Read Nehemiah 5:12-13. Why does Nehemiah pronounce a curse against those who do not uphold their part of the agreement?

Even though the leaders agree to restore and give back what they have confiscated, Nehemiah is not satisfied with mere words. He needs solid proof; therefore, he makes them swear an oath before the priests. This action also gave the proceedings legal validity in case he had to reference the agreement later.

Curse

But why does he pronounce a curse? Nehemiah performs a symbolic act of gathering up his garments as if to hold something in them and then shaking them out as a sign of losing it. Thus, those who would go against this oath would lose everything. It was customary to utter curses in order to impress upon others the significance of a certain law or rule. The people were also less likely to go against the law when a curse was associated with the breaking of it. Nehemiah apparently felt that this was such an important issue that he needed to do something drastic in order to enhance the probability of its success.

What do the following texts in the Old Testament teach us about the sanctity of oaths for these people? (Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21-23; Eccl. 5:4-5; Lev. 19:12; Gen. 26:31).

In the end, speech is a powerful gift that God has given to humans; it exists as something radically different from what animals have. And there is power in our words, the power even of life and death. Hence we need to be very careful in what we say, in what we promise to do, and in what verbal commitments we make. It’s also important that our deeds match our words. How many people have been turned off to Christianity by those whose words sound Christian but whose actions are anything but?

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You can view an in-depth discussion of “Violating the Spirit of the Law” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:

You may download an MP4 video file, and audio file or a PDF lesson outline from the HopeSS site.

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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Hymn 533, “O for a Faith” relates to the Sabbath afternoon introduction of the poverty and the woes of the people of Israel, requesting a strong faith. This theme continues into Sunday where debt is now the main culprit. We, today, are so thankful that
“At the Cross”, Hymn 163 all our sin-debt is rolled away. This is also stated in
Hymn 334, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”.

 On Monday, we learn that ‘God is all about giving/gaining freedom’:
Hymn 292, “Jesus, I Come” and Hymn 345, “Christ Is the World’s True Light”.

Nehemiah’s people look very much like in
Hymn 441, “I Saw One Weary, Sad and Torn”, all looking for deliverance.

On Thursday, Nehemiah supplies plenty to the people who need it most:
Hymn 104, “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need”.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Amen!(0)

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1. Grievance time. Things seemed to be going fairly well on the outside for the Jewish community, but why is there so much worry and despair on the inside? What are some of the troubles the Jewish community is facing at this time when it seems that rebuilding prosperity should be the highest priority? How did a famine and stiff tax payments required by the Persian government affect the spirits of the Jewish people? What was “debt slavery” and how did the Jewish families handle this hardship? Do you or I ever face tough times financially? Do we ever complain that government restrictions are working against our need for a just income and pray earnestly for relief from the situation? Should we? 
2. Against the spirit of the law. How did Nehemiah show that he cared deeply for the problems faced by his fellow countrymen? Imagine living in a culture where slavery is practiced openly. Why do you think God allowed this practice? “God is on the side of the oppressed and needy,” our lesson author declares. Although paying interest wasn’t illegal, why did Nehemiah oppose it? Why was his attitude toward slavery and interest approved by God? 
3. Nehemiah acts. Why do you think Nehemiah called a huge assembly of God’s people together in one place to discuss this issue? If you had been there, do you think you would have approved of God’s disdain of slavery? What about taxes and the presence of poverty among God’s people? if you had visited the Jewish community about this time, what would you say to Nehemiah about the way God’s people were treating each other and the poor among them?
4. An oath. What is going on? How does Nehemiah decide to punish the people who did not agree to the requirements set by God Himself regarding interest? Why was an oath needed to seal the agreement for the repayment of confiscated funds? Nehemiah gathered garments of his and after putting grain or other substances in them, he shook the contents out of the cloth. What did that demonstrate? Do we take the same care in deciding what we will do as we do in determining how we will make necessary payments? Should we?
5. Nehemiah’s example. Does it surprise you at all that while Nehemiah felt the brush of wealth during the years he worked for the government on Judah, he never expected or requested payment for his efforts? Well, you might say, he had plenty of money and didn’t need to be paid by the government. That being the case, what principle guided him not to claim the funds that legally were due him?  If you had enough money to live comfortably and provide for your family as well, under those circumstances would you consider working without a salary? Why did Nehemiah make that choice? 

Amen!(0)

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Seemingly, the rebuke to the nobles and rulers — “each of you is exacting usury from his brother” (Neh. 5:7, NKJV) — didn’t bring the desired results. Thus, Nehemiah did not stop there but continued to fight for the oppressed among them. He could have just said that he had tried to teach the nobles and rulers but it didn’t work, and so he was forced to drop the issue. After all, these were the rich and powerful of the land that he would be going up against. But he was not satisfied until a solution to the problem was implemented, even if he created powerful enemies in the process.

Read Nehemiah 5:7-12. What are Nehemiah’s arguments against what is going on? What does he use to persuade the people to right the wrong?

Nehemiah Calls an Assembly

Nehemiah calls a great assembly — all of the people of Israel are brought together to deal with this matter. He is most likely counting on the possibility that when all the people are present, the leaders will be ashamed, perhaps even afraid to continue their oppression.

Nehemiah’s initial argument centers on slavery. Many of the Jews, most likely Nehemiah included, purchased freedom for other Jews in servitude to foreigners. Now, he asks the nobles and rulers whether they find it acceptable to buy and sell their own people. Does it make sense for the Israelites to buy Jews and give them freedom only to have them end up as slaves of their own people?

The leaders offer no response because they see that this argument is reasonable; therefore Nehemiah continues. He asks them, “Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?” (Neh. 5:9, ESV). Then, Nehemiah admits that he himself has been lending the people money and grain. By declaring “let us stop charging interest” (Neh. 5:10, NIV), he affirmed the law that forbade this practice with fellow Hebrews and demonstrated that under his governorship, he would like people to be solicitous towards each other. Amazingly, the response is unanimous. The leaders agree to restore everything to the people.

Amen!(0)

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