The Book of Nehemiah – Lesson 7
✍️ **Just for your thoughts.*
*The Book of Nehemiah – Lesson 7*
*Expository Commentary on the Book of Nehemiah*
“Your life is the loudest sermon you will ever preach.”
“Your life itself is the most powerful message you preach.”
Nehemiah lived as an excellent example in the responsibility and leadership he accepted. Though he was closely associated with the king of the Persian Empire, he left behind his comfortable life and came to Jerusalem for the sake of his people. When he learned that the walls of Jerusalem—considered the glory of God and the pride of the people of Israel—were broken down, he dedicated himself to rebuilding them.
At that time, among the Jews who had returned from Babylon for the work of God’s temple, there was widespread social injustice. The wealthy lent money to the poor with interest; lands, vineyards, and houses were seized; and some were even forced to sell their children into slavery.
Their cry was this:
“We are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews, and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved.” (Nehemiah 5:4–5)
When this situation came to Nehemiah’s attention, he gathered the people and their leaders and rebuked them for their wrongdoing. They responded:
“We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.” (Nehemiah 5:12)
Then Nehemiah summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.
In those days, the governors under the Persian rule collected taxes from the people and received food and financial benefits, becoming a burden to them. This was the normal practice.
However, Nehemiah, though appointed as governor, refused to make use of any of the privileges granted to him. For twelve years, as the representative of King Artaxerxes, neither he nor his brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.
The former governors placed heavy burdens on the people and took silver and provisions from them; even their assistants exercised authority over the people. But Nehemiah did not act like that because of the fear of God (Nehemiah 5:14–15).
Since the people were already suffering, he did not demand anything from them, nor did he claim the food due to the governor (Nehemiah 5:18). Thus, he stood as a true model of leadership.
When we look at Nehemiah’s life, we are reminded of the life of Paul the Apostle in the New Testament. Paul also was not a burden to anyone; he lived by working with his own hands as a tentmaker. One of his powerful statements is:
“I do not seek what is yours, but you.”
Today, what the Church needs is leaders like Nehemiah. Though they had rights and privileges, they chose to give them up and live sacrificially for the sake of God’s people. *Such leaders are rare today. In many places, godliness* is *being used as a means of gain.*
Therefore, as* believers, we must take Nehemiah’s life as our example and build our spiritual lives accordingly. Let us set aside wrong examples and strive to become true witnesses for Christ.
May the Lord fulfill this desire in our lives.
The life we live as a testimony is the greatest message we proclaim to the world. ✨