Nehemiah

Nehemiah 5: The cry of the poor

Begin in prayer

Before we hear the cry of hungry families in Jerusalem, let us ask the LORD to open our ears. Please ask Him to teach our family to fear Him, and to show us Jesus, who pays the price for sinners.

“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

Psalm 12:5

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You redeemed Your people, and help us to fear You and to see Christ, who redeems all who come to Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

While the wall rises, poor families in Judah cry out that they are hungry and have borrowed against their fields. Some have given their houses for grain, others owe the king's tribute, and now their sons and daughters are being made servants. Nehemiah is angry, and he holds a great assembly against the nobles and rulers, who charge their own brothers interest. He reminds them that Israel had redeemed Jews sold to the nations, and asks if they will now sell their brothers. They promise to give back fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and the assembly says, “Amen,” and praises the LORD. Nehemiah also tells how he gave up the governor's food for twelve years because of the fear of God.

As you read Nehemiah 5, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God redeemed His people, so they must fear Him and not sell their brothers.

The wall was rising, but a second trouble was inside the city. Poor Jews were hungry, and they had borrowed from their own brothers, putting up their fields, vineyards and houses (verses 2 to 5). God's law told Israel not to charge interest to a poor brother (Exodus 22 verse 25). Nehemiah answers with God's name, “Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God?” (verse 9). To fear God here is to remember He freed them from Egypt (Leviticus 25 verses 36 and 42). Nehemiah says the Jews had redeemed brothers sold to the nations, and now these nobles were doing the opposite (verse 8). They have no word to say, and they promise to give everything back (verses 8 and 12). The One who redeems is Christ, who paid with His precious blood (1 Peter 1 verses 18 and 19).

How does Nehemiah 5 show us that God redeemed His people, so they must fear Him and not sell their brothers?

The poor cry out against their own brothers.

Families borrowed to buy grain and pay the king's tribute, and their fields and children are at risk (verses 2 to 5). Their own brothers, the nobles, are the ones who press them (verses 5 and 7). Nehemiah is angry when he hears their cry (verse 6).

Nehemiah calls them to walk in the fear of God.

He asks, “Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God?” (verse 9). To fear God is to know He is holy and sees how we treat others. This fear keeps Nehemiah himself from taking the governor's food (verse 15).

Brothers who were redeemed must not sell their brothers.

Nehemiah says they had redeemed brothers sold to the nations (verse 8). The nobles are silent, and then they give back the fields and promise with an oath (verses 11 and 12). The people did according to the promise (verse 13). Christ is the One who redeems sinners, and He paid with His own blood (1 Peter 1 verses 18 and 19).

Memorise

We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers?

Nehemiah 5:8

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I fear God, and do I need Jesus to forgive my sin?

The poor cried out, and Nehemiah asked the nobles, “Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God?” They had taken from their own brothers, and they had no answer.

We have all taken what was not ours, and we owe God a debt we cannot pay. Jesus owed nothing, yet He became poor for His people. He gave His life as the ransom for many, and God raised Him from the grave. The debt is paid, and there is nothing left to pay.

So come to the One who redeems. Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him has a Redeemer who hears every cry, and He forgives every sin of those who come.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God redeemed His people, and that Jesus paid the price for sinners. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He redeemed His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one speak to God in their own words.

Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary, And gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Psalm 107:2-3

Father, thank You that You redeem Your people. Please teach us to fear You and to care for those in need. Thank You for Jesus, who redeems. Lead each of us to trust Him. Amen.