Nehemiah chastizes the lenders

Nehemiah Chapter 5

Some of the men and women in Jerusalem began to raise a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. They complained they needed more money to buy food to survive. Many had mortgaged their fields, vineyards and homes to get food during the famine. Others had borrowed to the limit and had to pay taxes. Some had sold their children into slavery just to get enough money to live on.

Nehemiah heard the complaints and was angry. He spoke out against these nobles and officials and told them that they were oppressing their own relatives by charging them interest when they borrowed money. He called a public meeting to address the problem. And at the meeting he said that while many were doing all they could to redeem the Jewish slaves who sold themselves to pagan foreigners, the lenders were selling them back into slavery again. He told them they were doing wrong and should walk in fear of God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations. He asked for a stop to the business of loans. He told them to restore the fields, vineyards, olive groves and homes that very day. He told them to repay the interest they charged.

The lenders agreed and Nehemiah called the priests to be witness to the formal vow of their promise. He warned them that if they did not keep their promise, God would shake them from their homes and property. And for the next twelve years that Nehemiah was governor, neither he nor his officials drew on an official food allowance. Instead, he concentrated on working on the wall and refused to acquire land.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Nehemiah was not a bureaucrat in a well-guarded office, but a leader who got involved in the everyday work. A good leader keeps in touch with the work to be done. The best leaders lead by what they do as well as what they say.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Nehemiah's lecture to the lenders applies to us today. God never intended people to profit from other's misfortune. When a Christian suffers, we all suffer. We should help needy believers, not exploit them. Proverbs 28:27 says "whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing." Make it part of your life to help those in need around you.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother in law Mary just had a stroke this week. They are being tested by God and need a wealth of prayers. Pray for them now! Pray that they can find a place for Mary that won’t bankrupt the family.
And pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
Pray for my cousin Diane who is undergoing surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Update on Marthaline Sargent. She lost her battle with health problems and passed away last Tuesday. Our condolences to her son Patrick and daughter Stacey. Continue to pray for her husband Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who will soon undergo chemo for his prostate cancer.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and pray he can stop smoking.
Pray for Debbie who lost her home in a fire last week.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.