Seeds for 09/26/2024 - Nehemiah 5:9-13
Scripture:
9 So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”
12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”
Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!”
At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
Observation:
When we are confronted with some wrong we have done, broadly speaking we have one of two reactions: defensiveness or contrition.
Defensiveness looks like denial, arguing, doubling down, excuse-making, and the like. Contrition looks like remorse, godly sorrow, and taking responsibility. Thankfully, those in the wrong in this episode from Nehemiah’s story are a good example of the latter.
Rather than lash out, they fall silent (verse 8). Nehemiah continues in our text for today.
First, Nehemiah is direct concerning the offense and includes a clarification about what was and was not okay. He admits that he and his “men are also lending the people money and grain.” But they are not charging interest, in violation of Torah. Further, he instructs them on how to make amends. His clarity about the real problem and the appropriate solution are important for getting the situation back in the right.
Second, those in the wrong simply receive what Nehemiah has to say. They are not defensive and they do not object. They are convicted and confess that they will comply and move forward. Oaths are made and Nehemiah once more drives home the seriousness of the issue.
I love the plainspoken ending: “At this the whole assembly said, ‘Amen,’ and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.”
The assembly praised God and “the people did as they had promised.” This was real repentance—contrition about their sin and follow up in making it right. No emotional and sorrowful response without follow up here. Oaths were made and “the people did as they had promised.” What a marvelous word.
Application:
When have you felt defensive at true conviction?
When have you felt contrite when convicted about something?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, confront me with clear conviction when I do wrong and lead me to true repentance. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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