In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “and there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth”, and in chapter five and verse four of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how some of the people said, “we have borrowed money for the king's tribute”, where we read,
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute,
and that upon our lands and vineyards.
The verse reads, “There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “there were also that said” or “there existed even so and indeed other people who uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “we have borrowed money” which means “we, some of the people of Judah, have joined a lender or form of obligation for silver metal” “for the king's tribute” or “on behalf of the royal ruler and leader's measure, portion or taxes”. Nehemiah shared how some of the people of Judah told him they had obligated themselves in a mortgage to pay the royal ruler's taxes.
The verse continues, “... and that upon our lands and vineyards.” Nehemiah added the words, “and that upon our lands”or “and those taxes on our, some of the people of Judah's, fields, plains and grounds” “and vineyards” which means “and gardens of vines”. Nehemiah said the people told him the taxes were charged on their fields, plains and gardens of vines.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how some of the people of Judah had to obligate themselves to loans just to be able to pay the royal ruler's taxes upon their fields and gardens of vines. This seems incredulous for the work they were performing in God's Kingdom, however, they were under these difficult circumstances. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), and as long as we are in the world, we will encounter troubles. God knew we would face opposition and taxes, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins and to be raised from the grave three days later so we could come to Him in faith and receive His forgiveness of sins, eternal life and the company of His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us to live according to that truth regardless of the troubles and taxes that arise.
Next time Nehemiah some of the people said, “our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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