nehemiah, the governor, the servant, shows he really does care series: rebuilding the wall

Nehemiah, The Governor, The Servant, Shows He Really Does Care

Series: Rebuilding The Wall


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“Nehemiah, The Governor, The Servant, Shows He Really Does Care ”


Nehemiah 5:1-19(NKJV) 1And there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish brethren. 2For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.” 3There were also some who said, “We have mortgaged our lands and vineyards and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine.” 4There were also those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our lands and vineyards. 5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and indeed we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.”


6And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, “Each of you is exacting usury from his brother.” So I called a great assembly against them. 8And I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?” Then they were silenced and found nothing to say. 9Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury!


11Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.” 12So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.” Then I called the priests, and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise. 13Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. Then the people did according to this promise.


14Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions. 15But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God. 16Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work. 17And at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us.


18Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people. 19Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.


People will abuse and take advantage of others



It was their own people doing the abusing - 1

1And there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish brethren.



Everyone was affected – 2

2For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”



Real struggle to even survive – 3-4

3There were also some who said, “We have mortgaged our lands and vineyards and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine.”

4There were also those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our lands and vineyards.



Their “brethren” exploited them without caring - 5

5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and indeed we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.”


What lesson can we learn?

God knows our difficulties – trust and look to Him


Nehemiah was one who cared – 6-9



Repulsed that they acted with so little caring-6

6And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.




Researched and investigated the facts and acted accordingly - 7

7After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, “Each of you is exacting usury from his brother.” So I called a great assembly against them.





Required an answer - 88And I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?” Then they were silenced and found nothing to say.





Required an answer - 8

Rightfully pushed for honest reflection in their lives - 9

9Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?



God sees our actions – repent and walk with Him


Nehemiah set a proper example for others to follow – 10-13



Refused interest or usury of any kind – 10a

10I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain…




Recommended a stop to the practice – 10b

…Please, let us stop this usury!





Required repayment - 1111Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.”





Required repayment - 11

Restitution resulted - 1212So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.” Then I called the priests, and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.



God expects our actions to match our “name” – make them count for Him


Sincerity of Nehemiah shines bright for all to see – 14-19


Sincerity of Nehemiah shines bright for all to see

Not power hungry - 14

14Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions.




Not a pilferer – 15

15But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.





Productive leader – 16

16Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work.






Paternal-like in his caring – 17-18

17And at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. 18Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people.






Paternal-like in his caring – 17-18

Proffered his praise and service to God and his people - 19

19Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.



We can help others if we sincerely care.


1 Corinthians 12:12-31(NKJV) 12For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?


18But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,


25that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.


Am I doing what God wants me to

do for the Body of Christ?

“Nehemiah, The Governor, The Servant, Shows He Really Does Care ”

nehemiah, the governor, the servant, shows he really does care series: rebuilding the wall

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