Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Nehemiah 5 and Psalm 17

Nehemiah 5 presents a difficult season in the life of the returned exiles. The work on the wall was under threat again. This time, however, the threat came not from an outside enemy but from the financial and material strain the ordinary people were under. Much to Nehemiah’s frustration this financial pressure was, in large part, due to exploitation by their wealthy and more powerful fellow Jews.

As a wise leader, Nehemiah didn’t immediately respond in righteous indignation, but first pondered the situation in his mind (v.7) and then approached it strategically. He called a meeting of the powerful and wealthy citizens and confronted them with the truth in humility. He admitted that they had every right to lend money to the poor and confessed that even he had been doing so. However he called on them all (himself included) to stop charging interest immediately, to restore the interest they had already been paid, and to restore the fields and vineyards they had seized when the loans could not be repaid. In what can only be seen as a move of God’s Spirit, they all agreed wholeheartedly to restore it all.

Nehemiah confronted others wisely, truthfully and lovingly, which is a very difficult balance to maintain. But he did it so well that they received the rebuke, admitted they had been wrong, and put their repentance into action by doing the right thing. Clearly, he constantly was being guided, anointed and empowered by the Lord for this leadership role.

Heavenly Father, when I am confronted with injustice committed by others, please guide and empower me to confront it truthfully and in love, without self-righteousness. When I am the one whose injustices are revealed, help me to humble myself in repentance and to translate that repentance into restorative action. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.