Since sin entered our world, history has never known a time without injustice; it just feels extra potent now. We have unprecedented access to global news and constant updates on everything from far-flung wars to cruelty in our own backyards. Many of us carry a shared question like a rock in our pocket: \u201cBut what can I actually do about it?\u201d In today\u2019s reading, Nehemiah shows us one way to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nehemiah returned from exile to help rebuild Jerusalem\u2019s wall, but he found even deeper problems brewing. The poorest families were struggling to get by, resorting to predatory loans so they could pay taxes and buy food. Noble landowners were charging their own people interest, an illegal practice according to the law (Deuteronomy 23:19\u201320). The rich grew richer, maybe seeing it as smart business. The poor grew poorer, and Nehemiah saw their suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did Nehemiah join the complaints or keep his head down? Not at all. Nehemiah\u2019s anger compelled him to act. \u201cAfter seriously considering the matter,\u201d he went straight to the source of the problem\u2014the oppressive nobles and officials who were holding their brothers and sisters down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019d broken the law, and they knew it. And remember, the whole point of the law was to set a higher standard, to show how God\u2019s chosen people care for their neighbors. Nehemiah\u2019s accusation was scathing and direct: \u201cWhat you are doing isn\u2019t right. Shouldn\u2019t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies” (Nehemiah 5:9)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our world may be far different from Nehemiah\u2019s, but the truth remains. Shouldn\u2019t our actions reflect God\u2019s care for all creation? Shouldn\u2019t leaders be held to an even higher standard? Several centuries later, Paul (also an expert in the law!) encouraged a similar standard for the Christians in Rome. \u201cNow we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength…For even Christ did not please himself\u201d (Romans 15:1,3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thankfully, Nehemiah\u2019s run-in with the nobles came to a good end. Maybe it was shame or maybe it was genuine repentance that led them to end their corrupt practices and swear to return everything they\u2019d taken. And the story doesn\u2019t end there. Nehemiah eventually became governor of the land of Judah, and he led by example, not even accepting the salary he was due \u201cbecause the burden on the people was so heavy\u201d (Nehemiah 5:18).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We may be overwhelmed by the injustice of the world. But look up and listen. See the pain of people closest to you. Consider how you could lovingly but fiercely work for repentance and restoration. Prayerfully use the influence you have, even if it\u2019s as small as your family, your neighborhood, or your town. Perhaps together, we could live out healing and rebuild our world, honoring the God who makes all things new.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Since sin entered our world, history has never known a time without injustice; it just feels extra potent now. We have unprecedented access to global news and constant updates on everything from far-flung wars to cruelty in our own backyards. Many of us carry a shared question like a rock in our pocket: \u201cBut what […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":72539,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[304],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nehemiah25"],"acf":{"hero_background_image":false,"related_plans":[72617],"weekly_truth":false,"grace_day":false,"share_text":"#SheReadsTruth","devotional_text":"SOCIAL INJUSTICE<\/b>
\r\nby Jen Yokel<\/i>
\r\n
Since sin entered our world, history has never known a time without injustice; it just feels extra potent now. We have unprecedented access to global news and constant updates on everything from far-flung wars to cruelty in our own backyards. Many of us carry a shared question like a rock in our pocket: \u201cBut what can I actually do about it?\u201d In today\u2019s reading, Nehemiah shows us one way to respond.<\/p>
\r\n
Nehemiah returned from exile to help rebuild Jerusalem\u2019s wall, but he found even deeper problems brewing. The poorest families were struggling to get by, resorting to predatory loans so they could pay taxes and buy food. Noble landowners were charging their own people interest, an illegal practice according to the law (Deuteronomy 23:19\u201320). The rich grew richer, maybe seeing it as smart business. The poor grew poorer, and Nehemiah saw their suffering.<\/p>
\r\n
Did Nehemiah join the complaints or keep his head down? Not at all. Nehemiah\u2019s anger compelled him to act. \u201cAfter seriously considering the matter,\u201d he went straight to the source of the problem\u2014the oppressive nobles and officials who were holding their brothers and sisters down.<\/p>
\r\n
They\u2019d broken the law, and they knew it. And remember, the whole point of the law was to set a higher standard, to show how God\u2019s chosen people care for their neighbors. Nehemiah\u2019s accusation was scathing and direct: \u201cWhat you are doing isn\u2019t right. Shouldn\u2019t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies\" (Nehemiah 5:9)?<\/p>
\r\n
Our world may be far different from Nehemiah\u2019s, but the truth remains. Shouldn\u2019t our actions reflect God\u2019s care for all creation? Shouldn\u2019t leaders be held to an even higher standard? Several centuries later, Paul (also an expert in the law!) encouraged a similar standard for the Christians in Rome. \u201cNow we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength...For even Christ did not please himself\u201d (Romans 15:1,3).<\/p>
\r\n
Thankfully, Nehemiah\u2019s run-in with the nobles came to a good end. Maybe it was shame or maybe it was genuine repentance that led them to end their corrupt practices and swear to return everything they\u2019d taken. And the story doesn\u2019t end there. Nehemiah eventually became governor of the land of Judah, and he led by example, not even accepting the salary he was due \u201cbecause the burden on the people was so heavy\u201d (Nehemiah 5:18).<\/p>
\r\n
We may be overwhelmed by the injustice of the world. But look up and listen. See the pain of people closest to you. Consider how you could lovingly but fiercely work for repentance and restoration. Prayerfully use the influence you have, even if it\u2019s as small as your family, your neighborhood, or your town. Perhaps together, we could live out healing and rebuild our world, honoring the God who makes all things new.<\/p>","share_image_height":"640","day_number":"8","scripture":"Nehemiah 5:1-19, Deuteronomy 23:19-20, Romans 15:1-6","available":true,"ad_banner_name":"","ad_banner_image":false,"ad_banner_url":"","songs":"","key_verse":"","key_verse_reference":"","background_image":false,"background_color":"#FBF7F3","scripture_references":false,"share_image":false,"author_name":"","author_bio":"","guest_social_media":false,"show_ad":true,"ad_override":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72718\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}