Nehemiah Chapter 5, Yea yea I know, I'm two weeks behind, my secretary took a vacation, shes sick, my computer's brother needs a kidney. But enjoy!

Chapter 5

Its hair raising that this rag tag group of Israelites, who had survived decades of captivity, acquired another chance to be safe in those walls. They acquired materials and a great leader from a God that never gave up on them. Together they filled all of the breeches and had the wall half done. They had shown the enemy that they were to be taken seriously. Its troubling that the great cry was raised not by any of these mentioned things, but by wrong doings brought on by their brethren.
I A Great Cry
A. Those involved
1. Those that owned no land and needed food.
2. Those that owned land but mortgaged it for food
3. People who owned land but could no longer pay the taxes.
4. The nobles who were making out like the Monopoly Man.
B. What do you mean Monopoly Man?
1. The Nobles were charging high interest rates on loans.
a. While not against the law they were required to do business fairly.
b. Poor families ended up selling daughters just to get enough food to eat.
c. They were family every single one could trace themselves back to Abraham.
2. They ended up owning most of the money and land.
a. Much like the Monopoly man.
b. However family and God’s people should not treat each other that way.
3. At the point their brethren began to hurt they should have forgiven the debt.
II A Great Assembly
A. Communication
A great many troubles could be solved with little pain if we would just open our mouths and talk it out. Instead of letting it fester or building up anger for that person our goal needs to be on resolving the conflict so you can act like family again. We are a family here and have a responsibility to one another.
B. Taking the lead
1. Nehemiah’s anger vs. 6
a. Injustice to God’s people made Nehemiah angry. Of the very short list of things that have the right to make us angry this one ought to be pretty high up there.
2. “And breathe, you’re in a nice mossy field, you see butterflies!”
Nehemiah took a moment to think. There’d be a great deal fewer headstones if people would stop a minute and think about what needs to be done.
a. Think
b. Pray
c. Meditate on scripture
3. Let’s do what’s right, not what you can talk the other into
- There was a right answer to this problem. It was for the greedy nobles to forgive their ridiculous fees, and return what they had taken. State court would have ruled for the nobles, arguing that since they agreed to the terms of the loan they are culpable. However God demands that we forgive our bretheren.
4. No answer. Vs. 8
a. When you are wrong, you’re wrong. Stop fighting.
b. Don’t make excuses make it better.
c. There is no excuse for our sin, so just get right. Vs. 12
III. A Great Example.
A. Nehemiah required very little for what he did
B He wouldn’t gain at the expense of the suffering people.

Lets remember that we are all in this together to serve the Lord. We don’t have awards for gains and we don’t punish for losses. We care for each other, even if that means we have to drop our pride and lose some money.