“When I heard their complaints, I was very angry……You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.” Nehemiah 5:6, 11 NLT
As we come to chapter 5, this is a passage in Scripture that seems to be misplaced chronologically. When Nehemiah was sent to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls he was also installed as governor by King Artaxerxes. It is suggested by some commentators that the events of chapter 5 take place later in Nehemiah’s first twelve years as governor rather than when the walls were being rebuilt. But then there are others who think not. To me, it does seem it fits better later in Nehemiah’s first stay in Jerusalem as governor, and I will work from that viewpoint in this week’s insight. Whether at the time of rebuilding the walls or later in his governorship, Nehemiah exhibits a godly leader who administers justice, is generous, and leads by example.
Some of the men of Judah, along with their wives, raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. They were being taken advantage of due to financial hardship. There had been a famine in the land sometime earlier and many needed to sell their farmlands and homes for food to survive and borrowed money to pay their taxes to the Persian king. (Neh.5:3-4) Of course the wealthy saw an opportunity to make themselves richer and bought up property and loaned out money with interest against the Law of Moses. Some of the poor sold their sons and daughters to the nobles as slaves to make payments on their debt. The rich got richer, and the poor got poorer. I think we can identify with that even in our day.
When Nehemiah heard their cry, he was filled with righteous anger. “When I heard their complaints, I was very angry.” (Neh.5:6 nlt) Nehemiah reacted quickly to the injustice that was occurring to his Jewish brothers and sisters who were under his leadership. He called in the nobles, (the wealthy) who had taken advantage of this plight to the poor and brought charges against them. He then called a public meeting and said, ‘“We are doing all we can to redeem our Jewish relatives who have had to sell themselves to pagan foreigners, but you are selling them back into slavery again. How often must we redeem them?’ And they had nothing to say in their defense.” (Neh.5:8 nlt) Nehemiah reminded them that he and others were working towards buying back those who sold themselves as slaves and ended up in the hands of pagan foreigners. And now the nobles were selling them back again into slavery, their Jewish brethren. After Nehemiah’s rebuke there was silence among the rich and famous in Jerusalem. Their greed was uncovered. Justice was about to be restored.
Nehemiah commanded the nobles to restore all the property they had confiscated and to return the money they collected in interest payments. They responded, “We will give back everything and demand nothing more from the people. We will do as you say.” (Neh.5:12a nlt) This was followed by Nehemiah’s insistence that their promise be confirmed with an oath. “Then I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear to do what they had promised.” (Neh.5:12b nlt) Nehemiah shook out the folds of his robe signifying God will shake them if they break their oath. “The whole assembly responded, ‘Amen,’ and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.” (Neh.5:13b nlt) One commentator noted, “The Cancellation of the debt had unifying effects.” Acting and correcting an injustice enabling the wrongdoers to see the error of their ways and planting a seed for unity is the mark of a godly leader.
Nehemiah was not only an administrator of justice, but he was a generous man. Here is where we see Nehemiah’s first term as governor. “For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah—from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes—neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance.” (Neh.5:14 nlt) Nehemiah served for twelve years as governor before being called back to Susa by the king. It is noted Nehemiah did not take anything that he was entitled to as governor. He took no salary and accepted no food allowance. It should be also noted that Nehemiah was a very wealthy man drawing a substantial salary for being King Artaxerxes cupbearer. But nonetheless, governors before him took what they were entitled to, Nehemiah did not. He also had the right to collect taxes for himself, but again, he chose not to. He did not want to put an extra burden on the people.
Governors were expected to entertain diplomats from other territories on an on-going basis. All the provisions for these eloquent banquets were paid for by Nehemiah himself. He also fed all his officials every day from his own personal account. I think it is safe to say there are not many leaders today who show that kind of generosity. To be fair, there have been some leaders in recent history who did accept their salary, forgoing it to serve the people. But there are others who are only interested in gaining as much wealth as they kind. Nehemiah is an example of a leader truly in it to serve the people.
Last for this week, an additional insight of Nehemiah’s leading by example. “I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my servants to spend time working on the wall.” (Neh.5:16 nlt) Nehemiah was alongside the workers in rebuilding the walls. He also had all his servants participate in the work. Nehemiah set the example that he would not ask anyone to do something he was not willing to do himself. That is another mark of a true godly leader. Overall, Nehemiah set an unselfish example for all the people. From administering justice, to his generous spirit, and to his willingness to put his hands to work, Nehemiah is an example much needed among our leaders today. May we pray for more Nehemiah’s in leadership, and may we pray for a little of Nehemiah in ourselves.
Read: Nehemiah 5 NLT – Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed – About – Bible Gateway
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