Scripture: Nehemiah 5:1-13
Sermon Series: Nehemiah: Making a Difference for God – Sermon 06

The buzz word today is A.I. Do you trust A.I.? Can you trust A.I.?

A recent study by The Washington Post revealed a startling number of cases where innocent people were arrested for crimes because they were identified through a faulty deployment of AI-driven facial recognition software. Police often succumb to a phenomenon known as “automation bias” where people believe computers are less biased and more trustworthy. It creates situations where law enforcement jumps to conclusions without due diligence. They fail to account for the possibility that innocent citizens might bear physical similarities to criminal suspects.

For example, medical entrepreneur, Jason Vernau, spent three days behind bars after being arrested for check fraud when police used facial recognition to ID him as a bank customer. The software was correct. Vernau had been in the bank where the fraudulent check was deposited, but he was there to deposit a real check. Had officers done an examination of his financial documents, they’d have ruled him out as a suspect. After he was released, prosecutors dropped the case. He was clearly innocent, but Vernau still had to work to get the charges expunged from his record.

God is a God of justice. Justice is mentioned over 300 times in the Bible. Nehemiah 5 is about justice, biblical justice. This passage will help us work through biblical justice. There was a group, in this case, the poor, who were suffering under injustice from nobles, the wealthy, and the government.

Passages like this are why we’re committed to expository preaching at Grace. Social Justice isn’t something I’d normally be preaching on. We must though work through it because it’s right here in our study of Nehemiah.

There are all kinds of justice. The most familiar are legal justice and social justice. Legal justice is the God-given role of the government to protect people’s God-given rights and punish those who violate those rights. But there’s also social justice. When we start talking about “social justice,” the air gets thick in the room. Yet, social justice is very biblical.

We become uncomfortable because in our polarized world, both the left and the right have hijacked social justice. The far left has ripped it from its roots, separating it from moral righteousness and biblical absolutes, contaminating it with various wrong-headed ideas. The far right has distorted it by using it as a smoke screen to evade legitimate justice issues and advance its own political agenda. As Christians, we must understand and encourage social justice, though I believe we’re wiser to use the term “biblical justice.” That’s what we want to work through today, Redeeming Justice.  

Most, when they think of social justice, think of racism. Racism is an issue in our world and it’s a sin. It’s not just an American problem; it’s a sinful human one. Visit nearly any part of the world and you’ll find racism.

God’s Word teaches social justice with a great concern for the plight of the poor, the disenfranchised and afflicted. It commands care of the fatherless, widows and immigrants. That would include evils like domestic violence, elder abuse, human trafficking, and bullying. In other words, it includes all at risk individuals or people groups. This is vital: The focus of biblical exhortations to care for these is more individual than societal. In other words, each individual Christian is to do what he/she can to help the least of these. The foundation is the second of the greatest commandments, love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). It’s because of the Bible’s commands about justice that you and I must care about biblical justice.  

This morning we’re rejoining the book of Nehemiah to find a change of pace in the long parade of opposition to Nehemiah’s commission to rebuild the ruined walls of Jerusalem. Until this point we’ve seen opposition from the outside from enemies who work hard to intimidate these Jewish exiles who’d returned from Babylon to rebuild the walls and Jewish national life.

But in Nehemiah 5, the problems come from the inside, within the Jewish community itself. Work on the wall slows down because of the oppression of the poor by their own rich relatives. Wealthy Jews are abusing the poor people of Judah. Please understand, though the weapon is economic, it’s not a financial issue, it’s a heart one. It’s a justice problem.

The Bible teaches that there’s nothing wrong with being wealthy. In fact, Nehemiah is very wealthy. He may be the richest man in Jerusalem. It’s this rich government leader who confronts the abuse by other wealthy people.

God’s Word is opposed to socialism and communism where economic equality is achieved by forced redistribution of wealth. It never justifies taking from the rich to give to the poor. Turn to Nehemiah 5:1-13 (p. 372).

This is an ancient family feud. Family terms brother, sons, wives, daughters, countrymen appear 15 times in our text. It’s not a fight with Gentile Pagans on the outside as in chapter 4. This fight is within the Jewish family, brother vs. brother. It threatened to shut down the project of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls.

If Satan can’t defeat us from the outside, he’ll work to divide us on the inside. The church has often been marked more by factions than fellowship. Last week there were news stories of two churches with lawsuits because of disagreements within their churches. May God have mercy on us!

1. God uses problems for our spiritual growth, vss. 1-5

We all know that we need to grow spiritually as individual Christians. But we often miss the need to grow together spiritually as a church family. No matter what the cause, we must work at resolving conflicts in the church in a biblical manner.

Paul exhorts us to be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). We should pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another (Romans 14:19).

If we want God’s blessing, we must seek peace and unity in Christ. Passivity won’t cut it. We must pursue peace in a godly manner without compromising God’s truth. We must seek unity in the mission. A unified church in Christ is one of our most powerful defenses against the Evil One.

Recently, I read that when a group of thoroughbred horses face an enemy attack, they stand in a circle facing each other, and with their back legs, kick out at the foe. Donkeys, on the other hand, do the opposite. They make a circle and face the threat while using their hind legs to kick at each other! It’s easier to defeat an enemy who attacks us than it is to forgive and restore a Christian brother, sister or friend who hurts us. Our greatest enemies are rarely on the outside. It’s the wolves on the inside who do the most damage. It’s what’s happening in Nehemiah 5. It’s a satanic attack. J.I. Packer comments, Satan is a hater, a wrecker, and a destroyer, and only when he is ruining God’s work in individuals and community is he happy.

Four different groups were involved in this crisis. First, there were those who owned no land, but needed food. The population was increasing. They had growing families. There was a famine and they were hungry. They’re trapped and can’t help themselves, so they cry out to Nehemiah for relief.

The second group is composed of landowners who must mortgage their property to buy food. Apparently inflation was on the rise. The combination of debt and inflation is enough to wipe out a person’s equity very quickly.

The third group is in trouble because taxes were so high. These farmers are forced to borrow money to pay them. Taxes were as high as 40%. Many fell into the hands of loan sharks who made enormous profits. To borrow, they had to give some form of security, their land. It meant losing their property.

Persian kings collected a fortune as an annual tribute, very little benefitted local provinces. Taxes didn’t support local services but enriched the king.

The fourth group were the wealthy Jews who are exploiting their fellow Jews by loaning them money but taking their land or children as slaves for collateral. Borrowers had to choose between starvation or servitude. The wording suggests that their daughters were forced into prostitution. 

While Jews under the Mosaic law could loan money to each other, they weren’t allowed to charge interest, in what’s called “usury.” They were to treat each other with love, even in the matter of taking security, or making a brother or sister, a servant. Both the people and the land belonged to the Lord. God gave it to them and prohibited abusing others for personal gain.

The Mosaic Law had a provision called “The Year of Jubilee.” Celebrated every 50 years, it mandated universal debt cancellation, the freeing of indentured servants, and return of ancestral property to ensure economic equality. It balanced out the economic system in Israel. The rich couldn’t get richer as the poor became poor. But these wealthy Jews were selfishly exploiting the poor to make themselves rich. They used their power to rob some of their property, enslaved others and even sold them to Gentiles. 

It was driven by greed. The Prophets denounced greed before the Babylonian captivity. God has a special concern for the poor and will not hold those guiltless who abuse or take advantage of them.

It all sounds like the Wall Street Journal – high taxes, soaring interest rates, families in debt, economic hardship, and mortgage foreclosures. Jewish businessmen made a killing during this economic crisis. The rich became richer and the poor became poorer. The Jews were their own worst enemies.

Greed is not an economic problem. It’s a heart one. Greedy, selfish hearts take advantage of the suffering of others to fill their own pockets. Selfishness is at the root of most conflicts in communities, families and marriages.

So, here they were, God’s people involved in God’s project taking advantage of and abusing their brothers and sisters. The poor, in desperation take their case to Nehemiah. They confess that they are powerless to fix it.

Money problems are rarely only money problems. It’s not hard to imagine the hurt felt in thinking their suffering was being increased by rich ethnic family members. It’s a sure-fire recipe for discouragement – discouragement with the church’s people, church leaders, and even discouragement with God Himself. If you can’t find compassion, mercy and grace in the church, why bother with it? They’ve moved from discouragement to despair.

Whenever there is a tornado, after the storm we get a glimpse of greed. While many jump in to help, others see an opportunity to take advantage of those in need by price gouging or stealing. It’s what’s going on here.

Too often as Christians, we don’t reach out to a lost world because the world has reached inside and contaminated the church. What about us? Do we care? Do we care about struggling believers around us? Do we care about neighbors or fellow employees? Do we care about justice?

Can I get in your personal space for moment? Often we care more about a pet, than a fellow image-bearer of God. In a 2025 survey nearly half of pet owners didn’t see a difference between a pet and a child. 18% said they’d sell an organ to save their furry “child’s” life. Sometimes we forget there is no doggy heaven, but there is a people one. Let’s seek to fill it as much as we can. Our Lord’s mission for us is to take as many others as we can to heaven!

2. God desires problem-solving action, vss. 6-13

Don’t you wish you could schedule problems? This family feud couldn’t have happened at a worse time. They’re in the middle of a huge construction project. Yet, God is still on the throne. He’s in control of all problems, even the timing of them. He’s in control of ours too. We must take James 1:2-4 to heart: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The account doesn’t tell us whether those being wronged went first to those exploiting them without getting things resolved. It’s always the first step when you think someone has wronged you. You’re to go directly to them and seek to resolve matters (Matt. 18:15). At this point they brought their complaints to Nehemiah. Here’s a basic yet often overlooked principle: a leader can’t deal with problems they’re unaware of.  Leaders aren’t psychic.

To resolve conflicts, we must choose not to ignore problems. That seems simple enough, but it’s easy to know about problems yet ignore them. Nehemiah had a long list of reasons for not getting involved. He had a big project going on. Why should he focus on the conflict when the wall was unfinished? Then, the conflict arose because of the rich and nobles. Challenging them would bring tremendous pressure on him. They were the leaders. He needed their support to finish the wall.

However, Nehemiah chose to not ignore the conflict but instead address it. It’s the same with us. We’re often tempted to ignore or overlook problems. Good leadership understands the importance of not only getting involved but resolving conflicts. Conflicts always have a tendency to spread.

First, it’s only two people fighting, then others take sides. We can’t ignore the conflict because it spreads like a virus. Nehemiah doesn’t ignore it or sweep it under the rug; he immediately addresses it. What can we learn?

We need to be righteously indignant at injustice. 

What makes you angry? Do you get angry at the right things? The hardest moral duty of our time is to keep on caring. We can easily become overwhelmed with compassion or anger fatigue, losing the capacity to get mad at the right things.

All anger is not sinful. Be angry and do not sin (Ephesians 4:26). Most of the time my anger isn’t righteous, but there’s a place for what Bible students call “righteous indignation.” So, what are some right times to become angry? We should get angry when God’s people deliberately sin, disobeying God’s Word as these Jews did. We should get angry, as Nehemiah did, when harm is being done to others or those in power take advantage of those who can’t defend themselves, as the rich are doing to the poor here. Too often we become numb to social ills. Sometimes it’s appropriate to have a “holy snarl.” Nehemiah wasn’t a politician who asked, “what’s acceptable?” or “what do the polls say?” He asked, “what’s right?”

We must reflect, not react.

I took counsel with myself (Nehemiah 5:7). Nehemiah, though angry, found a way to cool down. He consulted with himself and listened to God’s voice. The wording means to give oneself advice or counsel oneself. It’s the best thing you can do when you’re angry.

You need a quiet place where you can set aside your emotions before God. Marvelous therapy comes from sharing with God your hurt and anger as you consult with yourself before confronting the situation. Proverbs 16:32, Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

We must confront injustice and sin in the church. 

It’s difficult and uncomfortable to confront those causing a problem. It’s particularly difficult to confront those who are rich and powerful, as these men were. What if they became defensive and withdrew their support of the project? They could use their clout to cause lots of damage. Maybe Nehemiah should stall until the wall was finished, but he didn’t do that.

First, he privately confronted those guilty of mistreating the poor. We don’t know whether this involved a single meeting or a series of meetings. The biblical pattern for resolving conflict is, If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you (Matt. 18:15-16a). Nehemiah did a private confrontation before any public confrontation.

Did they respond affirmatively to Nehemiah in private? We don’t know, but probably not. There’s no recorded response. So, Nehemiah moves to public confrontation. He calls an assembly and lays out the problem. He gets it all out in the open. Wise leaders are committed to transparent communication.

Then, he rebuked the rich, pointing out how he and others had redeemed their Jewish brothers who’d been sold to the nations. But now it was rich Jews themselves selling their fellow Jews into slavery. He pointed out that their behavior would bring mockery from their enemies for their mistreatment of their own Jewish brothers and sisters.

Apparently, Nehemiah had loaned money to the poor in accordance with the Law, without charging interest. He appeals to these wealthy men to join him in doing the same. He asks them to give back to the poor their children, their fields, olive groves, and property along with the interest they’d charged.

Many Christian leaders are afraid to confront sinners with their sin. Fear increases when the person sinning is rich and powerful. We must follow Nehemiah’s example of confronting those living in sin. Nehemiah exhibited righteous anger under control. It gave him the courage to confront those who were sinning. Why does he do this? Because sin in the family is more damaging than enemies outside the walls.

3. Real repentance is always demonstrated by action, vs. 12-13

Look again at verses 12-13. Nehemiah tells them it can be fixed if they take responsibility for their sin and do the right thing. He asks them to give back the property they’ve loaned money on and write off their losses. No doubt the lenders took a financial bath. They probably had large sums of money involved.

Were they financially harmed by Nehemiah’s appeal? Not really. They took losses, but they were the people of God by covenant. Their faith was something that was to apply specifically to situations like this, and they were in the wrong to start with. To their credit, they agree to right the wrongs.

It’s noteworthy that Nehemiah doesn’t leave it at that. He knows people have a way of forgetting to do what’s right, especially when money is involved. So, he calls in the priests and has the lenders approach the priests and in the presence of God. They swear a solemn vow to do what they’ve gone on record as supporting. Vows are important. It’s why we do marriage vows. We’re committing to faithfulness, not before people but before God.

Nehemiah even invokes a curse on them if they don’t follow through with their commitment. God would shake them out if they didn’t follow through.

Isn’t that last statement great!. They all praised the Lord! How is it they went from being loan sharks one minute to praising the Lord the next? Because they knew that they were doing wrong all along and repented!

This is true repentance. It was weighing heavily on them. When they choose to do what’s right, they felt God’s release of guilt and His blessing. Praising the Lord and joy is the result when you’ve been carrying around guilt and do what’s right and get rid of it. It’s the way it is with any sin in our lives.

So, how do you deal with sin when the Word of God reveals it? First, you confess it. Second, you commit that with God’s help you’re not going to do it again. Third, you go public if needed and let others know, “I am done with this. I’m going on from here.” Finally, you recognize the severity of what’s involved in making promises to God, lest in reneging on a promise made to Him, He should shake us out of the robes of His blessing.

Conclusion

William P. Barker tells of a machinist at Ford Motor Company in Detroit who became a Christian and was baptized. As the Holy Spirit began transforming this man, he became convicted of his need to make restitution for some parts and tools he’d stolen from the company prior to becoming a Christian. The next morning, he brought all the tools and parts back to his employer. He explained how he’d come to Christ and been baptized, asking for his foreman’s forgiveness. It was so amazing that Mr. Ford, who was visiting a plant in Europe at the time, was cabled with the details and asked for his response. Ford immediately returned a cable with this: Dam up the Detroit River and baptize the entire city.

My friend, do you really know Jesus? Have you committed your life to Christ? Has there been a transformation? No, you’re not perfect but there’s a real change in your life, your attitudes, words and behavior. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Nehemiah was God’s instrument in bringing about justice for those who had suffered injustices. What can we do? How is God calling us to bring more of His justice into our world?

It begins by promoting God’s justice by reflecting His character by defending the marginalized, showing mercy, and addressing wrongs in local and global communities. This calling is an extension of loving our neighbor.  

Concrete and Active Steps to Bring About Justice

• Defending the vulnerable: Follow the biblical mandate to speak up for those who can’t defend themselves: orphans, widows, the poor, those with special needs.
• Loving mercy in daily life:Display biblical justice by extending grace, forgiving offenses, and generously prioritizing the needs of others.
• Seeking to address local and community needs: Recently, Mary Lorbach helped an elderly neighbor move who had dementia. I have a friend who recently got out of prison and is looking for a job. I gave him a gas card. Maybe you can help a young mother with her children or a single mom. For most of us, it’s just opening our eyes and hearts.
• Praying: Begin praying for the rescue and defense of the disenfranchised and for wisdom to respond effectively to local and community needs.

We live in an unjust world! We can’t change it all! Let’s commit to working to change our part by encouraging God’s justice and mercy wherever we can!