WEBVTT

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 Good morning.

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 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church,

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 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today.

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 A special welcome if you are new or visiting with us.

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 We are glad you're here.

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 And we're glad you're here not because you are filling a seat,

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 but because we are following Jesus together as one community.

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 And so we're convinced that as we follow Jesus together,

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 that there is no one so good that they don't need God's grace.

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 And no one so bad they can't have it.

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 And so God has something to say to every one of us in His Word,

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 and every one of us needs to hear what God has to say.

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 If you've been with us, you know that we are going through the book of Nehemiah.

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 The book of Nehemiah is a book about a man named Nehemiah

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 who lived during the 5th century B.C.

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 And it's a story about him realizing the ways that Israel,

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 God's people in the Old Testament, had abandoned God and His ways,

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 and that had been shown through many things.

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 But one of the ways it had been shown was that God's city, Jerusalem,

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 which God had set to make a light to the nations for everyone in the world

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 to see what it's like when God's people follow God's ways,

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 God's people had neglected and abandoned Jerusalem.

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 And even though they'd been back from exile for almost 100 years,

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 the wall around Jerusalem was in shambles.

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 We met Nehemiah in chapter 1,

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 and he was weeping and crying and fasting and praying in repentance

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 over the ways that God's people had abandoned His city.

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 And then in chapter 2 and 3,

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 we saw God's people returning to the work of rebuilding the wall.

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 And last week, we saw the opposition that happens

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 when we return to God's mission.

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 And now we come to Nehemiah chapter 5,

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 and we have a problem that's a different problem than the wall.

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 It's been exciting so far.

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 We've seen God's people coming together,

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 working hard, putting aside their differences

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 so that they can have one mission despite their differences.

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 But now they're going to face a different struggle,

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 a different problem.

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 Not opposition from the outside,

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 but problems on the inside.

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 Now, as some of you know,

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 one of my brothers is in the reserves.

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 He's in the Army Reserves.

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 He used to be in the Army National Guard.

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 And so he was only working part-time in that way,

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 and so he tried to find out

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 what it was he was going to do for his full-time job,

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 what he was going to do during the week

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 when he wasn't a weekend warrior.

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 And he finally settled on doing military contracting,

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 and so that's his work that he pursues.

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 But while he was trying to figure it out,

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 there were a lot of different options that he looked at.

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 And one of them was becoming a state trooper.

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 And so as he explored this opportunity,

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 he became friends with some state troopers,

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 and he decided to do what's called a ride-along,

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 where you join a state trooper for their shift,

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 you ride along in the car,

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 you get to see the different things

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 that they handle and experience.

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 And he had one man in particular

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 who taught him a lot of things,

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 and one of the things he taught him was this.

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 If someone's car is a mess,

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 their life is also a mess as well.

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 And I don't mean that you have a messy car.

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 Many of us have messy cars.

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 But he's talking about the fact

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 that if you're driving along

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 and you see someone's license plate

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 and it's been expired for several years,

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 or they're not able to keep up

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 basic maintenance on their car,

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 there's often something else that's going on as well.

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 I-95, which is a major highway in the East Coast,

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 is a huge route for drug trafficking.

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 And there's millions of dollars of cocaine

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 that's taken back and forth on that road.

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 And so as my brother explained it to me,

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 he said,

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 if you are taking millions of dollars of cocaine

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 up the highway,

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 you don't really have time

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 to worry about your taillight.

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 In fact, the biggest cocaine bust

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 in Charles County, Maryland,

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 happened with, I believe,

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 this officer that my brother knew.

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 It was because of a taillight pullover.

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 And so police know this truth

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 that physical problems

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 often point to spiritual problems as well.

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 You pull someone over

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 for a physical problem with their car,

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 a lack of registration,

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 or a mechanical failure,

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 and you find out

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 that they have a warrant for their arrest,

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 for failure to pay child support,

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 a warrant for failure to appear in court.

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 Or perhaps they're smuggling

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 large amounts of cocaine

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 from south to north and north to south.

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 And that's the issue that we see here

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 as we come to Nehemiah chapter 5.

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 On the one hand,

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 God's people have abandoned his wall.

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 And that was the repentance

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 that Nehemiah had in chapter 1.

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 But they have not just abandoned God's wall,

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 they've also abandoned God's ways.

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 They haven't just abandoned God's wall,

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 they've also abandoned his ways.

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 And so this physical ruin of the wall

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 points to a much deeper spiritual ruin

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 that has happened in Israel.

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 And so physical ruin

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 and spiritual ruin are paired.

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 As the police know,

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 it's often things that travel together,

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 often things that travel along.

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 And so we're going to look

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 at Nehemiah chapter 5,

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 and we're going to see

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 not the external problems

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 of their enemies coming in

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 and threatening them

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 and attacking them,

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 not the physical problem

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 of the wall that's broken down

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 and shameful,

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 but the internal spiritual problem

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 as God's people,

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 while they're on the one hand

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 rebuilding something that's physical,

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 they have deep problems

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 that are spiritual,

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 and the two are related.

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 They have chosen to value

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 possessions over people,

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 property over people,

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 profit over people.

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 And that's what we're going to encounter

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 as we come to Nehemiah chapter 5.

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 I'm going to be reading

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 starting at verse 1.

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 If you have your worship guide,

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 you'll find Nehemiah chapter 5

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 printed there,

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 or you can follow along

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 in your Bible.

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 Remember that as we come

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 to this passage,

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 this is God's word.

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 And God tells us

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 that his word is a hammer

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 that breaks a rock into pieces.

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 In other words,

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 God's word is so powerful

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 that there is nothing

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 that can stand against it.

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 And so I'm going to read

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 starting with Nehemiah chapter 5,

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 starting at verse 1.

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 Please read with me.

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 Now there arose

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 a great outcry of the people

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 and of their wives

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 against their Jewish brothers.

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 For there were those who said,

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 With our sons and our daughters

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 we are many,

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 so let us get grain

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 that we may eat

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 and keep alive.

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 There were also those who said,

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 We are mortgaging our fields,

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 our vineyards,

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 and our houses

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 to get grain

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 because of the famine.

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 And there were those who said,

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 We have borrowed money

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 for the king's tax

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 on our fields and our vineyards.

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 Now our flesh

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 is as the flesh

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 of our brothers,

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 our children

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 are as their children.

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 Yet we are forcing

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 our sons and our daughters

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 to be slaves.

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 And some of our daughters

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 have already been enslaved.

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 But it is not in our power

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 to help it,

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 for other men

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 have our fields

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 and our vineyards.

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 Verse 6.

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 I was very angry

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 when I heard their outcry

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 in these words.

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 I took counsel with myself

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 and I brought charges

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 against the nobles

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 and the officials.

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 I said to them,

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 You are exacting interest,

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 each from his brother.

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 And I held a great assembly

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 against them

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 and said to them,

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 We, as far as we are able,

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 have bought back

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 our Jewish brothers

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 who have been sold

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 to the nations.

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 But you even sell your brothers

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 that they may be sold to us.

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 They were silent

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 and could not find

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 a word to say.

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 Verse 9.

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 So I said,

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 The thing that you are doing

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 is not good.

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 Ought you not to walk

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 in the fear of our God

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 to prevent the taunts

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 of the nations,

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 our enemies?

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 Moreover,

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 I and my brothers

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 and my servants

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 are lending them

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 money and grain.

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 Let us abandon

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 this exacting of interest.

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 Return to them

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 this very day

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 their fields,

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 their vineyards,

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 their olive orchards,

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 and their houses.

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 And the percentage of money

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 grain,

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 wine,

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 and oil

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 that you have been

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 exacting from them.

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 Verse 12.

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 Then they said,

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 We will restore these

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 and require nothing from them.

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 We will do as you say.

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 And I called the priests

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 and made them swear to do

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 as they had promised.

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 I also shook out

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 the fold of my garment

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 and said,

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 So may God shake out

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 every man from his house

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 and from his labor

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 who does not keep this promise.

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 So may he be shaken out

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 and emptied.

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 And all the assembly

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 said amen

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 and praised the Lord.

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 And the people did

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 as they had promised.

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 Verse 14.

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 Moreover,

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 from the time

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 that I was appointed

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 to be their governor

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 in the land of Judah,

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 from the twentieth year

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 to the thirty-second year

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 of Artaxerxes the king,

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 twelve years,

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 neither I nor my brothers

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 ate the food allowance

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 of the governor.

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 The former governors

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 who were before me

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 laid heavy burdens

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 on the people

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 and took from them

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 for their daily ration

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 forty shekels of silver.

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 Even their servants

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 lorded it over the people.

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 But I did not do so

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 because of the fear of God.

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 Verse 16.

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 I also persevered

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 in the work on this wall

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 and we acquired no land.

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 And all my servants

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 were gathered there

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 for the work.

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 Moreover,

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 there were at my table

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 a hundred and fifty men,

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 Jews and officials,

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 besides those who came to us

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 from the nations

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 that were around us.

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 Now what was prepared

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 at my expense

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 for each day

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 was one ox

00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:00.960
 and six choice sheep

00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:01.480
 and birds

00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:02.939
 and every ten days

00:09:02.939 --> 00:09:03.939
 all kinds of wine

00:09:03.939 --> 00:09:04.439
 in abundance.

00:09:05.379 --> 00:09:06.220
 Yet for all this

00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:07.100
 I did not demand

00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:07.919
 the food allowance

00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:08.519
 of the governor

00:09:08.519 --> 00:09:09.860
 because the service

00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:10.559
 was too heavy

00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:11.220
 on this people.

00:09:12.319 --> 00:09:13.439
 Remember for my good,

00:09:13.539 --> 00:09:14.080
 oh my God,

00:09:14.319 --> 00:09:15.419
 all that I have done

00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:16.399
 for this people.

00:09:18.319 --> 00:09:19.259
 Please pray with me

00:09:19.259 --> 00:09:19.720
 as we come

00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:20.279
 to this portion

00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:21.000
 of God's word.

00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:25.460
 Dear Father in Heaven,

00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:27.059
 we thank you

00:09:27.059 --> 00:09:27.600
 and praise you

00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:28.440
 that you haven't

00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:29.100
 left us alone.

00:09:30.179 --> 00:09:31.500
 You do not allow us

00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:32.080
 to stay

00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:33.379
 in our spiritual ruin,

00:09:34.299 --> 00:09:35.320
 but you've come to us

00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:36.240
 in Christ

00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:37.120
 to meet us

00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:37.799
 with your grace.

00:09:38.919 --> 00:09:39.860
 We ask that you

00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:40.919
 would do that right now,

00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:41.620
 that you would send

00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:42.360
 your Holy Spirit

00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:43.480
 to help us,

00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:45.179
 that we would be able

00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:45.940
 to hear

00:09:45.940 --> 00:09:47.659
 and believe

00:09:47.659 --> 00:09:48.620
 and understand

00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:50.419
 and follow everything

00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:51.360
 that you have for us

00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:51.940
 in your word.

00:09:52.740 --> 00:09:53.560
 We ask this

00:09:53.560 --> 00:09:54.279
 in Jesus' name.

00:09:54.980 --> 00:09:55.299
 Amen.

00:09:58.480 --> 00:09:59.240
 If you remember

00:09:59.240 --> 00:09:59.860
 from last week,

00:09:59.940 --> 00:10:01.240
 things were exciting

00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:02.039
 as God's people

00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:02.659
 came together

00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:03.419
 and they put aside

00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:04.019
 their differences

00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:04.720
 so that they could

00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:05.700
 work together

00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:08.159
 as one community,

00:10:08.299 --> 00:10:08.980
 even as their enemies

00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:09.899
 came up against them.

00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:11.519
 God's hand was with them.

00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:13.419
 Things were moving forward

00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:15.560
 and yet at the very end

00:10:15.560 --> 00:10:16.480
 we have this one verse,

00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:17.139
 verse 22,

00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:18.060
 chapter 4.

00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:20.440
 Where Nehemiah asks

00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:21.399
 everyone to spend

00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:21.799
 the night

00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:22.779
 in the city of Jerusalem.

00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:24.980
 This seems like

00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:25.679
 a great idea

00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:26.139
 and it was

00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:27.060
 because they make sure

00:10:27.060 --> 00:10:28.060
 that they do not give in

00:10:28.060 --> 00:10:29.039
 to the voices around them

00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:29.860
 that are encouraging them

00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:30.740
 to abandon the work

00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:32.519
 and yet this has created

00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:33.060
 a problem.

00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:35.799
 If all the men

00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:37.080
 are sleeping in the city

00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:38.659
 and if they've been

00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:39.720
 working for months now

00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:40.340
 on the wall,

00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:42.480
 what have they not

00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:43.039
 been doing?

00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:48.240
 There's no indication

00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:48.879
 that Nehemiah

00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:49.840
 has been paying them

00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:50.560
 on the one hand

00:10:50.560 --> 00:10:51.899
 and yet on the other hand

00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:52.500
 they have not been

00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:53.460
 working their fields.

00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:55.440
 All this has been

00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:56.180
 great so far.

00:10:56.299 --> 00:10:56.919
 It was, remember,

00:10:57.060 --> 00:10:58.039
 April when Nehemiah

00:10:58.039 --> 00:10:59.200
 came back to Jerusalem.

00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:00.680
 He's recruited all these

00:11:00.680 --> 00:11:02.060
 Israelites to work

00:11:02.060 --> 00:11:02.519
 diligently.

00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:04.340
 But now as it comes

00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:05.259
 near the end of the summer

00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:05.759
 and the beginning

00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:06.399
 of the fall,

00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:08.700
 this is harvest season.

00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:11.259
 And not only is it

00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:11.840
 harvest season,

00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:12.740
 it's even worse than that

00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:13.720
 because at the end

00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:14.620
 of the harvest season

00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:15.539
 is when debtors

00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:16.659
 would have to pay

00:11:16.659 --> 00:11:17.240
 their debts.

00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:20.200
 And so it's all

00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:20.940
 fun and games

00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:22.580
 until the debt collector

00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:23.000
 comes.

00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:25.159
 It's wonderful

00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:26.460
 to work on God's wall

00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:27.419
 on the one hand

00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:28.720
 except when you've

00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:29.480
 abandoned your family

00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:30.340
 fields on the other.

00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:32.620
 And so there's a real

00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:33.440
 physical need

00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:34.200
 that's arisen among

00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:34.679
 these people

00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:35.460
 and as they come

00:11:35.460 --> 00:11:36.379
 to the time

00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:36.899
 when they have to

00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:37.480
 pay their debts

00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:38.080
 they realize

00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:39.120
 what they're up against.

00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:40.899
 There's a reason

00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:42.019
 most likely in verse

00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:43.000
 one of chapter five

00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:43.620
 that the wives

00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:44.500
 especially are upset

00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:44.960
 about this

00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:45.779
 because they're the ones

00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:46.740
 who were left at home.

00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:48.480
 The men have been

00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:49.139
 working hard

00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:50.139
 having great success

00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:51.000
 and yet it's their wives

00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.000
 who know that the harvest

00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:52.879
 has not been brought in

00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:53.779
 in the way it needs to.

00:11:54.580 --> 00:11:55.200
 They've been faithful

00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:56.200
 to God's commands

00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:56.899
 to be fruitful

00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:57.580
 and multiply

00:11:57.580 --> 00:11:58.259
 in verse two

00:11:58.259 --> 00:11:59.120
 but yet that's created

00:11:59.120 --> 00:11:59.539
 a problem.

00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:00.379
 They have many sons

00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:00.799
 and daughters

00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:01.460
 which means they have

00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:02.440
 many mouths to feed.

00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:04.440
 These brothers

00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:05.299
 that they're complaining

00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:06.559
 against in verse one

00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:08.440
 are the rich brothers.

00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:10.519
 And so there's

00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:11.720
 those in Jerusalem

00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:12.860
 who have the resources

00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:13.800
 to be able to feed

00:12:13.800 --> 00:12:14.279
 their family

00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:15.159
 and continue working

00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:15.600
 on the wall

00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.300
 and then there's those

00:12:16.300 --> 00:12:17.019
 who do not have

00:12:17.019 --> 00:12:17.659
 those resources.

00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:19.419
 And so the poor

00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:20.659
 have been taken advantage

00:12:20.659 --> 00:12:21.360
 of by the rich.

00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:22.259
 There's a variety

00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:22.620
 of people

00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:23.580
 in different situations.

00:12:23.800 --> 00:12:24.720
 So in verse three

00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.120
 we see that there are people

00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:28.759
 who have mortgaged

00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:29.399
 their property

00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:30.600
 to get the food

00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:31.039
 that they need

00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:31.639
 for their family.

00:12:33.820 --> 00:12:34.720
 In verse four

00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:35.240
 we have people

00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:36.320
 that have a different problem.

00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:38.580
 They have tremendous taxes

00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:39.580
 that the Persian government

00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:40.240
 is putting on them

00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:41.039
 that they need to pay.

00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:43.379
 And in verse five

00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.620
 we meet the worst situation

00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:44.980
 of all.

00:12:45.099 --> 00:12:46.139
 There are people

00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:47.360
 in Israel and Jerusalem

00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:48.399
 to feed their family

00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:49.199
 to be able to keep

00:12:49.199 --> 00:12:49.740
 their property.

00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:50.539
 They've even been putting

00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:51.179
 out their children

00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:51.899
 as slaves

00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:53.360
 not to the nations.

00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:55.679
 They've had to put out

00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:56.199
 their children

00:12:56.199 --> 00:12:57.980
 to work for other families

00:12:57.980 --> 00:12:59.699
 so that they can pay

00:12:59.699 --> 00:13:00.159
 their debts

00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:01.259
 and continue to have

00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:02.099
 the food on the table

00:13:02.099 --> 00:13:02.719
 that they need.

00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:06.660
 What's happening

00:13:06.660 --> 00:13:07.379
 is that we have

00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:08.340
 rich people

00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:11.139
 who are taking advantage

00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:12.080
 of this situation

00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:13.680
 and taking what

00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:14.620
 the poor people have.

00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:17.340
 Rather than helping them out

00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:18.040
 rather than trying

00:13:18.040 --> 00:13:18.779
 to be there

00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:19.620
 when they need them

00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:21.279
 there are Israelites here

00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:22.519
 who care much more

00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:23.379
 about profit

00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:24.620
 and possessions

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.879
 than they care about people.

00:13:26.940 --> 00:13:28.100
 They see this problem

00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:29.100
 this building of the wall

00:13:29.100 --> 00:13:29.759
 as an opportunity

00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.220
 for them to become rich

00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:32.940
 rather than an opportunity

00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:33.740
 to watch out

00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:34.720
 for their family members.

00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:37.899
 And this is the scandal

00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:40.700
 that Nehemiah confronts.

00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:43.379
 It's why in verse 6

00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:43.860
 we find out

00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:45.040
 that he was very angry

00:13:45.040 --> 00:13:47.340
 because he looks out

00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:48.379
 on what God's people

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:49.399
 are doing to each other

00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:50.060
 and he sees

00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:51.379
 not them bringing

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.259
 God's kingdom

00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:53.040
 on earth

00:13:53.040 --> 00:13:53.779
 as it is in heaven

00:13:53.779 --> 00:13:54.279
 but instead

00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:55.560
 he sees them using this

00:13:55.560 --> 00:13:56.220
 as an opportunity

00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:57.080
 for their profit.

00:14:00.040 --> 00:14:01.200
 But Nehemiah knows

00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:01.980
 that God

00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:04.160
 cares much more

00:14:04.160 --> 00:14:04.940
 about people

00:14:04.940 --> 00:14:06.340
 than he does

00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:07.180
 about possessions

00:14:07.180 --> 00:14:08.060
 or property.

00:14:10.020 --> 00:14:10.980
 Nehemiah knows

00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:11.600
 that God

00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:12.840
 cares so much more

00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:13.500
 about people

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.160
 than he does

00:14:14.160 --> 00:14:14.940
 about possessions

00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:16.040
 and property.

00:14:17.160 --> 00:14:18.100
 And yet he also knows

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:18.720
 in this passage

00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:19.280
 remind us

00:14:19.280 --> 00:14:20.120
 that our temptation

00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:20.780
 as people

00:14:20.780 --> 00:14:22.120
 under sin

00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:23.460
 who struggle with sin

00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:24.020
 our temptation

00:14:24.020 --> 00:14:24.820
 is to instead

00:14:24.820 --> 00:14:25.700
 care more about

00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:26.580
 property than people.

00:14:28.780 --> 00:14:29.540
 Nehemiah knows

00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:29.939
 that God

00:14:29.939 --> 00:14:30.339
 cares more

00:14:30.339 --> 00:14:30.819
 about people

00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:31.419
 than property

00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:32.159
 and yet the people

00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:32.539
 are tempted

00:14:32.539 --> 00:14:33.219
 to care more

00:14:33.219 --> 00:14:33.919
 about their property

00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:34.819
 than people.

00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:36.679
 Now we're going to

00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:37.240
 talk in a minute

00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:38.099
 about specifically

00:14:38.099 --> 00:14:38.980
 what's going on here.

00:14:39.099 --> 00:14:40.199
 This is specifically

00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:41.339
 about predatory lending

00:14:41.339 --> 00:14:43.120
 and yet generally

00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.000
 we have the principle

00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:44.819
 of people

00:14:44.819 --> 00:14:46.399
 over everything else.

00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:49.000
 I had the chance

00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.840
 a few years ago

00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:51.959
 to be at someone's house

00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:53.419
 they were hosting

00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:53.980
 a time

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:56.039
 for a breakfast

00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:57.039
 there were friends

00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:57.819
 that were together

00:14:57.819 --> 00:14:59.799
 gathered to enjoy

00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:00.439
 some food

00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:00.939
 and tea

00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:01.759
 and coffee together

00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.539
 and they were all

00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:03.139
 working together

00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:04.220
 to help make this happen.

00:15:05.459 --> 00:15:05.919
 And at one point

00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:06.600
 the host asked

00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:07.199
 one of his friends

00:15:07.199 --> 00:15:08.379
 would you heat the water

00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:08.919
 for us

00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:10.659
 so that we can

00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.559
 make the drinks

00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.039
 that we need

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:13.500
 and so this guest

00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:14.399
 it was early in the morning

00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:15.819
 he had not fully woken up

00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:16.820
 he didn't have

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:17.780
 all his senses with him

00:15:17.780 --> 00:15:18.360
 and so he took

00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.500
 the electric tea kettle

00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:21.520
 off of the electric charger

00:15:21.520 --> 00:15:22.140
 and he put it

00:15:22.140 --> 00:15:22.840
 on the stove

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.740
 the gas stove

00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:25.840
 and then he turned

00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:26.280
 on the burner

00:15:26.280 --> 00:15:29.560
 after he'd put water in it

00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:30.120
 and so this

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.480
 tea kettle began

00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.520
 to slowly melt

00:15:32.520 --> 00:15:34.500
 into the gas burner

00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:37.480
 and by the time

00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:38.140
 this had happened

00:15:38.140 --> 00:15:39.460
 it was too late

00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:40.220
 for that tea kettle.

00:15:42.300 --> 00:15:43.120
 Someone realized

00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:43.680
 there was a

00:15:43.680 --> 00:15:44.500
 scramble

00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:44.920
 a shuffle

00:15:44.920 --> 00:15:45.420
 someone quickly

00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:46.279
 turned off the oven

00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:47.039
 pulled the tea kettle

00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:47.419
 off

00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:48.559
 the smell

00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.319
 of burned rubber

00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.639
 was filling

00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.459
 the breakfast room

00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:53.000
 and of course

00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:53.959
 this half asleep man

00:15:53.959 --> 00:15:55.299
 was just so embarrassed

00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:56.079
 and devastated

00:15:56.079 --> 00:15:58.439
 trying to apologize

00:15:58.439 --> 00:15:59.479
 offering to buy

00:15:59.479 --> 00:16:00.000
 a new kettle

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.679
 repaying

00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:03.019
 and the host

00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:03.899
 simply said this

00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:05.639
 he said

00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:07.299
 I bought this

00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:07.779
 tea kettle

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:10.240
 and the reason

00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:10.639
 I bought it

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:10.980
 was because

00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:11.819
 I wanted to have

00:16:11.819 --> 00:16:12.860
 friends in my house

00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:16.139
 and so this

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.539
 tea kettle

00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:17.139
 has served

00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:17.800
 its purpose

00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:21.440
 I would rather

00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:22.440
 have you here

00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:23.159
 in my house

00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:23.639
 with me

00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.300
 having breakfast

00:16:24.300 --> 00:16:24.779
 with me

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.960
 than have that

00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:26.379
 tea kettle

00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:28.480
 and if I had

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:29.139
 to choose

00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:30.800
 between having

00:16:30.800 --> 00:16:31.940
 a perfect tea kettle

00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:34.220
 and having you

00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.000
 here with me

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.659
 in your friendship

00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:38.139
 I would choose

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:38.879
 you every time

00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:43.159
 as a friend

00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:45.419
 tried to

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.340
 offer to

00:16:46.340 --> 00:16:46.759
 replace

00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:47.460
 this tea kettle

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:48.580
 the host

00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:49.259
 just refused

00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:53.559
 said no

00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:55.379
 I have these

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:55.779
 possessions

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.419
 for the sake

00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.000
 of this community

00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.620
 I have them

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.360
 here for people

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.919
 and so I've

00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:00.360
 gotten more

00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:00.980
 than my money's

00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:01.200
 worth

00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:01.679
 out of this

00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:02.019
 tea kettle

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:02.480
 because I was

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:02.919
 able to have

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:03.360
 you in this

00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:03.679
 house

00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:08.519
 Nehemiah knows

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.000
 that God

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:09.539
 cares more

00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.119
 about people

00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:11.619
 than possessions

00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:15.599
 he knows

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.039
 that God's

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.359
 heart

00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:18.399
 is for the

00:17:18.399 --> 00:17:18.859
 community

00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:20.720
 and that

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.339
 profit is not

00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.119
 the bottom line

00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:22.839
 that he calls

00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:23.839
 the people

00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:24.440
 who follow him

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:24.700
 to

00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:27.980
 Nehemiah's

00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.519
 outrage

00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:29.720
 is justified

00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:30.339
 and so he

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:30.799
 comes

00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.940
 not just

00:17:31.940 --> 00:17:32.399
 with anger

00:17:32.399 --> 00:17:32.779
 but with

00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:33.220
 charges

00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:33.660
 in verse

00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:33.960
 7

00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:37.039
 they are

00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.440
 using this

00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:38.920
 opportunity

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:39.600
 to gain

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:39.880
 money

00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:40.339
 rather than

00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:40.640
 showing

00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:41.019
 mercy

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:42.700
 and so

00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:43.240
 Nehemiah

00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:44.299
 points out

00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:44.819
 the shame

00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:45.100
 of this

00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:45.680
 situation

00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:47.680
 you are

00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.259
 exacting

00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:48.839
 verse 7

00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.259
 interest

00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:49.799
 each from

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.259
 his brother

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:53.960
 and then he

00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:54.440
 reminds them

00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:54.740
 that they've

00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.019
 been doing

00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:55.380
 all this

00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:55.779
 work to

00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:56.240
 buy their

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:56.519
 brothers

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.019
 back from

00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:57.559
 slavery

00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:57.940
 to the

00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:58.140
 other

00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:58.579
 nations

00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.279
 and so

00:17:59.279 --> 00:17:59.620
 what they're

00:17:59.620 --> 00:17:59.920
 doing

00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.400
 with one

00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:00.640
 hand

00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:01.339
 they're undoing

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:01.620
 with the

00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:01.839
 other

00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:03.859
 Nehemiah

00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.079
 doesn't

00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.299
 mention

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:04.519
 this

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:04.720
 here

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.019
 but if

00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.159
 you're

00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:05.500
 familiar

00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:05.799
 with

00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.559
 Old Testament

00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:06.919
 Israel

00:18:06.919 --> 00:18:07.319
 you know

00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:07.500
 that it

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.019
 was actually

00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.519
 forbidden

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.279
 for Israelites

00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:09.839
 to exact

00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.259
 interest

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:10.659
 from each

00:18:10.659 --> 00:18:10.899
 other

00:18:10.899 --> 00:18:12.679
 now the

00:18:12.679 --> 00:18:13.220
 context of

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:13.639
 these laws

00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:14.359
 in Deuteronomy

00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:14.899
 and Leviticus

00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:16.039
 was mainly

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:16.740
 focused around

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.519
 protecting people

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.000
 who were in

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.519
 great need

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.019
 people who were

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:19.459
 in poverty

00:18:19.459 --> 00:18:19.899
 from being

00:18:19.899 --> 00:18:20.579
 taken advantage

00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:20.879
 of

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:22.079
 so commercial

00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:22.480
 lending

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.240
 wasn't forbidden

00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:24.079
 it was typically

00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.559
 practiced

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.659
 not within the

00:18:25.659 --> 00:18:26.339
 Israelite community

00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.740
 but they would

00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.399
 have commercial

00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:28.099
 lending with other

00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:28.559
 communities

00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.139
 other nations

00:18:29.139 --> 00:18:29.859
 outside of it

00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:32.099
 but the goal

00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:32.699
 the point

00:18:32.699 --> 00:18:33.399
 of these laws

00:18:33.399 --> 00:18:34.079
 was for

00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:35.119
 the poor

00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:35.819
 to be protected

00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:36.519
 people who were

00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.079
 in dangerous

00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:37.659
 situations

00:18:37.659 --> 00:18:38.159
 who were in

00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:38.459
 need

00:18:38.459 --> 00:18:39.299
 would be able

00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:39.759
 to get the

00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:40.399
 resources they

00:18:40.399 --> 00:18:41.019
 needed without

00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:42.619
 someone using

00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:43.379
 that as a chance

00:18:43.379 --> 00:18:44.559
 to extract

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.299
 even more money

00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:45.759
 from them

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:48.479
 but what we see

00:18:48.479 --> 00:18:49.039
 here is that

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.519
 instead of

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.039
 following the

00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:50.539
 rules about

00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.099
 not charging

00:18:51.099 --> 00:18:51.679
 interest for

00:18:51.679 --> 00:18:52.500
 fellow Israelites

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.099
 they are doing

00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:55.279
 participating in

00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:55.659
 what we would

00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:56.059
 call today

00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:56.939
 predatory lending

00:18:56.940 --> 00:19:00.100
 they are lending

00:19:00.100 --> 00:19:00.700
 in such a way

00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.180
 that the very

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:02.000
 children of their

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.720
 brothers and

00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:03.080
 sisters

00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:04.620
 are having to

00:19:04.620 --> 00:19:05.240
 work off the

00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:05.480
 debt

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:07.140
 they are lending

00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:07.700
 in such a way

00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:08.320
 that the very

00:19:08.320 --> 00:19:09.080
 lands that these

00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:09.740
 people need to

00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.340
 support themselves

00:19:10.340 --> 00:19:11.100
 are being taken

00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:11.500
 away

00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:15.059
 and when Nehemiah

00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:15.779
 brings this in

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.220
 front of them

00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:16.980
 they realize that

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.519
 he is right

00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:19.799
 it says in verse

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.519
 8 because of

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.180
 their shame here

00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:21.680
 it says they were

00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.460
 silent and could

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.120
 not find a word

00:19:23.120 --> 00:19:23.559
 to say

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:25.460
 they know that

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.220
 Nehemiah's

00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:27.460
 rebuke his

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.799
 correction is

00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.220
 correct

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:32.700
 and so he

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.179
 commands them

00:19:33.179 --> 00:19:33.839
 there to return

00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:34.460
 their fields

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.679
 and in verse 12

00:19:35.679 --> 00:19:36.519
 everyone turns

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.159
 back and says

00:19:37.159 --> 00:19:37.919
 we will restore

00:19:37.919 --> 00:19:39.240
 these and require

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:40.019
 nothing from them

00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:40.819
 we will do as you

00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.099
 say

00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:43.359
 they are not just

00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.299
 breaking even here

00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:44.859
 instead they are

00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:45.799
 turning away from

00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:46.659
 sin and turning back

00:19:46.659 --> 00:19:47.240
 to righteousness

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.079
 they are not just

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.419
 ceasing to gain

00:19:49.419 --> 00:19:50.039
 money from the

00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.299
 poor

00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:52.179
 but these lenders

00:19:52.179 --> 00:19:52.839
 are now actually

00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:53.500
 going to lose

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:53.799
 money

00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:55.980
 they are giving

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.000
 back everything

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.699
 that they had

00:19:57.699 --> 00:19:58.619
 loaned

00:19:58.619 --> 00:19:59.619
 and they are not

00:19:59.619 --> 00:19:59.980
 going to make

00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:00.679
 any money off of

00:20:00.679 --> 00:20:00.879
 it

00:20:00.879 --> 00:20:02.579
 they are giving

00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.379
 back the land

00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.059
 they are giving

00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:04.740
 back the interest

00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.559
 that was charged

00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:06.399
 and what was

00:20:06.399 --> 00:20:07.159
 originally given

00:20:07.159 --> 00:20:07.720
 as a loan

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.279
 is now going

00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:08.759
 to be given

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.359
 as a gift

00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:13.980
 we saw Nehemiah

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.759
 in chapter 1

00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:15.459
 turning back

00:20:15.459 --> 00:20:15.939
 from sin

00:20:15.939 --> 00:20:16.339
 and turning

00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:17.179
 towards God

00:20:17.179 --> 00:20:19.619
 and we see

00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:20.220
 here that that's

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:20.559
 not something

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:21.199
 that just happens

00:20:21.199 --> 00:20:21.679
 once

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.000
 it's not just

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.320
 something that

00:20:23.320 --> 00:20:23.900
 happens over

00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:24.340
 the wall

00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:24.860
 but it's

00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:25.240
 something that

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:25.680
 God's people

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.240
 do over

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:26.700
 and over

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.100
 again

00:20:27.100 --> 00:20:29.060
 this is not

00:20:29.060 --> 00:20:29.600
 going to be

00:20:29.600 --> 00:20:30.160
 this is not

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:30.740
 the first time

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.080
 we've seen

00:20:31.080 --> 00:20:31.519
 God's people

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:31.920
 repent

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.380
 in the book

00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.000
 of Nehemiah

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.560
 and it's far

00:20:34.560 --> 00:20:35.080
 away from the

00:20:35.080 --> 00:20:35.500
 last time

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:35.779
 we're going

00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:36.180
 to see them

00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:36.560
 repent

00:20:36.560 --> 00:20:38.360
 but they're

00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:38.900
 taking part

00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:39.519
 in the process

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.140
 of turning

00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:40.700
 away from

00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.000
 sin

00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.740
 and turning

00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.160
 back to

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:42.440
 God

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:44.860
 and they're

00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:45.340
 also highlighting

00:20:45.340 --> 00:20:45.860
 this principle

00:20:45.860 --> 00:20:46.480
 not just

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.060
 that as we've

00:20:47.060 --> 00:20:47.519
 already seen

00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.320
 God cares more

00:20:48.320 --> 00:20:48.900
 about people

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.460
 than profit

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.720
 but there's

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.120
 a second

00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:51.740
 principle here

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.120
 a principle

00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:53.140
 against predatory

00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:53.500
 lending

00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.220
 that accumulation

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.000
 of wealth

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.600
 is never

00:20:56.600 --> 00:20:57.200
 something that

00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.700
 should happen

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.340
 at the expense

00:20:58.340 --> 00:20:59.039
 of other people

00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:01.640
 accumulation

00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:02.319
 is wealth

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.220
 is not something

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:03.860
 that we do

00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:04.860
 to take advantage

00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:05.440
 of the poor

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:07.740
 now the Bible

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.480
 is very clear

00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:10.400
 God is

00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.340
 eager for his

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:12.960
 people to work

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.360
 hard

00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.720
 to save money

00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.579
 to have

00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:16.380
 private property

00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:18.100
 he's just

00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:18.480
 not eager

00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:18.760
 for them

00:21:18.760 --> 00:21:19.020
 to do

00:21:19.020 --> 00:21:19.260
 that at

00:21:19.260 --> 00:21:19.940
 the expense

00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:21.040
 of people

00:21:21.040 --> 00:21:21.300
 who are

00:21:21.300 --> 00:21:21.900
 downtrodden

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:24.820
 and so

00:21:24.820 --> 00:21:25.700
 what we see

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:25.860
 here

00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:26.320
 the principle

00:21:26.320 --> 00:21:26.780
 in today

00:21:26.780 --> 00:21:27.080
 would be

00:21:27.080 --> 00:21:27.740
 that places

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.300
 like pawn

00:21:28.300 --> 00:21:28.720
 shops

00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:30.660
 payday loans

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:32.160
 even certain

00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:32.620
 types of

00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:33.300
 credit cards

00:21:33.300 --> 00:21:36.340
 are instruments

00:21:36.340 --> 00:21:37.020
 that the rich

00:21:37.020 --> 00:21:37.640
 use to take

00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:38.120
 advantage of

00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:38.480
 the poor

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:41.560
 God is not

00:21:41.560 --> 00:21:42.300
 opposed to

00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:42.820
 people making

00:21:42.820 --> 00:21:43.280
 profit

00:21:43.280 --> 00:21:44.940
 he's not

00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.600
 opposed to

00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:46.160
 people lending

00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:46.500
 he's not

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.000
 even opposed

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.600
 to interest

00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:50.360
 but his

00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:50.900
 bottom line

00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:51.460
 is people

00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:53.400
 his bottom

00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:53.800
 line is

00:21:53.800 --> 00:21:54.420
 people over

00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:54.779
 profit

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.640
 every single

00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:56.040
 time

00:21:56.040 --> 00:21:58.000
 and so

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.480
 what we see

00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:58.920
 here is that

00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.560
 previously we

00:21:59.560 --> 00:22:00.040
 had people

00:22:00.040 --> 00:22:00.900
 gaining from

00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:01.980
 others losses

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:04.100
 and now we

00:22:04.100 --> 00:22:04.519
 see as they

00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.360
 turn away from

00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:05.940
 their sin and

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.600
 back to repentance

00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:07.759
 they are losing

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.759
 so that other

00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.500
 people can gain

00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:12.600
 they're not

00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:13.100
 gaining from

00:22:13.100 --> 00:22:13.700
 others losses

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.100
 they're now

00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:14.740
 losing so that

00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.340
 other people can

00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:15.620
 gain

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:17.219
 because they

00:22:17.219 --> 00:22:17.719
 know that in

00:22:17.719 --> 00:22:18.359
 God's economy

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:18.879
 and God's

00:22:18.879 --> 00:22:19.279
 world

00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:21.879
 God cares so

00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:22.439
 much more

00:22:22.439 --> 00:22:23.039
 about the

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.500
 people he's

00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.019
 made in his

00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:25.359
 image than

00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:25.839
 anything they

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.459
 can accumulate

00:22:26.459 --> 00:22:27.059
 at each

00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:27.699
 other's cost

00:22:27.699 --> 00:22:31.439
 Nehemiah

00:22:31.439 --> 00:22:32.059
 doesn't just

00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:34.299
 call out the

00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:34.899
 nobles around

00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:35.179
 him

00:22:35.179 --> 00:22:37.079
 he doesn't

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:37.519
 just try to

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.339
 return to

00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:39.779
 God's ways

00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.139
 and his

00:22:40.139 --> 00:22:40.479
 mercy

00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.460
 but then he

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:41.759
 sets an

00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:42.319
 example in

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:42.700
 the rest of

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.220
 this chapter

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:45.220
 we're told

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.599
 about his

00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.339
 generosity in

00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:47.019
 verses 14

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.559
 through 19

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.660
 and we

00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:49.400
 find out that

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.099
 Nehemiah has

00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.599
 an allowance

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:50.960
 that he's

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.360
 allowed to

00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:51.620
 collect

00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:52.200
 he's actually

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.819
 a governor

00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:53.259
 he's been

00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:53.720
 given a

00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.559
 political position

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:54.799
 in the

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.440
 Persian Empire

00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.920
 remember we

00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:57.480
 talked in

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.279
 chapters 1

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:58.579
 and 2

00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:58.900
 about the

00:22:58.900 --> 00:22:59.220
 fact that he

00:22:59.220 --> 00:22:59.460
 was a

00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.039
 cup bearer

00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.360
 which was

00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:00.819
 an incredibly

00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.839
 powerful position

00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.700
 in the

00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:03.599
 Persian Empire

00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.700
 he goes from

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.339
 one political

00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:05.960
 position to

00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:06.259
 another

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.339
 and as a

00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:08.039
 Persian official

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:09.700
 and as an

00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.259
 Israelite he

00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:10.779
 has the

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:13.079
 right to

00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.599
 take a certain

00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:14.180
 allowance from

00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:14.579
 the people

00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.379
 and it's not

00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:16.180
 even an allowance

00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:16.819
 that's for his

00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.440
 good it's not

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.039
 an allowance that

00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.579
 he's going to

00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:19.180
 use for his

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:19.640
 own profit

00:23:19.640 --> 00:23:20.220
 it's actually an

00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:20.799
 allowance that's

00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.240
 there for his

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:21.920
 responsibilities

00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:23.619
 we find out that

00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:24.799
 he's responsible for

00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.900
 serving all kinds

00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:26.319
 of people

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.940
 he's responsible for

00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:28.740
 providing dinner

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.879
 for those who

00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:31.599
 serve under him

00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.480
 and then he's

00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:33.259
 responsible for

00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.400
 entertaining diplomats

00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:34.779
 and foreign

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.480
 dignitaries who

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.119
 come into town

00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:38.319
 so this is a

00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.879
 right allowance

00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.500
 that he has

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:42.079
 there's nothing

00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:42.759
 wrong with a

00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.339
 government giving

00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:43.739
 one of their

00:23:43.739 --> 00:23:44.259
 officials the

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.939
 resources they

00:23:44.939 --> 00:23:45.619
 need to carry

00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.359
 out their job

00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:47.919
 in fact some of

00:23:47.919 --> 00:23:48.439
 you have this at

00:23:48.439 --> 00:23:49.159
 your jobs as well

00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:49.739
 you have expense

00:23:49.739 --> 00:23:50.359
 accounts so that

00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:51.219
 you can do

00:23:51.219 --> 00:23:52.099
 business and not

00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.859
 take it out of

00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:54.000
 your family budget

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:56.579
 but Nehemiah

00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.219
 chooses to do

00:23:57.219 --> 00:23:57.699
 something very

00:23:57.699 --> 00:23:58.119
 different

00:23:58.119 --> 00:24:00.599
 knowing the

00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.259
 poverty of the

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.759
 people around

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.019
 him

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:03.179
 knowing their

00:24:03.179 --> 00:24:04.399
 struggle to feed

00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:05.119
 their own

00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:05.659
 families

00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:07.220
 let alone feed

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.000
 these dignitaries

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.720
 he decides to

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.200
 take it out of

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:09.820
 his own bank

00:24:09.820 --> 00:24:10.180
 account

00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:13.040
 so Nehemiah

00:24:13.040 --> 00:24:13.700
 takes the money

00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:15.380
 that he's given

00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:15.960
 the money that

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.480
 gets direct

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.220
 deposited into

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.620
 his checking

00:24:17.620 --> 00:24:18.040
 account

00:24:18.040 --> 00:24:19.420
 it's already been

00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:19.860
 taxed

00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:20.140
 he's already

00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:20.540
 paid the

00:24:20.540 --> 00:24:20.860
 IRS

00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:22.680
 and he decides

00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.320
 he has enough

00:24:23.320 --> 00:24:23.779
 that he's going

00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.540
 to be able to

00:24:24.540 --> 00:24:25.860
 support all these

00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.440
 tasks that are

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:26.920
 before him

00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:27.580
 not because he

00:24:27.580 --> 00:24:28.080
 has the right

00:24:28.080 --> 00:24:28.320
 to

00:24:28.320 --> 00:24:30.640
 but because he's

00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:31.360
 so eager

00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:32.860
 to know that his

00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:33.360
 brothers and

00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:34.060
 sisters are not

00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:34.679
 coming into

00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:35.379
 greater poverty

00:24:35.379 --> 00:24:36.119
 because of this

00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:37.419
 we find out here

00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:38.039
 that Nehemiah

00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.819
 must be extremely

00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:39.240
 wealthy

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:40.960
 there's indications

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.700
 previously in the

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.200
 chapter that he

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.819
 comes from an

00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:43.619
 influential family

00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:44.359
 that may be why

00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:44.799
 he ended up

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.740
 being a cupbearer

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:47.039
 and so he chooses

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.779
 here to

00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:49.980
 use his wealth

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:52.099
 for the sake of

00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:52.480
 the poor

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:54.819
 uses his wealth

00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.559
 to care

00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.379
 for those who

00:24:56.379 --> 00:24:56.940
 would not otherwise

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:57.659
 be able to feed

00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.440
 their families

00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.119
 and so he takes

00:24:59.119 --> 00:24:59.559
 it out of his

00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.119
 very own

00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:01.579
 his very own

00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.139
 bank account

00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:05.879
 the author of

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:06.519
 Nehemiah is making

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.379
 clear to us that

00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:08.299
 God cares about

00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.039
 people he cares

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.719
 about the poor

00:25:09.719 --> 00:25:13.059
 and as we come

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.959
 against the sin

00:25:13.959 --> 00:25:14.399
 that Israel

00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:15.019
 struggled with

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.599
 there's another

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:17.339
 reality that is

00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:19.219
 sobering

00:25:19.219 --> 00:25:21.159
 and that's the

00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:21.899
 reality of sin

00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:22.459
 within God's

00:25:22.459 --> 00:25:22.759
 people

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:24.799
 there's a

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.479
 tempting belief

00:25:25.479 --> 00:25:26.079
 that some people

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.659
 have called the

00:25:26.659 --> 00:25:27.939
 myth of Christendom

00:25:27.939 --> 00:25:28.819
 that if somehow

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.659
 we can separate

00:25:29.659 --> 00:25:30.859
 ourselves from

00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.859
 all the non-Christians

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.359
 in the world

00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:34.019
 if somehow we can

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.839
 get away from all

00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.579
 those sinners out

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.279
 there then we will

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:37.379
 be free of polluting

00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:38.399
 influences we'll be

00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:39.200
 able to be free

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.220
 from sin finally

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:42.099
 if we can just keep

00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:42.980
 ourselves and our

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:44.179
 families away from

00:25:44.179 --> 00:25:44.980
 people who have

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:46.259
 wrong behavior and

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.240
 wrong ideas then

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.000
 we'll be safe

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:51.919
 and yet here in

00:25:51.919 --> 00:25:53.000
 Nehemiah chapter 5

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.159
 we have the remnant

00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:55.960
 we have those who

00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:56.939
 did not rebel against

00:25:56.939 --> 00:25:57.839
 God who made it out

00:25:57.839 --> 00:26:00.199
 of exile those who

00:26:00.199 --> 00:26:01.000
 have returned to

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.879
 God's cities and

00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:03.019
 separated themselves

00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.959
 from the nations

00:26:03.959 --> 00:26:07.299
 and yet the reality

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.439
 of sin and greed is

00:26:08.439 --> 00:26:08.959
 still in their

00:26:08.959 --> 00:26:11.359
 hearts they've not

00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:12.259
 been able to escape

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.699
 sin just by escaping

00:26:13.699 --> 00:26:15.019
 people who are not

00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:17.919
 Israelites what we'll

00:26:17.919 --> 00:26:18.879
 have already seen in

00:26:18.879 --> 00:26:19.619
 the book of Nehemiah

00:26:19.619 --> 00:26:20.059
 and what we will

00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.959
 continue to see is

00:26:20.959 --> 00:26:21.799
 sin is not something

00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:23.079
 that is outside of us

00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:25.939
 that gets in but sin

00:26:25.939 --> 00:26:26.639
 is something that is

00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:28.000
 inside of us that

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:31.200
 gets out sin is not

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:31.780
 something that is

00:26:31.780 --> 00:26:33.020
 outside of us that

00:26:33.020 --> 00:26:35.060
 gets in but it is

00:26:35.060 --> 00:26:36.140
 something inside of

00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:39.960
 us that gets out and

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:41.180
 so separating ourselves

00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:43.820
 from other people is

00:26:43.820 --> 00:26:44.940
 not going to be our

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.860
 solution it's not going

00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:46.860
 to be our redemption

00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:49.340
 and there are reformed

00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:50.640
 people who claim to

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.940
 believe in original sin

00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:53.240
 that still fall prey to

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:55.460
 this way of thinking that

00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:56.440
 somehow sin is these

00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.460
 other people out there

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.380
 that we need to escape

00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:59.120
 and yet if that were

00:26:59.120 --> 00:27:01.640
 true then Jesus would

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.480
 not have needed to come

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:05.880
 and die if all God's

00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:06.740
 people needed to do is

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.720
 get out of Babylon and

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.900
 get back to God's city so

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.819
 they could be safe from

00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:11.900
 sin then there would

00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:13.079
 have been no need for a

00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:14.559
 savior to come and help

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:17.680
 them and so the cure for

00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:20.220
 our selfishness the cure

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:21.620
 for our temptation to put

00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:25.579
 profit ahead of people is

00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:26.719
 not to separate ourself

00:27:26.719 --> 00:27:27.659
 from selfish people

00:27:27.659 --> 00:27:29.679
 because that in and of

00:27:29.679 --> 00:27:31.899
 itself is selfish but

00:27:31.899 --> 00:27:33.419
 instead it's to understand

00:27:33.419 --> 00:27:35.039
 and realize our need for

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:37.079
 the gospel our need for

00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:38.099
 God and his grace to

00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:38.939
 come and change our

00:27:38.939 --> 00:27:39.619
 hearts that we would

00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.679
 actually care about what

00:27:40.679 --> 00:27:42.179
 he cares about that we

00:27:42.179 --> 00:27:43.259
 would care about people

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.939
 more than profit that

00:27:44.939 --> 00:27:46.239
 would be our bottom line

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:49.859
 I mentioned earlier the

00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:51.079
 laws in Deuteronomy and

00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:52.240
 Leviticus that for

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:54.200
 forbid the charging of

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.859
 interest to fellow

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:58.019
 Israelites the laws don't

00:27:58.019 --> 00:28:00.039
 just talk about interest in

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.859
 Israelites and how they're

00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:02.000
 going to behave as one

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.079
 community together but it

00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:04.740
 also in Deuteronomy chapter

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:07.559
 17 talks about the king

00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.660
 that's going to one day

00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:10.799
 come to Israel and it

00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.799
 outlines the qualifications

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:13.200
 for this king what has to

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:15.380
 be true about him there's

00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:16.380
 many things we find out

00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:17.400
 he's not going to collect

00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:20.280
 horses from Egypt but the

00:28:20.280 --> 00:28:21.500
 very last thing that this

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.820
 king will not do is he's

00:28:22.820 --> 00:28:24.380
 not going to amass silver

00:28:25.020 --> 00:28:27.640
 and gold he's not going to

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:29.320
 use his position and power

00:28:29.320 --> 00:28:30.700
 to accumulate wealth for

00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:34.040
 himself instead this king

00:28:34.040 --> 00:28:35.060
 that's going to come the

00:28:35.060 --> 00:28:36.160
 king that's going to rule

00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:37.260
 Israel is going to be a

00:28:37.260 --> 00:28:38.460
 king that looks out for the

00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.380
 good of the people above

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:43.820
 himself we see some of that

00:28:43.820 --> 00:28:44.940
 with the Israelite kings who

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:46.180
 come along and yet they also

00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:48.740
 fail some of them do

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.880
 accumulate wealth for

00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:52.279
 themselves most of them do

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:54.640
 rather than using their

00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.559
 wealth to serve the

00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:56.660
 community God's given them

00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:59.460
 to lead and so the ideal

00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:00.960
 king that Deuteronomy 17

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:03.820
 looks forward to the ideal

00:29:03.820 --> 00:29:05.299
 king that God's people here

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:08.360
 need and the ideal king that

00:29:08.360 --> 00:29:10.440
 we celebrate as well is Jesus

00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:13.440
 he's the king who had all

00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:17.680
 wealth all power he had

00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:19.299
 everything and no reason to

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:21.920
 give it up and yet he lost

00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:24.840
 all of it he did not just

00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:26.640
 refuse to acquire excessive

00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:28.340
 silver and gold as Deuteronomy

00:29:28.340 --> 00:29:31.279
 17 forbids but he actually gave

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:33.460
 up everything he gave up

00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:35.000
 everything to live life as a

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:37.519
 real man in this in this world in

00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:40.799
 time and space in history and

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:42.160
 rather than coming and having

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:45.619
 wealth he grew up without without

00:29:45.619 --> 00:29:48.680
 much of anything he's famous for

00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:51.579
 being born in a stable and then he

00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:52.900
 goes on not just to give up his

00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:54.339
 wealth but everything else so that

00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:56.319
 he can die and take the punishment

00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:58.480
 that we deserve the punishment that

00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:01.019
 we deserve for valuing profit over

00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:04.940
 people so that he could one day lead

00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:07.299
 us that we could value people over

00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:11.299
 profit as we look at this passage

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:13.460
 and we see the challenge of our

00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.700
 hearts the challenge that doesn't

00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:16.080
 come from the world around us but

00:30:16.080 --> 00:30:18.840
 the sin that's in us there is only

00:30:18.840 --> 00:30:22.160
 one hope for us we cannot simply

00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:23.799
 drag ourselves up by our bootstraps

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:25.380
 and decide to become more generous

00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:27.600
 that will simply make us more

00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:31.480
 self-righteous we can't find a

00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:34.039
 12-step program to overcome our our

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:35.500
 greed and ignoring the people around

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:38.659
 us but instead the only way that we

00:30:38.659 --> 00:30:40.339
 will be able to have the generosity

00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:42.079
 here that nehemiah has is when we

00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:46.039
 understand and know and believe how

00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:47.819
 much we are in poverty and have needed

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:50.019
 Jesus to come and save us in the past

00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:54.879
 and continue to save us now and when

00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:56.859
 we understand that God has rescued us

00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:58.819
 that he has refused to charge interest

00:30:58.819 --> 00:31:04.079
 on us then we will be able to lose so

00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:09.000
 that other people can gain in 2007

00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:12.720
 there was a everyday marriage that

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:16.079
 happened just like people marry every

00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:18.139
 weekend in this nation and yet this

00:31:18.139 --> 00:31:19.899
 marriage made it all the way into

00:31:19.899 --> 00:31:22.720
 national news it was in Michigan and a

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:24.079
 woman named Christine and a man named

00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:26.240
 Kyle decided they were going to they were

00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:28.279
 going to marry each other and that's

00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:30.140
 normal but they decided to do

00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:31.220
 something that was not normal

00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:35.000
 rather than simply feeding their

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:36.299
 guests who came to join them they

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.559
 decided they were going to put their

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:40.539
 guests to work Christine and Kyle had

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:42.000
 met at this church in the neighborhood

00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:43.660
 they'd met through a neighborhood

00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:45.120
 outreach ministry and so they were

00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:47.740
 serving side by side this church was

00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:48.960
 actually a church that administered to

00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:50.620
 them as well Christine was a single

00:31:50.620 --> 00:31:53.220
 mom with two kids Kyle had been

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:57.180
 through struggles with addictions and

00:31:57.180 --> 00:31:58.460
 they met each other in this ministry

00:31:58.460 --> 00:32:00.880
 and they decided we want to not just

00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:02.319
 serve our guests but we want to serve

00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:05.019
 this neighborhood and so instead of

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:06.620
 having our guests come and sit down at

00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:07.839
 long tables what we're going to have

00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:09.660
 them do is actually serve food to

00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:11.220
 people outside of the wedding people

00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:12.740
 in the neighborhood families that need

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:17.779
 food to feed to eat to survive and so

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:20.000
 they spread the word silently quietly

00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:21.059
 through the neighborhood that people

00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:22.460
 would know when to show up at the

00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:24.419
 church and after the wedding was over

00:32:24.419 --> 00:32:26.240
 they put on bride and groom cooking

00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:28.679
 aprons and they went outside and they

00:32:28.679 --> 00:32:32.019
 served everyone through the line now I

00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:33.139
 am not saying that if you have a

00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:37.339
 wedding you need to do this what I am

00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:41.919
 saying is that what God told Abraham in

00:32:41.919 --> 00:32:43.659
 Genesis 12 that he was going to bless

00:32:43.659 --> 00:32:45.319
 him so that he could be a blessing is

00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:48.539
 true of us as well our great hope is we

00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:50.559
 look forward to Jesus second coming is

00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:52.359
 that we would sit around his marriage

00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:53.980
 feast what's called in Revelation the

00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:57.000
 marriage feast of the lamb but it's not

00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:58.659
 just a marriage feast that God has done

00:32:58.659 --> 00:33:00.159
 for our good but it's also for his

00:33:00.159 --> 00:33:03.220
 glory and so he invites his people not

00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:06.259
 just to save us from sin but to save us

00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:10.859
 to his mission saving us to be that

00:33:10.859 --> 00:33:12.519
 blessing that he has given to the world

00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:16.460
 Kyle and Christine understood that God

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:19.960
 had rescued them they'd experienced in

00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:21.500
 their own lives they were experiencing

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:23.059
 it as they were marrying each other and

00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:26.620
 their pastor said this people who haven't

00:33:26.620 --> 00:33:28.340
 seen them for a while that is wedding

00:33:28.340 --> 00:33:30.759
 guests will recognize them by the way

00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:33.819
 they look on the outside but they won't

00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:38.920
 recognize them on the inside when we know

00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:44.000
 and understand and believe that God has

00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:48.039
 rescued us from poverty we will have no

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:52.360
 choice but to look to those who are losing

00:33:52.360 --> 00:33:56.740
 and lose so that they can gain because that

00:33:56.740 --> 00:34:00.400
 is what Jesus has done for us please pray

00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:05.320
 with me dear father in heaven we thank you

00:34:05.320 --> 00:34:09.220
 for your word that reminds us of the way

00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:12.880
 to go it reminds us of the way of life we

00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:16.000
 ask that you'd help us today you'd show us

00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:18.360
 the places where we're tempted to choose

00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:21.920
 people over profit profit over people and

00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:23.220
 that you'd move in our hearts that we would

00:34:23.220 --> 00:34:26.559
 choose people over profit we ask that you do

00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:29.200
 this not because we desire to prove

00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:31.279
 something to you or earn something from you

00:34:31.279 --> 00:34:34.319
 but because we know that we can't and you

00:34:34.319 --> 00:34:36.819
 have and so we ask these things in Jesus

00:34:36.819 --> 00:34:38.079
 name amen