Problems inside the walls Nehemiah let us rise

Problems inside the walls Nehemiah let us rise and build The Kettering Weekend March 2016 3.

Structure A | Context B | the cry of the poor C | Nehemiah’s response INTERACTION D | Principles: love of brethren OVERVIEW SESSION 3

QUESTIONS Why did the Jews oppress one another? Can we oppress our brothers and sisters? What did Nehemiah do about it? What can we do about it? QUESTIONS SESSION 3

Structure A | Context B | the cry of the poor C | Nehemiah’s response D | Principles: love of brethren OVERVIEW SESSION 3

Sanballat threatens of fight (4: 1 -23) EXTERNAL Nehemiah 4 -6 INTERNAL Jews oppressing one another (5: 1 -19) All in 52 days! CONTEXT Sanballat et al. plan to harm Nehemiah (6: 1 -9) EXTERNAL INTERNAL Jewish false prophets + prophetesses (6: 10 -14) SESSION 3

Structure A | Context B | the cry of the poor C | Nehemiah’s response D | Principles: love of brethren OVERVIEW SESSION 3

Brothers • • • against their Jewish brothers (5: 1) our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers (5: 5) our Jewish brothers (5: 8) sell your brothers (5: 8) I, my brothers and my servants (5: 10) BROTHERS NEHEMIAH 5

The poor Jews’ complaint 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Size large group Mortgage houses and vineyards Tax borrowed money to pay taxes Slaves sold children to slavery Interest lending at interest THE POOR’S CRY NEHEMIAH 5

The law of Moses Principle Law of Moses Lending encouraged If one of your brothers becomes poor…you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. (Deut 15: 8) Re-mortgaging/ seizing collateral When you make a loan…You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. (Deut 24: 11) Selling children as When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall slaves not go out as the male slaves do. (Ex 21: 7) Charging interest You shall not charge interest on loans to your brother, interest on money, interest on food, interest on anything that is lent for interest. (Deut 23: 19) THE POOR’S CRY NEHEMIAH 5

Structure A | Context B | the cry of the poor C | Nehemiah’s response INTERACTION D | Principles: love of brethren OVERVIEW SESSION 3

Nehemiah’s response 1. I consulted with myself 2. Contended with the nobles RESPONDING NEHEMIAH 5

INTERACTION Why does Nehemiah ask them to ‘walk in the fear of God’ (5: 9, 15)? Can we apply this to us? Compare Leviticus 25: 17 -43 and Nehemiah 5 Also cp. 1 John 4: 11 FEAR OF GOD NEHEMIAH 5

Nehemiah 5 Leviticus 25 ‘their Jewish brothers’ (5: 1) ‘eat and live’ (5: 2) ‘to be slaves’ (5: 5) ‘exacting usury’ (5: 7) ‘according to our ability have redeemed’ (5: 8) ‘which were sold to the nations’ (5: 8) ‘sell. . . sold’ (5: 8) ‘fear of our God’ (5: 9) ‘fear of God’ (5: 15) ‘that your brother may live with you’ (25: 36) ‘as a slave’ (25: 39) ‘take no interest from him’ (25: 36, 37) ‘himself be able to redeem it’ (25: 26) FEAR OF GOD ‘slaves. . . from among the nations’ (25: 44) ‘if thy brother. . . be sold unto thee’ (25: 39) ‘you shall not wrong one another; but you shall fear your God’ (25: 17) ‘take thou no interest from him. . . : but fear your God’ (25: 36) ‘You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God’ (25: 43) NEHEMIAH 5

Nehemiah’s response 1. 2. 3. 4. I consulted with myself Contended with the nobles Explains wider impact Tasks the rich to a) stop the charging of interest and b) restore their lands etc. and c) repay the interest charged RESPONDING NEHEMIAH 5