Walking in the Fear of God(e)

Nehemiah 5

James R. Davis
For twelve difficult years Nehemiah has been rebuilding the walls. He is governor of the land. Through the years there has been continued opposition to rebuilding the walls from without and within. Those in surrounding territories are threatening attack as they work night and day. But the greatest threat of opposition comes from within the walls. The greatest threat comes from the brethren for whom Nehemiah is building the walls. There was a clash between the workers and the officials, the laborers and the overseers who were working on the project. The threat of internal decay and collapse as a result of their unethical behavior is his greatest concern.

Notice the internal strife from within the walls as we read the following scripture.

Nehemiah 5:1-7
Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers. Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain." Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine." Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others." When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and the officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them.

A few years ago hurricane Andrew tore through southern Florida. After the storm we got a glimpse of the greed of some people. Although many reached out in a sincere effort to help, there were those who were looking to get the advantage of people in need. All kinds of unethical behavior abounded. Some began looking for a fast buck through price gouging and shoddy workmanship. As we come to the fifth chapter of Nehemiah, we find a similar situation. The city of Jerusalem lies in ruin. People are powerless to help themselves. The tax bills continue to roll around despite the fact there is no money to pay them. Taxes are enormous. There is a drought and there is a famine; food is scarce. There are no walls for protection. Most people are working with all their hearts to build the wall. But there are those standing around who seem to think that everything is fair in love, war and a shrewd business deal. There is little concern about the ethical implications of their behavior.

There is a direct correlation between the effectiveness of our mission and the treatment of our brethren. The effectiveness of our work is totally dependent upon obeying God, especially in regards to the treatment of our brethren." You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a brother Israelite, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess." (Deuteronomy 23:20) God's business will never thrive when we are unconcerned about the needy among ourselves. It will never thrive if Christians choose to mistreat one another. The trouble with church splits and church house brawls is that we destroy the effectiveness of our mission.

In an old monastery near Babenhausen, Germany, one may see two pairs of deer antlers permanently interlocked. They were found in that position many years ago. Apparently the animals had been fighting fiercely, and their horns became so tangled that they could not be disengaged. As a result, both deer perished from hunger. Dr. Kerr comments, "I would like to carry those horns into every home and school as a warning against fighting to the last ditch to have your own way! I would also bring them into every church so that their silent message might sink deep into the hearts of those who seem to delight in 'locking horns' with other Christians at the least provocation."

Avoiding the Reproach of Our Enemies

Nehemiah warned those abusing their brothers saying, "Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies." He was concerned about how they were perceived by those outside the Jewish community. They were already being harassed by criticism and sarcasm by those desiring to stop the construction on the wall. Now they were being used and abused by their own countrymen. This gave those Gentiles more ammunition for criticism, sarcasm and insults. They were doing the same thing to one another as had been done to them by their enemies.

Moses had given a commandment concerning the lending of money. It was given to prevent the needy from being taken advantage of. "'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you. You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit." . . . "'If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee."(Leviticus 25:35-37, 39-40)

When Nehemiah returned to his homeland, he brought back Jewish brothers who had been sold into slavery. Now his Jewish brothers were taking their own brethren as slaves and selling them back to the Gentiles only to bought back again by Nehemiah. How ridiculous can you get? What a reproach upon the work of Nehemiah. While Nehemiah was at work rebuilding the walls and encouraging his brethren, the officials were at work tearing the hearts out the people whom Nehemiah was trying to build up.

When a person is converted to Jesus Christ, he/she enters into fellowship with other Christians. But suppose they suffer the same cruel treatment from fellow Christians. What a reproach on the cause of Christ! How does this make us look to those already pointing a finger at us? It is through proper treatment of one another that we avoid the reproach of the world. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

Nehemiah Heard Their Outcry

Nehemiah 5:6-8
When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.

Nehemiah seeks justice for his brethren. We have seen in a past lesson how Nehemiah refused to come off the wall to fight his critics. Nehemiah simply intensified his efforts and prayed for the Lord to bring their enemies' reproach back upon their own heads. But, when Nehemiah faces discord and internal strife among the brethren, it is different. Nehemiah takes a personal stand against the wrong. He confronts the situation with honesty. He confronts and rebukes their greed. Sometimes we need to point out to people what they are doing wrong. We need to help them see what needs to be done.

It has always been difficult, for some to distinguish between righteous indignation and ungodly anger. As we meditate on this chapter, I believe we can see the difference. Righteous indignation is concerned about the rights of others. Ungodly anger usually occurs when we have been personally offended and deprived of our own rights. Nehemiah isn't offended because of the deprivation of his personal rights. In fact, Nehemiah has given up all his personal rights for the sake of his brothers in distress. Nehemiah is concerned about the rights and welfare of those he is leading.

Dr. Harry Ironside recalled an incident from his boyhood when highly respected brethren became angry with one another. He was shocked as he watched the scene. One man, springing to his feet and clenching his fist, shouted, "I will not allow you to put anything over on me; I will have my rights!" An old Scotsman, rather hard of hearing, leaned forward and cupped his ear with his hand so he would not miss any of the proceedings. "What was that, brother?" he asked; "I didn't quite get your point." "I said, I will have my rights!" retorted the man. "But surely you did not mean that, did you? If you insisted on what was coming to you, you would be in Hell. Jesus did not come to get His rights; He came to get His wrongs, and He got them!" The wise old gentleman's words struck home.

Nehemiah was a different kind of leader, he didn't mind getting his hands dirty helping the people. Nehemiah had been devoting himself to the work on the wall for twelve years. He never lost sight of his mission. He never took advantage of the poor by buying up their lands cheap when they were in dire straits. He understood that an important part of his mission involved how he treated others. To take advantage of his brethren in their distress would have defeated the very purpose for which the wall was being built. The wall was not only for protection. It was a means of God showing his love toward his people by allowing it to be rebuilt. How could Nehemiah help God show his love to them if he used the opportunity to take the advantage? He never lost sight of their needs.

The Ram's Horn was a quaint newspaper that made religious history in the 1890's. It once recounted that in her efforts to free slaves, Julia Ward Howe asked a United States senator to help liberate a black man from a desperate situation. The legislator exclaimed, "Madam, I'm so busy with plans for the benefit of the whole race that I have no time to help individuals!" As a leader Nehemiah never displayed such a callused attitude!" So Nehemiah did what he came to do. But he sought to liberate the people as he built the wall.

One quick sure sign of a failure in leadership is when those in leadership lord their positions over those following.

Nehemiah 5:14-15c
Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year-- twelve years-- neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors-- those preceding me-- placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people.

Previous governors used their position to get rich, as they took advantage of those in need. They had enhanced their own lifestyles, while they treated others with disdain and scorn. They lorded their position over the people. The people were helpless because the governor's authority came from the king.

Nehemiah 5:15c-19
But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people. Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.

Nehemiah refused to do this. Nehemiah had been appointed governor; he was allotted food by the king by virtue of his position. He had a right to take from the people what he needed. But Nehemiah knew those he was leading were sacrificing to feed the previous governors. So he refused to take what was allotted him by the king. He had given up what was rightfully his. He had set the right example. He showed his deep concern for those following. He shared in their misfortune by personal choice. He could have been sitting back in the king's palace serving champagne, but he chose a path of self-deprivation for the sake of his brethren. In fact, at least 150 people ate at Nehemiah's table at his expense.

Nehemiah Walked in the Fear of the Lord

Nehemiah 5:15c-16
But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land.

Nehemiah was not a politician, endeavoring to win the favor of the people. He wasn't running for reelection. He didn't do what he did just to correct the wrongs. He did what he did because of his respect for God. He appreciated what God had done for him and he passed it on.

Nehemiah wants them to do what is right out of respect for God. It is easy to get caught up in getting people to do what we want them to do, while losing sight of God. Nehemiah has the power of influence to persuade them to do what is right, but he wants them to respond out of a respect for God. Nehemiah called the priests together, he made the nobles and officials take an oath before God so that the oath would be binding. Moses had commanded, "If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth." (Numbers 30:2) There before God they vowed to do what they had promised. Nehemiah shook the folds of his robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!" At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised." (Nehemiah 5:12-13)

Nehemiah's life demonstrated New Testament principles.

Ephesians 6:5-8
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

Colossians 4:1
Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Nehemiah exemplified this teaching long before Paul wrote about it. Nehemiah sets a good example for leaders today as he exemplifies what Peter commanded.

1 Peter 5:1-3
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. [Emphasis mine]

The Blessings of Walking in the Fear of God

Walking in the fear of God encourages others to do what is right. When you walk in the fear of God, you are free to say to someone else, "What you are doing is not right . . ." you must stop what you are doing. (5:9-10) When Nehemiah spoke to those guilty, they were silent. They were silent because it was the power of Nehemiah's influence earned through an exemplary life that spoke. It overpowered anything they could have said. It reminds us of our Lord. He never asks us to do anything that he hasn't already done himself.

Mark 10:42-45
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Luke 22:25-27
Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

It is living what you teach that turns others from the error of their way. Nehemiah told them to immediately give back everything they had taken. (5:11) The nobles and officials said, "We will give it back . . . And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say." (5:12) It was twelve years of righteous living, that persuaded them to repent.

 Conclusion:

Nehemiah teaches a great lesson of encouragement for those endeavoring to live their lives in the fear of the Lord.

Nehemiah encourages us to solve our problems in a godly fashion.

Nehemiah teaches us the blessings of walking in the fear of God.