This chapter describes a great grievance within the Jewish community – nobles and officials were oppressing the poor, taking property and goods as interest on debt. Many families were enslaved to these people, literally selling themselves and everything they had to repay these debts. Nehemiah is furious when he learns of this.
“I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, ‘You are exacting interest, each from his brother… you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us! … The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? … Let us abandon this exacting of interest.’ ” (v6-10 abr)
Nehemiah is greatly angered by Jews oppressing each other, probably because it was directly against God’s commands: “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.” (Ex 22:25) Yet, Nehemiah approaches the problem wisely, and diplomatically, without causing further harm.
Jesus’ famously said: ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’ ” (Mt 22:37-40 abr) According to Jesus, the entire Mosaic law can be summarized by loving God, and loving our neighbors.
Whether or not we’re familiar with the intricacies of the Mosaic law, we should all know the ‘two greatest commandments’. When we oppress people (treat them unjustly for a prolonged period of time), we are breaking the ‘love our neighbor commandment’, which also means we are breaking the ‘love our Lord’ commandment (because if we love Him, we will keep His commandments [Jn 14:15] and love those made in His image [which is everybody]).
I strongly encourage us to prayerfully examine our lives and see if we’re oppressing anyone in way – emotionally, financially, physically, etc. If we’re not, then we can help oppose oppression. Oppression used to be easy to spot in Nehemiah’s day, but now it’s far more subtle. Debt isn’t spoken about in polite circles, slavery hides in the shadows, exploitation receives a blind eye, etc. We need to actively, yet wisely and with God’s guidance, fight against injustice in the world. If we’re not called to do it personally, then I suggest we support reputable organizations that do actively seek to reconcile such atrocities.
Father God, our Loving and Compassionate Lord, You are slow to anger yet will not let injustice go unpunished. Please help us to love our neighbors compassionately, like Jesus does. Please help us to fight against oppression in a Christ honoring way, with gentleness and compassion, yet without further sin. May we seek reconciliation in all areas where we have oppressed someone, and may we be peacemakers in situations of oppression we observe. May we support those who fight oppression, and bring glory to Your name while building Your kingdom here on earth. In Your Son’s holy and awesome name we ask this, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training