Let’s continue in the “lecture” that Nehemiah gave (as recorded in Nehemiah 5) to his fellow Israelites who were exploiting their fellow Israelites and disobeying God’s commands.
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 5:9-11 NIV
Nehemiah points out how this behavior opens up God’s people to insults from the surrounding nations, who have already made it clear that they oppose the construction work being done at Jerusalem.
It sounds like these conspiring and disobedient leaders in Jerusalem are creating more opportunities for the surrounding nations to insult God’s people. Imagine what Israel’s enemies might say as they purchase an Israelite slave from another Israelite. Imagine what they would say as they count their money when someone – maybe someone like Nehemiah – purchases back that Israelite slave later on.
I also wonder if Nehemiah is pointing out that insulting God’s law is what caused Jerusalem to be destroyed in the first place, as God removed His protection. Continuing to blatantly disregard God’s clear instructions could lead to another fall of Jerusalem. Then, the mockers surrounding them – like Sanballat and Tobiah – would have a field day.
(FYI, the NASB translation includes the word “please” twice, when Nehemiah is imploring these “robber barons” to stop charging interest and to return their fellow Israelites’ property. I don’t even like to include the word “please” twice in the same e-mail note, for fear of sounding needy or desperate! Perhaps Nehemiah was less proud than me, though, and – in order to help out the community – was even willing to beg these abusers of the system to do – and be – better.)
Nehemiah even challenges them to return the interest that they have charged. Now, a 1% interest rate might not seem like much, but I’m not sure how often that was accrued. One interpretation (ref. Schoville, cited below) was that this was monthly interest, for an annual rate around 12%. Even if that’s less than modern credit-card interest rates, it doesn’t count if your defense for sinning is that other people are doing worse things than you. We are expected to do the right thing, not just “sin less than the next guy” (after all, this site is called Those Who Sin Differently). Here, Jewish leaders shouldn’t have been exploiting their brothers at all!
Nehemiah also illustrates a good example from his own behavior, though. He and his “people” are lending to those in need, helping them out.
In Nehemiah 5:12-13 , the audience here agrees, and Nehemiah calls in the priests. Now, I thought of this as having the priests sort of “notarize” an oath for this agreement. I suppose that making an oath before the priests was the same as making it before God. On the other hand, the Lookout (cited below) suggests that the priests were called to take this oath as well.
Nehemiah adds a curse to this oath: if it is broken, he calls upon God to take away the wealth (as I interpret it) of anyone who doesn’t live up to this promise. (A commentator [Schoville] suggests that we think of his symbolic gesture here like someone today emptying their pockets or purse.)
And, the people do what they said that they would. In fact, did you see an interesting phrase in verse 13? The people said “Amen”.
Now, when a preacher says, “And all the people said…”, waiting expectantly for the congregation to say “Amen”, that’s probably referring to 1 Chronicles 16:36. However, this passage in Nehemiah is a good reminder that we have an opportunity to testify to something that is being said, sometimes simply by saying “Amen” ourselves.
How about you? When you see someone publicly declare that they will repent from sinning, especially when this sin has been harming the body of Christ (although most sins have that effect, I suppose), are you ready to say “Amen”? Do you celebrate when exploitation is reversed, and those under heavy burdens are restored (along with their oppressors)? Or, do you always want sin to be punished: dramatically and forcefully?
What about our own lives? Are there places where we are keeping others in bondage, by continuing to take from them for our own benefit? Would you or I be willing to say “Amen” when someone proposes taking our own personal gains – certainly for ill-gotten gains, but maybe even what we worked hard for – and give it to those who need it?
Some things to think about.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for February 19, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, February 19, 2023, © 2022 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Ezra-Nehemiah, by Keith Schoville. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 