[This is one in a series of mid-week Reflections published by Horley Baptist Church during July 2020]
In an earlier reflection we looked at Nehemiah chapter 2, specifically at the way in which Nehemiah responded to the king’s question about his plans. However, there is far more in the book of Nehemiah than his account of how a person in a position of influence used the surplus resources of a rich nation to help restore the fortunes of a needy one.
In chapter 1 of the book we read how Nehemiah offered repentance for the sins of an earlier generation – sins that he personally had nothing to do with. To what extent is that appropriate at a time when many societies are attempting to come to terms with their own history? He also recalled God’s promise to restore the nation of Israel from exile and return them to the land that He had given them. Do we make a practice of recalling God’s promises when we pray? We must first be aware of God’s promises before we can ask Him to act upon them, and that entails spending time with His word.
Chapter 3 gives us details of how the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt and, perhaps more importantly, it gives the names of those who took responsibility for the work. It was a team effort involving people with various different skills and from both genders; their names are preserved for all to see. But the account also records that certain people did not want to get their hands dirty. Are you willing to muck-in, or even muck out if that is what God requests of you?
Nehemiah is best-known for the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem but the later chapters of the book record how he re-established a number of social reforms within the people of Israel. He remonstrated with those wealthy Israelites who forced their compatriots into debt and then sold them into slavery. He took exception to the charging of interest at 1% – image how he would react to the 30+% being charged today. He rebuked those who had formed partnerships with non-Israelites, whether business or domestic, he stopped the misuse of the Sabbath and he reinstated the supply of resources for the priests and the proper worship of God.
I suspect that Nehemiah would have a lot to say about our modern lifestyles, and not much of it would be positive.
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
