We live in an unjust world. Some practically swim in money and resources, while others struggle to pay the rent or feed their children. Even in the last few years, more of us have struggled as costs keep rising and pay does not rise to meet it. And we live in a relatively wealthy country! Whether it is true or not, it feels like those in power do not see the same concern with solving this issue; or perhaps they do not like the cost.
For the Jewish population of Nehemiah’s day, money misery was very real. Most lived close to starvation, one bad event away from disaster. Many of their fellow Jews took advantage of this situation. The external stresses that came with rebuilding the wall brought many to the brink of despair, and the devil used this opportunity to attack God’s Plan from within. Thankfully, God granted Nehemiah a heart of mercy for the oppressed.
The wall-building continued at pace, and Nehemiah had marshalled the citizens to labour with both sword and trowel, rebuilding the wall and remaining ready to fight on God’s side against those who might try to attack and defeat their work.
But all was not well. With the immediate external threat countered, an internal threat to the rebuild burst open. “There arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers” (v.1).
The outcry was due to money misery. With their hands holding swords or moving stones, the men could not earn to feed their families, who were now starving (v.2). To make things worse, those who owned land to grow their own crops were mortgaging their fields due to a famine (v.3). The existence of famine suggests God’s judgement upon the Jews for their behaviour to their fellows.
A third group were worried about the effect of taxes. They had borrowed to pay the Persian King’s taxes (v.4), which would make a committed “tax is love” enthusiast blush, borrowing at loan shark rates of 40 to 50%. To service this debt they were being forced to sell their children into slavery (not the indentured labour required under the Law), breaking up families and exposing them to risk of abuse and violation (v.5).
This crisis could blow the whole rebuild right apart.
Yet Nehemiah was not angry over the thwarting of his scheme. He was certainly angry (v.6). But his anger was directed at the injustice, not those crying out.
However, Nehemiah knew that responding in anger is unwise. He took counsel with himself, before bringing charges against the nobles and officials, charging them with the crime of exacting interest from their brothers (v.7), a clear violation of God’s Law (Deut. 23:19). Nehemiah did this publicly in a “great assembly” to shame them (v.8).
Nehemiah had known that the slavery issue was present and had already made an effort using the public purse to fix it, by redeeming Jews sold as slaves (v.8) to keep them away from foreigners. Some had taken the opportunity to make more money at the government’s expense by selling their brothers into slavery (v.8).
This was completely wrong. Their public behaviour should match their religious testimony (v.9). Instead, their practice should look like Nehemiah’s, who had lent money and grain to those in need, probably without interest (v.10). God’s Law prohibited charging interest to fellow Israelites, and taking advantage of poverty or need.
Nehemiah went further, suggesting an economic reset. The wealthy should return the property taken and interest charged (v.11). He made them swear an oath publicly so they would not privately back away later (v.12).
To make the consequences clear, Nehemiah publicly shook out his garment, dramatising the way in which God could shake away the properties of those men just as easily as Nehemiah straightened his cloak (v.13). The resolution found favour with God’s People, who did as they promised (v.13).
Nehemiah did not try to service the poverty to keep his project going, he tackled the injustice head-on. The problem was one of unbiblical behaviour. It had to be fixed, and quickly. Nehemiah realised that their culture did not reflect the merciful heart of God for the poor. He fixed it.
Many of us today are perhaps three bad events away from money misery at most. For many, misery is not their fault but that of conditions imposed on them by childhood or the actions of others. We are no more to blame for our poor condition than the poor Jews were.
The solution is the same. To treat each other with dignity and value. Not to take advantage, but to care for others even at our own cost. To put aside what we could have, to help those who need it. Just as Christ laid aside his privilege to show God’s love and mercy in healing and forgiveness, and save us from our sins.
May our heart reflect the heart of Christ who reaches out with mercy to those who are oppressed.