Illus: We today in America enjoy a freedom that other countries dream of having. But we seem to forget the tremendous cost it cost men and women as they had to give their life so that we might have the freedom that we now enjoy.
When Nehemiah and the Jews were re-building the walls they paid a tremendous cost that this project might be completed. Even Nehemiah was not aware of the price that some of these folks were paying.
We pastors sometime do not fully realize the price that some of our folks pay to be faithful to the Lord.
Illus: A couple got married, neither one of them were saved. She later came to know Christ as her Saviour. But her husband chose not to follow the Lord and he placed great pressure on her every time she went to church. she wanted to give to the Lord and she had to secretly hold back part of the grocery money so she could give to the Lord. Anyone who saw her in church never knew what a price she was having to pay every time she came to church.
Illus: A young man that came to church regularly came from a family that was anti-church. In order for him to come he had to sneak off from home so that he might come.
In Nehemiah chapter five we see that the Jewish families were paying a great price for the re-building of the walls. Financially things became so difficult they were having to sell their children into slavery to pay their bills. Their is always those who are looking for a chance to make a dollar, even if it means throwing away compassion for those who are in distress.
One of the best ways to find out what a person really is, is to observe how they handle money. That is, does money master them or do they master money.
In this situation, their was Christian Jews who saw their chance to make some money, they saw these Jewish Christians having to sell their children into slavery. They so desperately needed money and these Jewish businessmen decided they would loan them money at a good interest that would pad their own pockets.
In fact, the pressure was so great that they began to cry out for the pressure applied to them. Look at this-
I. GREAT OUTCRY
Notice, this was not just an OUTCRY, the Bible says it was a "GREAT OUTCRY."
Illus: When you go to the hospital those who are suffering the most, they are the ones who are crying out the loudest.
Evidently these Christians were suffering greatly, because the Bible says it was a "Great Outcry." What were they crying out for, let's see, it was a-
A. PLEAD FOR CONSIDERATION (Verse 2-4)
"For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards."
These that were crying out, wanted them to CONSIDER that many of them had daughters and sons and they were having to trade them off for corn and something to eat.
How often people who are hurting so desperately want someone to CONSIDER what they are going through.
Illus: Even a child when they get hurt they want to find someone to rub their hurt. Does the rubbing really help. It doesn't help at all, but it sure beats hurting alone and no one caring about how bad you hurt.
Illus: We are told that often before people commit suicide they do all kinds of things to try and get the attention of others before they commit the dreadful act of taking their own life. But so often people are so caught up in their own little world they cannot CONSIDER what others are going through.
Perhaps even tomorrow some poor suffering soul may come your way that needs some CONSIDERATION, but the devil if he has anything to do with it will see to it that you and I will be so busy that we will not even have time to consider the hurt they are facing.
The Bible says this was a "GREAT OUTCRY" for consideration. The strain that these Christians were under was so tremendous that they spoke of in verses 2 through 4.
Also the Bible makes it clear this was a-
B. PLEAD FOR COMPASSION (Verse 5)
"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: either is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards."
Notice as they pleaded for compassion, they said, our flesh is the same as yours. In other words, we are humans that hurt the same way you hurt.
Illus: Did you know if I had a hammer in this pulpit and laid my hand on this pulpit and took the hammer and struck a blow on the top of my hands it would send excruciating pain throughout my body. Now I wouldn't do something like that because of the pain it brings to me.
But did you know that if I did that to your hand you would suffer the same kind of pain that I would suffer. Now I wouldn't do that to my hand or to your hand, because I know the excruciating pain that such a blow would render.
We seem to understand this when it comes to some things, but when it come to other things we seem to forget the pain it brings to others when we inflict certain things on them.
These Jews who were suffering so much wanted others to know they hurt just like anyone else hurts.
This was their great OUTCRY, but look at Nehemiah's
II. GREAT OUTRAGE
When this was brought to Nehemiah's attention he was greatly disturbed. He was a busy man and probably the suffering of these Jews was something he could not see until it was brought to his attention, but once it was brought to his attention, look at-
A. HIS ANGER (Verses 6)
"And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words."
Preacher, I thought it was a sin to get angry. Well, the Bible says, "Be ye angry and sin not."
Illus: When Jesus came to the temple one day and he saw how they were using the temple of God for a market place he flew into an outrage and got Him a whip and chase that crowd off.
One of the problems today with Christians is that the devil can do anything he wants to do and God's people do not get disturbed in the slightest.
This is why their is such a wide spread of evil across the land.
Illus: We need Christians today who can get angry
- We need Christians who can get angry about all the abortions that is taking place across this nation.
-We need Christians that can get angry about these politicians who are anti-Bible and do all they can to vote the rascals out of office.
-We need parents who can get angry about some of the things that the boys and girls are being taught in our schools and show up the PTA meetings and before the school boards and demand that such stuff do not be taught to their children.
-We need Christians who can get angry at the Beer and Liquor industry that is destroying homes across this land.
-We need Christians who can get angry enough at the trashy television programs that are being aired and insist these things be taken off the air.
When Nehemiah heard about the way these Christians Jews were suffering the Bible says he became "VERY ANGRY."
B. HIS ARGUMENT (Verses 7-11)
"Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you let us leave off thus usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them."
He gave them to arguments:
(1) BECAUSE OF THE DISGRACE
The reason that Nehemiah left the Shushan Palace to come to Jerusalem was to rebuild the walls was because of the disgrace upon the God of Israel. In verse 10, he reminds them of this disgrace.
(2) BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD
The reason people do the evil they do is because they do not fear the Lord.
III. THE OUTCOME (VERSES 12)
"Then said they, we will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise."
A trait that you will find in all churches that are doing anything for the Lord is people that are teachable. They were wrong in doing what they were doing and when God's man told them, they immediately stated they would make things right.
Look at the word "RESTORE", this word meant they not only stopped what they were doing that was wrong, but they went back and RESTORED what they took from them.
Conclusion:
I. THE OUTCRY (VERSE 1)
A. PLEAD FOR CONSIDERATION (VERSES 2-4)
B. PLEAD FOR COMPASSION (VERSE 5)
II. THE OUTRAGE (VERSES 6-11)
A. HIS ANGER (VERSE 6)
B. HIS ARGUMENT (VERSES 7-11
III. THE OUTCOME (VERSE 12)
