Response to Division Within the Camp
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 5/10/2015 PM |
Text: | Nehemiah 5:1-7 |
Psalters: | 206, 326, 253, 208 |
Applicatory to the Lord's Supper |
- The problem. All was not sweetness as might be implied from chapter 3, but a “great cry” arises, including many of the wives.
- The women (1, the food preparers) did not have sufficient grain to feed their families in light of a recent famine (3b).
- Another problem was the charging of interest (usury) (7b,10b), which was illegal with brothers (Ex. 22:25; Lev. 25:36,37).
- Disunity is most serious in a community so devoted to the idea of brotherhood.
- Nehemiah’s response.
- First, Nehemiah “was very angry” (6) and “consulted with myself” (7).
- Nehemiah called a meeting of the wealthy creditors (7) in a public gathering (13b).
- First, he appeals to the unity the Spirit of Christ made.
- Second, he appeals to the lenders to apply Jubilee (releasing debt slaves) in light of the present emergency.
- Third, he appeals to the testimony their conduct leaves on God and on God’s name (9c).
- Further, he calls them to conduct themselves in “the fear of our God” (9b).
- And Nehemiah exemplified the way to conduct oneself toward the poor (10,11).
- Conclusion to this matter.
- Note well the manner with which Nehemiah deals with this problem: appeals to the fear of God, not by making rules.
- God worked repentance and the creditors “found nothing to answer” (8b) and agreed to these concessions (12a).
- Nehemiah concludes with the recording of his prayer to God to “remember.”