INNER TROUBLES In the midst of that great achievement done by Nehemiah, namely building the wall of Jerusalem, realized in record time – 52 days (Nehemiah 6: 52); it so seemed that the time was not convenient for Nehemiah to call for an assembly of the nobles and rulers (7 to deal with the problem of the oppression falling upon the poor and the needy. But Nehemiah, being a great leader who works through his love for God and for his brethren; would not disregard such a calamity that has befallen upon the people. The circumstances were extremely difficult. On one aspect the people suffered from a famine because of the scarcity of rainfall (3), beside the commitment of all to work in building the wall, when the poor had nothing to sustain their daily needs. On another aspect, because there were cruel hearts which had no mercy, the poor cried out, complaining of the heavy debts they could not repay to their rich brethren; and the bondage into which their children have fallen to fulfill those debts. That bitter calamity confronted the people at a time the outside enemies joined forces against the work for the account of the kingdom of God.. The inside troubles were more dangerous than the outside ones; even if the former were just “little foxes that spoil the vines”.(Songs 2: 15). The nation assembled together – rich and poor – to work together. But the human nature most probably resisted the divine work. Despite the fact that the rich did not intend to practice the heavy pressure on the poor, as mentioned in https://coptic-treasures.com/ Isaiah 5, yet they were only preoccupied with getting what they assumed as their right; namely getting back the loans they gave to the poor, plus the high interest (usury), they put in the form of money, possessions, and even children (1-5). Although the Holy Book is not against taking interest on loans (Deuteronomy 23: 19; Matthew 25: 27); yet it was not allowed for the Israeli to take interest from his fellow Israeli (Exodus 22: 25), if the loan is not given for investment, but out of need. ………But as the poor then, had to take loans because of the famine, and not because of doing business (3); And according to the law, the Jewish slaves had to be set free in the seventh year (Exodus 21: 2-6). According to some, the events in this chapter concern a late period of Nehemiah’s life, 1- The complaints of the poor 1 - 5 2- The practical action of Nehemiah 6 - 13 3- Nehemiah as a practical role model 14 – 19 1- THE COMPLAINTS OF THE POOR: At the time the people cared to build the broken-down wall of the city, Nehemiah discovered that the society itself was broken-down, and in need of repair: a- Building the wall made some farmers forsake their land to work on the wall, which caused them very difficult financial problems. For some of the rich used those circumstances to give loans with high interest (usury) that were hard to pay (2). b- Because of the famine, some of the poor had to put their children as pawn to purchase food for them. c- Some had to mortgage their lands and possessions (3) https://coptic-treasures.com/ d- Some hade to take loans to pay their due taxes or the tribute they were committed to pay (4) e- Some had to sell their children as slaves (5) “And there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish brethren” (1) The seriousness of that situation shows more by the commitment of women to join their husbands in complaining of their misery. `The complaint was not against a foreign authority, but against fellow citizens, who abused the poor at a time the city was in need for all to work for the common cause. ……… The outcry of the poor was actually addressed to God Himself, seeking His intervention` for the sake of justice (See Exodus 3: 7; 22: 22-23; Psalm 9: 12; Isaiah 5: 7). By the “Jewish brethren”, is meant the rich Jews who returned from captivity about one century ago (537 BC), under the leadership of Zerubbabel, with huge wealth they acquired through successful projects in Babylon; or rather their descendants. About 50, 000 captives who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem with great wealth, got preoccupied with building mansions for themselves, and forgot all about building the house of the Lord, and about their poor brethren. God sent to them the two prophets Haggai and Zechariah to exhort them to care for the house of the Lord, to have His blessing on the city. “For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.” (2) https://coptic-treasures.com/ Saying: “We, our sons, and our daughters are many”, it so seems that the descendants of the poor are more numerous than those of the rich; a phenomenon we see in many societies, and which causes great problems. “There were also some who said, “We have mortgaged our lands and vineyards and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine.” (3) The situation became very serious (Haggai 1: 9). The rich became richer, whereas the poor and the almost poor came to be in bitter famine. The produce on the market became scarce, and the prices became very high; that many did not find their necessary daily needs. “There were also those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our lands and vineyards” (4) Here he means the tribute they had to pay to the king of Persia, The Persians were known for their greed to collect silver and gold coins which they turn into alloys to store. In Shushan, Alexander the Great found 9000 pieces of gold (270 tons), and 40,000 pieces of silver (about 1200 tons), stored as alloys. As much as gold is taken out of exchange, prices become sky-high. “ Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and indeed we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.” (5) https://coptic-treasures.com/ They did not only lose their land and houses, but, because of poverty, they sold their sons and daughters as slaves, or delivered them as such, to let them find food while serving their masters; even though they are their brethren, fellow Jews. …..The law allowed for selling the children in case of emergency (Exodus 21: 7). It is amazing that those rich people have forgotten that all, even the royal household, have fallen into captivity all those years, and that all have tasted the humiliation of bondage in Babylon; It was befitting of them, having previously been deprived of freedom, to commiserate with their poor brethren. 2- THE PRACTICAL ACTION OF NEHEMIAH: “And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words” (6) It was not possible for Nehemiah to keep his peace before such a situation, he became very angry; and after deep thinking, he, dared to rebuke the nobles and the rulers (See James 5: 1-6) for disregarding their poor brethren (Deuteronomy 15: 7-11)…..Our Gospel calls us to help all men, particularly our fellow believers. “After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, ‘Each of you is exacting usury from his brother’; So I called a great assembly against them” (7) The Holy Book , calls us not to exact usury from the needy (Exodus 22: 24-26; Leviticus 25: 35-38; Deuteronomy 23: 20)…… It is not wrong to give loans, or even to take reasonable interest, as long as the loan is for the sake of https://coptic-treasures.com/ investment; but the Holy Book condemns greed and abuse of the people in need. The psalmist says: “Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness” (Psalm 119: 36):; and the prophet Isaiah says: “Yes, they are greedy dogs, which never have enough; …….. they all look to their own ways; everyone for his own gain’ (Isaiah 56: 11). Lactantius, and Sts. Cyprian, Basil the Great, Ambrose, Augustine, Gregory the Nezianzen, Gregory of Nyssa, John Chrysostom, and Athanasius the apostolic, often attacked taking usury. Among the traps of the devil, St. Cyril of Jerusalem refers to greed and usury; And, concentrating on usury as being done against the Lord Christ Himself in the person of the poor; St, Hilary, bishop of Poitier (315-367 AD) says that giving loans, instead of being a virtue, turns into a curse when an exaggerated interest is sought on it. For instead of supporting the poor, the usury-taker makes him more in need.. The greatest opponent of the usury were St, Basil the Great (330 – 379) and St. Gregory of Nyssa (335 = 394); who considered usury as an assault upon the poor; and upon the Scripture commandment. Counting usury as among the sins that lead to perdition, St. Ambrose says: [He who takes usury is a robber who is not worthy to live]. + He who seeks God, and searches for the truth, does not rob, nor covets for what belong to the others, nor gives money with usury to those going through affliction; nor humiliates someone who seeks a loan for an urgent need. https://coptic-treasures.com/ + Why do you pretend goodness while wounding others? …..On what you give as a gift, the poor weep daily……… Do you think God does not see what you do, from heaven? ….. The Holy Book says: “The Most High has no pleasure in the offerings of the wicked” …… Is it right for man to give gifts by which he makes the other poor? …… The Mighty One rejects such gifts; for your gift is taken from among tears ….. You are deceiving yourself, and not anyone else. (Comadianis) + Nothing is more unbearable than to give benefit to a poor man that makes him poorer, to give him a loan with a high interest that increases his misery. If you are a good Christian, What reward do you expect from God; if, instead of seeking to help someone, you harm him?..... Why do you plan to seek usury on your vain money, that makes your brother, poorer, and you richer? …. Remember that he, from whom you seek usury, is a poor in need, for whose sake Christ became poor in need. …… Know that whether you do, goodness or evil, you do it to Christ. https://coptic-treasures.com/ (St. Hilary, bishop of Poitier) + Tell me: Do you seek riches from a poor man? …….If he can make you richer, he would not stand at your door. ….. Instead of finding help from you, he finds animosity; and Instead of an elixir to heal, you give him poison to die. . Instead of mitigating the impact of the extreme poverty on someone; you seek to drink from a barren wilderness, and increase his need; …………..You are like a physician who visits a patient, not to bring him back to health, but to corrupt the few they still have of physical strength. …… You abuse the affliction of the miserable to gain benefit for yourself. (St. Basil the Great) + Parents do not rejoice in the birth of their children, as much as the usurers rejoice, at the head of the month, in collecting the usury. + There would not be many poor, if there are no many usurers. + What will you say when you stand before the divine Judge, who takes no bribes, who says to you: ‘You have the law, the prophets, and the commandments of the gospel, all of which cry out together with one voice, for the sake of love, saying: “To your brother, you shall not charge interest” (Deuteronomy 23: 20); ……”.Who does not put out his money at usury” (Psalm 15: 5);…….. “If you lend money to any of my people, who are poor among you, you shall not be like a money-lender, you shall not charge him interest” (Exodus 22: 25)? https://coptic-treasures.com/ (St. Gregory of Nyssa) + He who defiles the land by charging usury and interest, gathers what he did not sow, and reap what he did not plant. (St. Gregory the Nezianzen) + He pays usury, who is in need for food; ………What could be more horrible?! He seeks bread, and you give him a sword; He beseeches you to set him free, and you commit him to bondage; (St. Ambrose) . “And I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us? Then they were silenced and found nothing to say” (8) It did not stop at charging the poor of usury that they could not pay, but extended to what is more serious, for man to purchase his brethren slaves for himself. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Nehemiah and those with him had to redeem them, as they did with the Jews who were slaves to the Gentiles (See Leviticus 25: 39, etc.). God allowed His people to hire one another, yet without oppression, but to give him his wages without delay; to prevent anyone from enslaving his brother for his food and clothing, without enjoying any human rights.. According to the wise Solomon: “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker; but he who honors him has mercy on the needy” (Proverb 14: 31). The silence of those accused, and finding nothing to say, bore a confession that they did wrong. “Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?” (9) Their behavior made the gentiles blaspheme God, and put the people of God in reproach and disgrace among the peoples of the world. Someone who lent money for usury to a friend who, for as long as five years, was unable to pay back, and barely managed to pay the interest, was so impressed by what he heard from a preacher concerning this issue, to hasten to his friend the debtor, to apologize for the affliction he caused him, to tell him that he relieves him of both his debt and any further interests; and that he will even pay him back all the interest he took from him all along the past five years. “also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury!” (10) https://coptic-treasures.com/ According to some, this text means that even Nehemiah confesses that he himself, his household, and his servants, have all lent money with usury; but he hastened to cancel the usury, and supported his words with action, to become a role model for others to follow suit, and put an end to that shameful behavior.. ….. Beside the common people, the government officials used to lend money to the needy, with high usury, and when they could not pay back, they confiscate their land, and sometime take their children slaves. “Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them” (11) Nehemiah demanded an instant response, saying: “Restore now to them, even this day”. There is no range for delay; for the divine commandment is not to be debated or postponed. “So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say; Then I called the priests, and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise” (12) Nehemiah called the priests and required an oath from them that they would instantly ban the usury; then consummated it by putting a curse upon whoever refrain from doing according to that priestly covenant, that he would be utterly denied of everything he possess …… The same way he repaired the wall using the old stones, he repaired the society of breaking the law of God………Uttering words, and following them up with action, gave an instant fruit. Both the rich and https://coptic-treasures.com/ the priests vowed to keep the divine commandment; as though they have signed a contract with God Himself. “ Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied. And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD. Then the people did according to this promise” (13). Presenting to us an interpretation of this custom of shaking out the fold of the garment, ‘Freeman’ says that it was the custom to make a fold or a pocket in the outer robe, in which diverse things are put. Shaking it out would mean that he curses the person before him, and seeks his utter destruction. Such a custom, according to ‘Roberts’ was also followed by the people of India. The people expressed their consent to what Nehemiah demanded from them by saying “Amen”, a word used at the end of every song of praise to God, as a consent to glorify God, to trust in Him, and to be submitted to Him; ………… to confirm the curse on those who persist on their wickedness; ………to express approval of a certain vow, or of the execution of a certain commandment or covenant. 3- NEHEMIAH AS A PRACTICAL ROLE MODEL: https://coptic-treasures.com/ “Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions” (14). Intending to be role models in mercy over the people, Nehemiah and his men, refrained from eating the governor’s provisions, all along the twelve years of his first assignment, for which they were entitled. That is what the apostle Paul also did; saying: “We have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. But I have used none of these things” (1 Corinthians 9: 12-15); And he said, “… nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil, day and night, not to be a burden to any of you” (2 Thessalonian 3: 8). After confirming his apostleship, Paul clarified his rights as an apostle, and how he waived using them by his own free will, for the sake of his love of the salvation of men. Both the two apostles: Paul and Barnabas, chose to practice their profession as tentmakers to provide for their necessities (Acts 18: 3; 20: 34). + If the apostle waived the rights to which he was entitled, so as not to cause an offense to anyone, and for the sake of the edification of others, which no law committed him to do; ……..What would those who did not refrain from partaking of the sacrifices offered to the idols, a behavior that led to the perdition of many; which he was committed to forsake, if regardless of causing an offense to others, yet for being ‘the banquet of the demons’. + Having known that I refrain from things to which I am entitled, it would not be fair to have doubt of me as a deceiver, or doing for the sake of profit. https://coptic-treasures.com/ + Paul revealed to us the way a priest should be, to bear the courage of a warrior, the diligence of a farmer, the care of a shepherd; and above all, to seek nothing beyond the necessities. https://coptic-treasures.com/ “But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God” (15) Here, Nehemiah compares between his own behavior, together with those who work under him, all along the twelve years he was appointed as a governor, and that of the former governors who came before him, whose oppression prevailed upon the people and the nation. By the former governors here, He does not mean Zerubbabel or Ezra; but those referred to by Ezra, like Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, and their companions (Ezra 5: 3), but means the Samaritan governors whose main job was to collect tributes from Judah to the account of the king of Babylon; beside keeping a big portion for themselves. Intending to reform what the corruption done by the former governors, Nehemiah accepted the governorate, but; “Neither he, nor his brethren, ate the governor’s provisions” (14); so as not to burden the people with their expenses, in the form of wheat, wine, and taxes; basing his rejection on the fear of God. “Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work” (16) Nehemiah and his men, not only waived the benefits to which they were entitled by their jobs, but in humility, zeal, and love, they partook of the heavy work of building the wall. Nehemiah did not practice his work as a governor with bureaucracy, surrounded by an entourage and guards to give him his due awe; https://coptic-treasures.com/ but gave a new magnificent concept of authority, and leadership ; namely by partaking of the daily life and work of the people, and refraining from abusing them.. .”And at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us” (17) His heart was wide open to all; so was the mansion of the governorate. “ Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people”.(18) It was the custom in the East to reckon the expenses of the king or the ruler, not by a specific sum of money, but by the possibilities presented to those whom he receive as guests on the State in his palace. “Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people” (19). Finally, Nehemiah confirms that what he has done, was not for the sake of getting honor, or to be commended by anyone, but for the sake of God Himself, who knows what he had in his heart and mind of faithfulness, love, and giving. The psalmist says: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked thing in me; and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139: 23, 24). https://coptic-treasures.com/ ------------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM NEHEMIAH 5 SAVE ME FROM MY INNER TROUBLES, O LORD + Why have they who afflict me multiplied? Why does the enemy stir up those around me to destroy me? Why do all gather together to corrupt my soul? + O my God, however great the war from outside; The bitterness of the inner war is inexpressible. Who will liberate me from my inner troubles but You? However great the war from outside, It will eventually come to an end; But who will save me from the inside war but You? + Together with the psalmist, I cry out every day “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). + I am not afraid of the cruelty of my outside enemies; But I cry out to You because of the cruelty of my own heart; Who can sanctify my depths, but You? Who can pour love and compassion in my depths, but You? + Let my heart to soar up to You by love; To become, if possible, wide enough to accommodate all my brethren; To love You, and to love all mankind in You; https://coptic-treasures.com/ Plant the garden of love in me; Water it with Your Holy Spirit; Proclaim Your presence in my depths.
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