In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how the people of Judah said, “We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words”, and in chapter five and verse seven of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “I consulted with myself”, where we read,
Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them,
You exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
The verse reads, “Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, ...”Nehemiah began with the words, “then I consulted with myself” or “at that time I, Nehemiah, gave advice and counsel to my own self”, “and I rebuked the nobles” which means “and I, Nehemiah, contended with, made a complaint to and quarreled with the white, pure and freeborn ones”, “and said unto them” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to them, the nobles from Judah” the following words. Nehemiah shared how he advised himself and contended with the freeborn ones among the people of Judah with the following words.
The verse continues, “...You exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.” Nehemiah added the words, “you exact usury” or “you, nobles of Judah, lend and are creditors of extortion” “every one of his brother” which means “each, all, the whole and everyone pertaining to his, the noble's, kindred, kinship and relatives”. “And I set a great assembly” or “and I, Nehemiah, appointed, assigned, constituted and designated a large congregation and gathering” “against them” which means “in opposition to them, the nobles of Judah”. Nehemiah told the “nobles” of Judah that they were extorting from their relatives and kindred, and he designated a massive gathering in opposition to them.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Nehemiah looked within himself for advice, and he contended with the nobles of Judah who were taking advantage of their fellow Jews. He told them they were extorting from their relatives, and he appointed a massive gathering in opposition to them. We see how Nehemiah took action against people who were taking advantage of their own people, and we can imagine how much this displeased Jehovah God as well. God loves everyone, and He proved His love to us when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. He raised Jesus from the dead three days later, and when we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a love for Him and others that never extorts and brings pleasure and glory to Him.
Next time Nehemiah said, “we after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews”, 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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