Remember me O God: Nehemiah 5

Some rabbi's and commentators get a little upset with Nehemiah's closing remarks in chapter 5. They think he was presumptuous about God's blessing and his works.

He says,
Nehemiah 5:19
Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.

I'm taken with Nehemiah's life of prayer, his treatment of others and his desire to see righteousness in his people. Nehemiah was willing to speak for those who were being mistreated and didn't have the power to change things on their own behalf. He saw things in society that were wrong and addressed them. While some folks may not like his words to me they confidence in God's blessing upon righteousness.

Mistreatment: Nehemiah 5
Smack in the middle of all of the problems with enemies fighting against the building of the wall and the discouragement among the ranks we find some disturbing facts about the officials and nobles of the people. The rich were charging high interest to other Israelite's who needed help to pay taxes. Some of their children had been sold into slavery. They cried out to Nehemiah and declared that their children were just as important as the children of the rich. Homes and lands were lost to the profiteering of the nobles. Nehemiah rose up and decried this injustice....and demanded that they stop mistreating the poor and give back the money and lands that they wrongfully had taken.

Nehemiah 5:9-11
⁹ Then I pressed further, “What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations? ¹⁰ I myself, as well as my brothers and my workers, have been lending the people money and grain, but now let us stop this business of charging interest. ¹¹ You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.”

Nehemiah was a man that would not let go whether against foreign enemies or Jewish nobles who took advantage of their countrymen. When we are trying to do God's will and there are ungodly issues in our lives that we have not dealt with God brings those things to the surface. The wall which would bring protection was God's plan...but sin against others would hinder what God was doing. When something comes to the surface in your life it may well be that God is helping you to repent and walk uprightly both to safeguard you and to bring about greater blessing. The officials and nobles repented. What areas to do you see in your life....What areas are you willing to address in your circle.

Nehemiah talked to God and others about about how he did not exploit the people as other governors had. He ends with this statement.
Nehemiah 5:19
Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.