Nehemiah 5:1-6
The Jews in this passage are crying out for help. It seems as if there is a famine, and people are having to overpay the officials and nobles just to live! They are even selling sons and daughters into slavery in order to keep food on the table. Nehemiah is outraged! He is shocked by the sin of the officials who are taking advantage of their own people and their hunger. Sin is something that we must call out in our own lives. He heard the outcry, and he was angry. As the leader of the people, he listened to what the people had to say and acted accordingly. We live in a fallen world, and I do not think that the sin of people is something that should shock us; however, Nehemiah also did not take it lying down either! He is angry. There is a correct response to sin, especially in this story, where the people who are in the wrong are leaders of the people. People are using their power for their own gain. Nehemiah correctly responds with righteous anger, and we see in verse seven how he formulates a response. As Christians, I think sometimes the hardest thing to do is to confront someone who is sinning. The reality is, though, that we must be willing to confront people. We are to do it from a place of love and grace towards the person, but anger toward the sin itself. We must also make sure we are looking at our own lives as well and making sure we are also taking care of the sin in our own life. Being able to confront sin is difficult. Trust in God and grow in being able to handle sin correctly.
The Jews in this passage are crying out for help. It seems as if there is a famine, and people are having to overpay the officials and nobles just to live! They are even selling sons and daughters into slavery in order to keep food on the table. Nehemiah is outraged! He is shocked by the sin of the officials who are taking advantage of their own people and their hunger. Sin is something that we must call out in our own lives. He heard the outcry, and he was angry. As the leader of the people, he listened to what the people had to say and acted accordingly. We live in a fallen world, and I do not think that the sin of people is something that should shock us; however, Nehemiah also did not take it lying down either! He is angry. There is a correct response to sin, especially in this story, where the people who are in the wrong are leaders of the people. People are using their power for their own gain. Nehemiah correctly responds with righteous anger, and we see in verse seven how he formulates a response. As Christians, I think sometimes the hardest thing to do is to confront someone who is sinning. The reality is, though, that we must be willing to confront people. We are to do it from a place of love and grace towards the person, but anger toward the sin itself. We must also make sure we are looking at our own lives as well and making sure we are also taking care of the sin in our own life. Being able to confront sin is difficult. Trust in God and grow in being able to handle sin correctly.
Posted in Devotional