Thoughts for the Day

Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish kin. For there were those who said, ‘With our sons and our daughters, we are many; we must get grain, so that we may eat and stay alive.’ There were also those who said, ‘We are having to pledge our fields, our vineyards, and our houses in order to get grain during the famine.’ And there were those who said, ‘We are having to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay the king’s tax. Now our flesh is the same as that of our kindred; our children are the same as their children; and yet we are forcing our sons and daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been ravished; we are powerless, and our fields and vineyards now belong to others.’

I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints. After thinking it over, I brought charges against the nobles and the officials; I said to them, ‘You are all taking interest from your own people.’ And I called a great assembly to deal with them, and said to them, ‘As far as we were able, we have bought back our Jewish kindred who had been sold to other nations; but now you are selling your own kin, who must then be bought back by us!’ They were silent, and could not find a word to say.... Restore to them, this very day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the interest on money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.’ Then they said, ‘We will restore everything and demand nothing more from them. We will do as you say.’ And I called the priests, and made them take an oath to do as they had promised. I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, ‘So may God shake out everyone from house and from property who does not perform this promise. Thus may they be shaken out and emptied.’ And all the assembly said, ‘Amen’, and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We ended Chapter 4 of Nehemiah with the people building the walls with one hand on a trowel and the other with a sword, to complete the work that God had set them, this despite all the opposition they were getting. Now, though we hear nothing of the wall, they seemed to have stopped. All we hear is the strife that has occurred within the community itself. There is a famine and the wealthy are not prepared to share what they have with those who have been unable to provide food because of the work they have been doing on the wall. Indeed we learn that the poorest in society had to borrow to pay their tax and feed their children, and as the price of grain rose they were forced to sell their children.

We learn that Nehemiah is angry. God demands that the poor are treated fairly, and that the rich in their greed do not make a profit from their misery. After serious thought he calls a meeting of the leaders and accuses them of profiteering. He uses a wonderful practical image - he shakes out his clothing and says this is how God will treat them if they do not keep their promise to reform.

Nehemiah's example should be one we follow. He did all that he could to support those in need for that is what God calls us to do - to love Him, and also our neighbour.

Lord God,
when life is financially difficult,
and the prices of everyday things keep going up,
help us to realise that they often hit others
far more than us.
May we do all that we can and give financially
or offer practical help
rather than just look after ourselves.
Amen.