Seeds for 09/27/2024 - Nehemiah 5:14-19
Scripture:
14 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. 15 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. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. 16 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.
17 Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 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.
19 Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.
Observation:
Yesterday we saw how Nehemiah made sure that justice happened for those Jews who were being wronged by their own community. Today we have a sort of “while we’re on that subject” text. What’s here?
First, Nehemiah shares a witness about his integrity and fairness toward the Jewish people in his capacity as governor. He contrasts his approach with his predecessors who were enriching themselves on their fellow Jews through taxes as well as food supplies. Nehemiah also provides his rationale: “But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.” Nehemiah’s conduct as governor and treatment of his fellow Jews is grounded in his “reverence for God.” His choices are not about political expediency but about character and integrity, rooted in the character of God.
Second, Nehemiah not only avoids doing wrong, he actively does what is right. He is generous, inviting others to share in the blessings that he has received by sharing in his table provisions as governor.
Application:
When has God given you opportunities to be generous?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, help me to act justly, and moreover, to live generously. 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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