2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
The famine hit hard. They bought food at extreme prices, some put their homes for a sale or second mortgage to help ends meet, and some borrowed money to pay the taxes to the king.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Nehemiah was unaware of the problems that some of the people were having. But, when he became aware of what was happening in their lives, he became angry. He felt their hurt and listened to what caused them to hurt.
7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
Nehemiah gave thought to how to handle what was going on with the hurting people. He called the people who had the advantage, the leaders, and told them what they were doing wrong. He explained to them that the people they were exploiting were their brothers. He called a meeting large enough to address all of them at the same time.
8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
Nehemiah said the people who do not know God had our brothers and we paid the debt to get them back. Now you sell them again and we have to use our money to buy them back again? No one had anything to say.
9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
Nehemiah told them, what they are doing is not good. We should be an example to the heathens in how to conduct righteously, instead you act as they. Do you not fear God?
10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
Nehemiah said, if I wanted to, I could do as you do. What you do is wrong. The people are struggling and you have taken advantage of them. You charge interest on money they admit they don't have. The people who walk closely with me, do as I do. We do not condone using people.
11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
Give the people back their belongings today. Also, give them back the extra charge you took from them. When people are struggling we are to meet the need. We are to solve the problem. We are not to put them in a seemingly temporary fix and LATER make matters worse for them. We help by helping. There is a famine going on. This was not the time for gouging. This was not the time when people were being wasteful.
12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
Nehemiah addressed the problem and the people agreed to do what Nehemiah said. Nehemiah told them to take an oath after they said they would obey. When an oath was taken, it was putting your life on the line.
13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.
Nehemiah asked God to remove anyone who would not keep their promise. The people said, Amen. Nehemiah was serious about what he said and did. He was a no-nonsense leader. This kind of leader was needful. When people are in trouble, Nehemiah is the type of leader you need.
14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
Nehemiah was given the assignment to lead. He served. Although he was in charge, he demonstrated his leadership by serving and not taking advantage of people in hard times or any other times.
15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
Nehemiah said the people are used to being taken advantage of by the government. When people do not have a leader like Nehemiah, they think that this is the way it is supposed to be. Jesus put a stop to this thinking when he turned the water into wine. Jesus said let the governor drink the wine first. The governor drank and said this wine was saved for last. He further ( the government) admitted we don't care what we give you to drink once we have you drunk or hooked. People are supposed to know how the government is to operate from the opening to the closing of the day. Because you change the person in charge does not mean that the rules change. Play by the good rule no matter who is running the show!
16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
There is a famine going on, and Nehemiah still worked on the wall. Nehemiah said he did not buy land neither did the people who work closely with him take advantage of the hard times. When God is in charge of our lives, things should be consistent. That is how we show the world that the hand of God is upon us. Famine or no famine, God's work is consistent and our behavior should show it.
17 Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
Nehemiah further explained that he had plenty of food because it was given to him because of his position. He said 150 plus people ate every day at his table. But he did not eat as they did because he knew that times were hard and he did not want to add burden to burden. He could have said my title gives me the right to eat and I would not be in violation of the law. But love thinks and considers the times. Nehemiah said, as a leader, we must show people more than by words, we must lead by example. Leaders must be a show, then tell.
19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah is consistent in his communication of prayer in his life. He told God the truth. It does not matter if others say, he should have reworded his prayer; he spoke as he spoke and God did not disqualify his prayer. Nehemiah said when you think of me Lord, think good. Plain and simple. Remember the good I am doing. If we do not say what Nehemiah said or are bold enough to say it, we think it and expect it.
My Minute Song
Nehemiah No Nonsense
Nehemiah no-nonsense kind of leader
When he spoke he always told the truth
If you told him you were going to do right
He told God if you didn’t, get rid of you
We need leaders like that
We need people that tell the truth
We want to know you’ve got our backs
And do what God says do
Lord send us leaders with a backbone
People want to see what is real
Lord gives us a Nehemiah
A man that has your heart and can feel.
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