Opposition from Within. Nehemiah 5

 

Nehemiah 5- Opposition from Within

The Devil had already caused discouragement among the Jews, and now he goes a step farther and causes conflict within. Some of them ad to mortgage their property to pay their taxes. They were borrowing money from their brethren. God said the Jews were not to charge their brethren interest.

Nehemiah was angry and he thought the matter through. He then openly rebuked the nobles and rulers for their actions. Evil should always be brought out into the open. We ought to be stirred up to a righteous anger when we see something wrong in the church. We need courage today, we need conviction.

The people could not answer Nehemiah so they kept quiet, but they will cause all the troubles they can. Nevertheless, he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, and he served God in his day and generation.

Nehemiah appealed to the wealthy Jews to restore what they had collected and not to collect any more payments. He made them take an oath and put it in writing.

He shook out his long robe in front of the crowd and said, “This is the way God will shake you out, and I will shake you out, if you don’t make your promise good”

Nehemiah had a right to draw a salary, as a Governor, but he did not. He regularly entertained one hundred fifty table guests. He also entertained Jews from surrounding nations who had come to live in the city but had not found a place to live. He did all of this at his own expense. He did not demand the governor’s food allowance, because he had a heart for his hard-working brethren.

 

 

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