Day 36 – July 6, 2025
55-day Devotional Journey – Day 36

Scripture:
Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. For there were those who said, "With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive." There were also those who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine." And there were those who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards. Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards." I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, "You are exacting interest, each from his brother." And I held a great assembly against them and said to them, "We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!" They were silent and could not find a word to say. So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them." Then they said, "We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say." And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, "So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said "Amen" and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
Nehemiah 5:1–13 (ESV)

Reflection:
Up to this point in Nehemiah, the threats to the people in Jerusalem were external. Now, Nehemiah is faced with a crisis from within the community of God's people. The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem during a time of famine and heavy Persian taxation made it difficult for the poor to make a living. Yet the rich who were not so drastically affected by such conditions were still taking advantage of the poor by charging them steep interest. Nehemiah angrily brought charges in an assembly against them. The accused responded by promising to be fair and to make restitution to those whom they cheated. The threat of God shaking them out of their possessions if they did not keep their promise shows that righteous behaviour always reflects the gracious character of God.

Further to Nehemiah's experience, the New Testament teaches us that we show God's love by loving one another! Jesus laid down his life for us, showing us how to lay down our lives for our brothers (cf. 1 John 3:16). Over 55 years of God's grace to us, we have grown in number and diversity of membership, resulting in a body and household in which misunderstanding and wrongful advantage can easily occur. May we always look to the Lord God, on whose grace we depend, reflecting his righteous character, and make every effort to guard and strengthen the household of God.

Reflection Question:
In my service to the Lord, do I always consider the effect of my contribution upon the body of Christ, that is, other members? In what way is Jesus asking me to lay down my life for a brother or sister in Christ?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to see that I am part of your household and that I serve along with others who are part of the body of Christ. If I have done anything that has created misunderstanding with or caused trouble for a brother or sister, may your Spirit bring it to light so that I may change and make it right in your eyes. Let me reflect your righteous character in all of my interactions with others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

By Pastor Richard Choy