Nehemiah 5-7

“Although we are of the same flesh and blood ... yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery” (5:5). The returned Jews faced a terrible problem, worse than enemy attacks: wealthy leaders were not helping the poor, as the Law required. During famine, families were selling their land and even their children to pay debts (5:1-5). Nehemiah grieved, knowing God had given the land so that people could live God-honoring lives, rejecting greed and selfishness. He required everything to be returned to the debtors (5:11).

“Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God ...?” (5:9). God saves us so that we can “walk in the light” (I John 1:7), honoring His name by how we treat others.