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Remember the Poor, September 18
Nehemiah 5:1-13
If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy
gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, ... thou shalt open
thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his
need.
Deuteronomy 15:7, 8
.
At times following the return of the exiles from Babylon, the wealthy Jews
had gone directly contrary to these commands. When the poor were obliged
to borrow to pay tribute to the king, the wealthy had lent them money, but had
exacted a high rate of interest. By taking mortgages on the lands of the poor, they
had gradually reduced the unfortunate debtors to the deepest poverty. Many had
been forced to sell their sons and daughters into servitude; and there seemed no
hope of improving their condition, no way to redeem either their children or their
lands, no prospect before them but ever-increasing distress, with perpetual want
and bondage. Yet they were of the same nation, children of the same covenant,
as their more favored brethren....
As Nehemiah heard of this cruel oppression, his soul was filled with indig-
nation.... He saw that if he succeeded in breaking up the oppressive custom of
exaction he must take a decided stand for justice. With characteristic energy and
determination he went to work to bring relief to his brethren.
The fact that the oppressors were men of wealth, whose support was greatly
needed in the work of restoring the city, did not for a moment influence Ne-
hemiah. He sharply rebuked the nobles and rulers, and when he had gathered
a great assembly of the people he set before them the requirements of God
touching the case....
This record teaches an important lesson. “The love of money is the root of
all evil” (
1 Timothy 6:10
). In this generation the desire for gain is the absorbing
passion.... We were all debtors to divine justice, but we had nothing with which
to pay the debt. Then the Son of God, who pitied us, paid the price of our
redemption. He became poor that through His poverty we might be rich. By
deeds of liberality toward His poor we may prove the sincerity of our gratitude
for the mercy extended to us
[268]
28
Ibid., 647-652
.
277