Rebuilding Broken Lives Nehemiah 5 Page 407 in Pew Bibles

Nehemiah 5: There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. 2. Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.” 3. Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.”

4. Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5. We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” 6. I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.

7. After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” So I called a large assembly against them 8.and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” They remained silent and could not say a word.

9.Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies? 10. Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest. 11. Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and olive

oil that you have been assessing them.” 12. They responded: “We will return these things and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this. 13. I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing!”

The whole assembly said, “ Amen,” and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised.

Rebuilding Broken Lives Nehemiah 5

A Restoring Work Repaired (35 times in chapter 3) –Literally, To make strong, to restore to strength 4:7 “The repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and… the gaps were being closed” –Progressing: Literally, being bandaged up or healed up.. >

What’s Going On… The community that had rallied together to rebuild the wall is now threatening to come apart –Vs. 1 “There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen.” >

What’s Going On… Three groups are in troubleThree groups are in trouble 1.Those with no land, but needed food 2.Landowners who had mortgaged their land to buy food in time of famine 3.Those who had to borrow money to pay their taxes A fourth group is loaning them money at 12% APR and requiring their family members as collateral. >

What’s Going On… Some have defaulted on their loans and had to hand over their children as debt-slaves. –Vs. 5 “We are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved” >

What’s Going On… The loan sharks are not enemies from the outside, but their fellow Jews. countrymenVs. 7 “I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, ‘Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.’” > Countrymen: Literally, brethren, people from the same family.

J. Vernon McGee “In the history of the church we have seen that when the Devil could not destroy the church by persecution, the next thing he did was to join it!”. >

Five Failures to Avoid >

1. Don’t Fail to Grasp the Purpose of the Community Community: Don’t think geography, think relationally and obligationally… we are a community of faith. Vs. 8 Nehemiah: “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” The purpose of the wall is to protect the people; anyone here see a disconnect?The purpose of the wall is to protect the people; anyone here see a disconnect? App >

God’s People Should Never Be Part of Enslaving Others By Tempting Others into SinBy Tempting Others into Sin –John 8:34 “Jesus responded, ‘I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.’” –Luke 17:2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble.” >

God’s People Should Never Be Part of Enslaving Others Through What We SellThrough What We Sell –Illicit drugs, gambling, pornography, or anything else that gets people started into an addictive lifestyle (or enables it to continue). –When we do this, some of the people who stumble will be part of our Christian family –The Christian community exists to help people find deliverance from these things!. >

2. Don’t Fail to Obey Clear Commands of Scripture 1.Loaning to Fellow Jews at Interest Vs. 9 “Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right.” Deuteronomy 23:19-20 “Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or anything that can earn interest. You may charge a foreigner interest, but you must not charge your brother interest.” >

2. Don’t Fail to Obey Clear Commands of Scripture 2.Enslaving Fellow Jews –Leviticus 25:39-40 "If your brother among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, you must not force him to do slave labor. Let him stay with you as a hired hand or temporary resident; he may work for you until the Year of Jubilee.”. >

3. Don’t Fail to Follow the Example of Spiritual Leaders Vs. 8 “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners” Vs. 10 “I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain [i.e. at no interest].” Vs. 15 “The governors who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking food and wine from them, as well as a pound of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but I didn’t do this...” >

3. Don’t Fail to Follow the Example of Spiritual Leaders Nehemiah had 150 people to feed plus guests, but… –Vs. 18 “I didn’t demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.” Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders who have spoken God's word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.” >

4. Don’t Fail to Respect God fear of our GodVs. 9 “Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God” the fear of GodVs. 15 “…but I didn’t do this, because of the fear of God.” 1.Fearing God means 1.Fearing God means you live in constant awareness that God has the power and the right to deal with you as He pleases. 2.Fearing God means 2.Fearing God means you have an ongoing desire to please Him that is so great, that displeasing Him is your greatest fear. >

Oswald Chambers "The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else." >

5. Don’t Fail to Accurately Represent the Lord to Others not invite the reproach of our foreign enemiesVs. 9 “Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies?” Reproach: Taunts and jokes and ridicule –I didn’t think he could hold out –I knew he wasn’t sincere –Yeah, they’re all a bunch of hypocrites –See, there’s not anything to it! >

5. Don’t Fail to Accurately Represent the Lord to Others not invite the reproach of our foreign enemiesVs. 9 “Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies?”. Every Christian should assume responsibility for the Lord’s reputation

Rebuilding Broken Lives