Nehemiah 5:1-19
Nehemiah heard the outcry and many charges that the nobles and officials took usury and lent money to their people and took them as slaves, he was angry to them. So he pondered them in his mind and then accused the nobles and officials in a large meeting to deal with them.
"You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" it is forbidden in God's words.
Nehemiah asked nobles and officials to take an oath to do what they had promised before the priests. It is give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them- the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil.
Nehemiah had appointed to be their governor in the and of Judah, twelve years, neither he nor his brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. That did not place a heavy burden on the people and tool forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food an wine. Nehemiah supported a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at his table, because the demands were heavy on these people.
Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.
Why?
Nehemiah acts as he does out of respect for God and his laws.
The Persians imposed heavy land and other taxes on subject peoples.
Nehemiah did not only get together work for rebuilding the wall, but also resolve the living problem in Judah. They are usury from their own countrymen. He himself did an example do not let burden to his people, tax free from them.
How?
Rebuild the life of people, help them living better release their burden which is obey the word of God, do it from yourself. This is the Love of the Lord.
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