Nehemiah 5:6-13 RIGHTEOUS ANGER When a leader of people lives among them and works with them, he is often the one they feel they can approach with frankness when they have problems, knowing that he has an open ear. Those who came to Nehemiah with a "great cry" had had enough of being ripped off, robbed and brought to ruin by those who were of their own people and nationality. It was a natural response for Nehemiah to be "very angry" at those who treated their fellow-citizens as mere pawns to be manipulated in their own "get rich" schemes.
Righteous anger is very different from an uncontrolled outburst of temper. Controlled anger may be an appropriate response to the sin of covetousness that is not uncommon among men. When the innocent suffers because of the greed of unscrupulous men, righteous controlled anger can be the first step to bringing a halt to this evil practice. Empathy can be seen in a number of different ways. It may be evident when we "weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who do rejoice." When a need is obvious and we step up and meet that need, that can be an act of empathy. It is an appropriate response to wrongs done to others when we are angry at sin. That demonstrates real interest and concern for those who have been wronged.
Righteous anger and a vindictive spirit are very different. Righteous anger does not mean "I'll get even with you!" That is vengeance. Vengeance belongs to the Lord who knows the heart and what is behind some actions people take. Outbursts of temper do not solve problems but usually increase them or at least the intensity of the problem. Righteous anger can bring to one's mind a way to deal with the problem in a right way and bring the right solution with the best possible results on the part of all involved.
The first rebuke Nehemiah made after "consulting" with himself - planning what to say - stated what was wrong clearly and precisely. The nobles and rulers had ignored the word of God and the plainly stated laws regarding taking interest on loans. Charging interest to strangers was permitted but not to fellow-Jews. Whether in arrogance or indifference, the nobles and rulers apparently ignored what Nehemiah said to them. After being confronted personally but ignored by the nobles and rulers who were becoming richer at the expense of their countrymen, Nehemiah took the step of bringing the matter out into the open before a "great assembly" of people. No longer was this a matter that could be settled with a minimum of disruption of the rebuilding project and the normal practices of daily living. The nobles and rulers by their indifference had escalated the problem to becoming a major issue of national importance that had to be brought into the full blaze of the light of God's law before the public. Righteous anger confronted the leadership and they could no longer hide behind their own positions of authority. They were now up against the law of God in full view of the "great assembly."
Fairness shown to those who are poor and are oppressed should have been the responsibility of those nobles and rulers. Instead they were the perpetrators of the problem. It is always wrong for us to take advantage of those less fortunate than we. To "visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction" doesn't mean just dropping by to say, "Hello." There are needs to be met and we are responsible to meet those needs. It is our God-given responsibility to show love and concern by the practical help we can give to those in need.
Years earlier those who had returned from Babylon were redeemed who had been slaves to the heathen people around. Now they were doing the same things the "heathen" had done, only were doing it to their own people. Heartlessness toward other people often accompanies the increase of riches when people set their heart on money. It was also a reproach before the worldly people around them who knew they were taking advantage of their own people for their own personal gain. As the people of God, a genuine fear of
God will keep us from thinking things are more important than people. "Blamelessness" is one of the criteria for leadership among God's people.
No one could point an accusing finger at Nehemiah because he did not take from the people even that which he had a right to claim. He was providing for others instead. The contrast between the nobles and rulers, and Nehemiah and those working with him, exposed the attitude and mindset of those who were wronging their brethren. "Let us leave off usury," was a statement that applied to everyone in that great assembly and would remind them of the divine standards they were obligated to follow. When wrongs are exposed and restitution must be made, it is important to carefully define the amounts owed so there is no mistaking what must be done.
To ensure this restitution was made and the standards of the law of God was followed, Nehemiah brought the matter from merely a business matter with temporal consequences, to a spiritual matter with eternal consequences when he had the priests make sure the demands were carried out. We really can't separate the various areas of human life and responsibility. What I think personally, I am. What I am as a person is seen in my relationship with my wife. My relationship with my wife affects our life as a family. Family life affects the fellowship of the assembly of which I am a part. The public testimony of the assembly reflects our Christian commitment to the world around.
There are consequences linked to my statements of commitment to following the Lord. Nehemiah's symbolic act of shaking off his garment, pronounced a curse from God on those who said they would do what they promised but didn't follow through with the promise. Such a person would lose everything. The nobles and rulers understood that if they did not do what they promised, what they had done to their fellow Jews would be done to them.
Nehemiah was a man who knew God well enough that he didn't take credit for the successful conclusion of this serious problem. The whole congregation agreed fully with the solution to the problem and all praise was given to the Lord. Instead of an internally divided people, they were now united. Instead of covetousness, shame and reproach - repentance had brought about a new desire for praise. Now they could get back to their work for the Lord. Division among God's people is often first felt when there are great pauses in worship. Praise becomes half-hearted and people begin absenting themselves from assembly gatherings. The Lord's things take second or third place and the whole assembly begins to suffer from lethargy and complacency, and a critical spirit develops because of one group of people taking advantage of others. Finally, individuals are lost to the assembly and fall under the influence and attractions of the world. There they stood in their finery with fat faces, Looking down haughty noses on others who lost to them their places Of abode, of making a living - they even lost their children too - Gone because of selfish greed - to the covetousness of the few.
There he stood; his face flushed with righteous anger. He was not longer to them a transient - he was no stranger. But silent condemnation coming from his body language, his face, his eyes - As he consulted with himself the best way to bring them down to size.
Then he spoke with careful words though out before his God. Each articulated word distinct, perhaps accented with a hand movement and a nod. They knew what he meant, they knew he spoke his word against them, But in arrogance, seeking to diminish the problem - they remained silent before him.
But who are all those people coming here from far away and near? Why has the work stopped, what is bringing so many people here? And then again, he speaks, his voice loud and tense and strained. Before everyone gathered - the nobles, the rulers, were publicly blamed.
Their attitude has been changed by his righteous anger carefully expressed. Now they look on their brethren, those who for money they had oppressed. And their actions are changed, restitution is made, and hope restored. As the great assembly became untied, and again in fellowship with the Lord.
"Father in heaven: some of Thy people have become so used to big money that they have forgotten what is important. May these weeks spent among them help to remind them of who they are and what is really important. May they come to the place of real and effective unity in both personal and assembly testimony. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."