Posted on by Glen

Sunday, July 31, 2022

Nehemiah 5.1-13: Building Relationships not just Walls 

This Sunday we continue our series in Nehemiah. The Judeans, recently returned from exile, have seen some success in their city rebuild project. They have resisted opposition from the surrounding peoples, found strength when they were exhausted, and seen progress on their rebuild project. However, more important than rebuilding walls are just relationships in their community, the family of faith. Sadly, faith and justice were lacking with the exploitation of the poor among the returned exiles such that they had become a powerless underclass.
 
Nehemiah’s message: rebuilt relationships are more important than walls; yet there is still hope for the restoration of a just society through repentance.


Reflection Questions 

1. What groups of people may find themselves in powerless positions today? Think of those:

(i) without opportunity to generate sufficient income. No means of livelihood.

(ii) unable to provide for daily necessities 

(iii) locked into enslaving home loan & interest repayments that cause overwhelming economic stress and create poverty 

(iv) having to put up with sub-standard work conditions in order reduce their poverty 

(v) over represented in the criminal justice system, or unfairly discriminated against by it

2. Read the following commands in the law of Israel. 

(i) Leviticus 25.8-17, also v.23-28.

(ii) Leviticus 25.35-38.

(iii) Leviticus 25.39-43.

Discuss: how did these commands, if practiced, make it impossible for a permanent powerless and impoverished underclass to exist in the people of God? 

(Nb. On the issue of the servitude of people from the surrounding nations, Leviticus 25v44-46, remember that the risk of extreme poverty and warfare, might mean servitude in a God fearing Israelite’s household could be considered a means of survival. However it is clear from the context of Leviticus 25 that servitude is never God’s ideal for anyone and certainly not for an Israelite).

3. Now read Nehemiah 5.1-13.  In the returned remnant of Nehemiah’s day, in what ways were some wealthy Judeans out of line with these commands?

4. Why do you think Nehemiah must call for a public meeting to challenge the wrongdoers in addition to confronting them more privately? 

5. There are at least three steps in the wrongdoers expression of repentance. What are they? 

6. Statement. Unlike some accounts in the media today, where wrongdoers are painted as completely evil and incapable of reform, Nehemiah has hope for transformation. What evidence is there of Nehemiah’s hope? 

Or

How would Nehemiah have acted differently if he had no hope at all for the wrongdoers reform? 

7. What resources do we have in Christ that give us even more hope for transformation when we encounter injustice (i) in the church or (ii) in the world?

8. Revisit your discussion of a less powerful, exploited, group today from question 1. How could you as a group or an individual take steps to:

(i) hear and ponder their story and allow yourself to feel appropriate anger, like Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5.6-7).

(ii) regularly do something practical to assist them

(iii) learn about or partner in their struggle for empowerment in the community (redress, restitution, undoing of the systematic exploitation).