his allotment from the king. He also continued to focus his attention upon BUILDING, and not on exercising his authoritative privileges. Please continue in Bible Study with us.
Earlier, we studied about the opposition without; here, we see the opposition within.
Some of the Jews, who had a little more money than the others, were making loans and charging interest.
This was contrary to God's law.
"If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury."(Exodus 22:25)
Yes, there are those IN the church who will take advantage of others in the church!
Finding this out brought the emotion of anger to Nehemiah. It's interesting to note HOW Nehemiah handled this anger. He did not respond with a COMMAND to stop the usury, for that was already God's command. But he did respond with a request that the people stop the usury.
Then he ASKED them to restore the collateral AND the interest!
As governor, Nehemiah had the authority to demand or order the restoration. However, as a follower of God, Nehemiah also realized that demanding doesn't always provide an amiable answer. It is far better to get people to make a COMMITMENT on their OWN.
The former governors had done this. But Nehemiah did not. He lived within his allotment from the king.
Notice (verse 15) WHY! He did that because of his "fear of God." Nehemiah's respect for God was greater than the authority granted him by the government!
I would to God, that we had leaders like that in our country today!
He did not buy land as he could have. He was content to live in the house that was built with the king's money (see Nehemiah 2:8).
Out of his own allotment, he prepared much food daily for those who worked with him. He actually fed 150 of the rulers (or chiefs) of the people. This would keep them from pressuring the people for provisions.
According to verse 17, Nehemiah exercised benevolence, and fed the "heathen" who came around. This man was very generous with what he had. He sought to gain nothing from his position. He only desired to use it for the betterment of the people and the country.
Therefore, verse 19 is not a braggert's prayer. It is a prayer that God would continue to bless him and allow these practices to continue.
Indeed, when we seek to follow God, and obey His will, we will find that we have need of nothing. God will provide our needs.