Rebuilding Broken LivesRebuilding Broken LivesPart 9

Nehemiah 5:6-13Page 407 in Pew Bibles

Nehemiah 5:6-Nehemiah 5:6-1313

6. I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.

7.After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” So I called a large assembly against them.

8. and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” They remained silent and could not say a word.

9.Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies?

10. Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them

money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest.

11. Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil that you have been assessing them.”

12. They responded: “We will return these things and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this.

13. I also shook the folds of my robe and said,

“May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing!”

The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised.

Rebuilding Broken LivesRebuilding Broken Lives

Nehemiah 5

What’s Going On…What’s Going On…

• Three groups are in troubleThree groups are in trouble1. Those with no land, but needed food

2. Landowners who had mortgaged their land to buy food in time of famine

3. Those who had to borrow money to pay their taxes

• A fourth group is loaning them money at 12% APR and requiring their family members as collateral.

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What’s Going On…What’s Going On…

• Some have defaulted on their loans and had to hand over their children as debt-slaves.

– Vs. 5 “We are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved”

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What’s Going On…What’s Going On…

• The loan sharks are not enemies from the outside, but their fellow Jews.

– Vs. 7 “I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, ‘Each of you is charging his countrymencountrymen interest.’”

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Warren WiersbeWarren Wiersbe

• “Nehemiah was not a politician who asked, ‘What is popular?’ or a diplomat who asked, ‘What is safe?’ but a true leader who asked, ‘What is right?’”

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7 Keys to Biblical 7 Keys to Biblical ConfrontationConfrontation

A Case Study

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1. Manage Your Anger in the 1. Manage Your Anger in the Right WayRight Way

• Vs. 6 “I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.”

• Aristotle: “Anyone can become angry. That is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way – that is not easy.”

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1. Manage Your Anger in the 1. Manage Your Anger in the Right WayRight Way

• Anger is not always evil– Jesus was angry– Mark 3:5: “After looking around at them

with angeranger and sorrow at the hardness of their hearts”

• Mismanaged anger is sinful– Ephesians 4:26: “Be angry and do not sin”

• Anger is a God-given emotion designed to stir us to action in doing good.

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2. Get into the Right Frame 2. Get into the Right Frame of Mind of Mind

• Vs. 7 “After seriously considering the matter…”– Literally, “My heart reigned as king over

me”

– New English Bible: “I mastered my feelings”

– So… “I mastered my feelings and discussed the options within myself”

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3. Talk to the Right People3. Talk to the Right People

• Vs. 7 “I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them…”

• Our problem is that we would rather talk about people than to people

• Often, we would rather destroy the person’s reputation than restore the relationship

• Gossip is when we talk people who are not part of the problem nor part of the solution.>

Matthew 18:15-17Matthew 18:15-17

15. If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke himhim in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.

16. But if he won't listen, take one or two take one or two more with youmore with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.

17. If he pays no attention to them, tell the tell the churchchurch. But if he doesn't pay attention even to the church, let him be like an unbeliever and a tax collector to you.>

The Circle of ConfrontationThe Circle of Confrontation

• The circle of confrontation should be as wide as the circle of offense

• This sin was widespread and known publicly. Therefore, it had to be dealt with in a public way.

• Vs. 7 “So I called a large assembly against them…”

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4. Use the Right Tone4. Use the Right Tone

• Appeal in a Reasoning WayAppeal in a Reasoning Way– Vs. 9 “Shouldn’t youShouldn’t you walk in the fear

of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies?”

– Vs. 10 “Please, let usPlease, let us stop charging this interest.”

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4. Use the Right Tone4. Use the Right Tone

• Appeal to Your Example (& have one)Appeal to Your Example (& have one)– Vs. 8 “‘We have done our best to buy

back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.’”

– Vs. 10 “Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain [without interest]”

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4. Use the Right Tone4. Use the Right Tone

• Appeal to Their ConscienceAppeal to Their Conscience– Vs. 8 “‘…but now you sell your own your own

countrymencountrymen, and we have to buy them back.’ They remained silent and could They remained silent and could not say a wordnot say a word.”

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NRSV: “I brought charges NRSV: “I brought charges against the nobles and the against the nobles and the

officials”officials”

• Vs. 7 “After seriously considering the matter, I accusedaccused the nobles and officials”

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5. Press the Issue to the 5. Press the Issue to the Right PointRight Point

5. Press the Issue to the 5. Press the Issue to the Right PointRight Point

• Vs 8 “They remained silent and could not say a word.”

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6. Ask Them to Do the Right 6. Ask Them to Do the Right ThingThing

• Ask for a Specific CommitmentAsk for a Specific Commitment– Vs. 10-11 “Please, let us stop charging this

interest. Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them…”

• Ask for an Immediate CommitmentAsk for an Immediate Commitment– Vs. 11 “Return their fields, vineyards, olive

groves, and houses to them immediatelyimmediately”– Vs. 12 “They responded: ‘We will return

these things and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.’”

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7. Help Them Stay on the Right 7. Help Them Stay on the Right TrackTrack• “Tell ‘em why. Show ‘em how. Get ‘em

started. Keep ‘em going” – Dawson Trotman

• Tell ‘em whyTell ‘em why– Nehemiah appealed to Scripture and to

their conscience• Show ‘em howShow ‘em how

– Nehemiah reviewed his example• Get ‘em startedGet ‘em started

– Nehemiah called for an specific and immediate commitment

• Keep ‘em goingKeep ‘em going>

• Vs. 12 “…So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this.”

• Vs. 13 “I also shook the folds of my robe and said, ‘May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing!’”

• Vs. 13 “…Then the people did as they had promised.”. >

7. Help Them Stay on the Right 7. Help Them Stay on the Right TrackTrack

• Vs. 13 “The whole assembly said, ‘Amen,’ and they praised the Lord.”

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When we confront in the right When we confront in the right way, the right One gets the way, the right One gets the gloryglory

Rebuilding Broken LivesRebuilding Broken Lives