The Former Governors - Nehemiah 5:15

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor”, and in chapter five and verse fifteen of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about,“the former governors that had been before me”, where we read,

But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. 

The verse reads, “But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver;” Nehemiah began with the words, “but the former governors” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the primary and previous prefects, captains and deputies” “that had been before me” which means “who existed in advance and prior to me, Nehemiah” “were chargeable” or “existed as insensible, heavy and grievously afflicting” “unto the people” which means “to the human beings”, “and had taken of them” or “and fetched, lay hold of, seized and acquired from the people” “bread and wine” which means “food and grain as well as fruit of the vine”, “beside forty shekels of silver” or “following and after forty pieces of silver metal”. Nehemiah shared how the “governors” previous to him took advantage of the people by partaking of their food, fruit of the vine and forty pieces of silver metal. 

The verse continues, “yes, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. ” Nehemiah added the words, “yes, even their servants bare rule” or “indeed, also their, the previous governors', men of servile condition, slaves or bondmen exercised power, dominated and had mastery” “over the people” which means “above the human beings of Judah”: “but so did not I” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover I, Nehemiah, in no way or manner took advantage of the people”, “because of the fear of God” which means “since and on account of the reverence, awe and respect pertaining to the Supreme Deity”. Nehemiah shared how the bondmen who belonged to the previous “governors” mastered and dominated the people of Judah, but he never did because he revered and held the Supreme Deity in awe. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Nehemiah referred to the way the rulers of Judah who served previous to him took advantage of the people by taking their grain and fruit of the vine as well as “forty” pieces of “silver metal”. They allowed their bondmen to dominate them too, however, Nehemiah did not do this because he was in awe and reverence of Jehovah God. Nehemiah ruled over the people of Judah in a good and righteous manner because he revered Jehovah God, and we are to serve in positions of authority in the same manner. God gives authority and rule unto people, and in whatever role He provides, we must act in a manner that is pleasing to Him. God gave us His Son Jesus to be crucified on the cross for our sins and to be raised from the dead for our resurrection, and when we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us through His Holy Spirit how to revere Him and use our God given authority in a way that is pleasing to Him. 

Next time Nehemiah says, “I continued in the work of this wall”, 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".