Nehemiah 5:9
So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Nehemiah urges them to consider the nations around them, not just out of fear of judgment, but because their oppressive actions dishonor God. This isn't just about personal sin; it's about how their injustice makes their entire faith look bad to outsiders.
Nehemiah confronts the Jewish nobles and officials who have been exploiting their own people by charging exorbitant interest on loans. He calls out their actions as morally wrong and argues that their behavior is a disgrace to God and their nation. This is particularly concerning because their non-Jewish enemies are watching, ready to use any injustice as proof that God's people are no different from anyone else.
When injustice runs rampant among God's people, who gets hurt the most? It's not just the victims; it's the reputation of God Himself.
The Weight of Witness
Nehemiah confronts the wealthy Israelites for exploiting their poor countrymen, charging exorbitant interest and taking their land. His first point is simple but profound: "The thing that you are doing is not good." This isn't just about bad business practices; it's about a moral failure that has serious consequences.
A Higher Standard
Nehemiah then appeals to their religious commitment: "Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God?" This means living with deep reverence and respect for God, allowing His presence and commands to shape every action. When God's people act unjustly, they not only break His law but also provide fodder for their enemies. The surrounding nations, who don't follow God, watch closely. Unjust actions by Israelites bring reproach—a stain—upon God's name. It makes their faith look hypocritical and their God seem powerless or uncaring. True worship isn't just in rituals; it's in how we treat others, especially the vulnerable, reflecting God's own justice and mercy.
We often think of fearing God as avoiding punishment. But what if there's a richer, more powerful motivation rooted in who God is?
The Essence of "Fear of God"
The phrase "fear of our God" here goes beyond mere trepidation. It speaks to a profound awe and reverence for God's character—His holiness, His justice, His mercy. It's about recognizing His supreme authority and allowing that recognition to guide your choices.
Motivation for Righteousness
Nehemiah urges the oppressors to consider this fear. He implies that a genuine fear of God would naturally lead them to cease their harmful practices. Why? Because God is a God of justice and mercy. To act cruelly and greedily towards fellow Israelites is to act contrary to the very nature of the God they claim to worship. This fear isn't a cowering away from God, but a drawing near, motivated by a desire to please Him and live in alignment with His will. It’s the understanding that true godliness demands active righteousness, not just passive belief.
Understand the original words
yirah · Hebrew Noun
A state of reverential awe, obedience, and trust toward God; it encompasses a moral lifestyle that avoids sin because of the believer's desire to honor and please Him.
cherpah · Hebrew Noun
Reproach or mockery leveled by pagan nations against Israel; it is a serious concern in the Bible because such taunts were seen as reflecting poorly on the reputation and honor of God Himself.
Nehemiah's appeal highlights how the actions of God's people are constantly observed by the outside world. Injustice and oppression not only harm the oppressed but also provide ammunition for enemies to mock God and His people, undermining their witness.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and deported a significant portion of the population, leading to a period of exile and loss for the Jewish people.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Edict
Cyrus, the Persian king, conquered Babylon and issued an edict allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. 515 BC
Second Temple Completed
Under Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, the Jewish returnees completed the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, a significant symbol of their restored identity.
c. 445 BC— this verse
Nehemiah Arrives in Jerusalem
Appointed governor by the Persian king, Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem with royal authority to rebuild the city walls and address social and economic injustices.
This passage shows Jethro telling Moses that his practice of letting people bring their disputes to him all day long is not good, echoing Nehemiah's strong opening statement that 'the thing that ye do is not good.'
Proverbs 14:31This proverb directly links oppressing the poor to reproaching their Maker, reinforcing Nehemiah's argument that such injustice brings shame upon God and His people.
2 Samuel 12:14David, after his sin with Bathsheba, is told by Nathan that he has 'given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme,' a concept mirrored in Nehemiah's concern about the nations taunting Israel.
Romans 2:24Paul quotes the Old Testament, stating 'the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,' directly illustrating Nehemiah's fear that the unjust actions of the exiles would bring reproach upon their God.
clarkeNehemiah 5:9: "Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?"
Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God - If ye wish to accredit that religion ye profess which comes from the God of justice and mercy; should you not, in the sight of the heathen, abstain from injustice and cruelty? Can they credit your profession, when they see such practices? The inconsistent conduct of some professors of religion does m…
pulpitNehemiah 5:9: "Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?"
Verse 9. - Also I said. To silence the nobles was not enough. To shame them was not enough. What was wanted was to persuade them. Nehemiah therefore continued his address. It is not good that ye do. It is not good in itself, apart from any contrast with what I have been doing. Ought ye not to walk - or, literally, "will ye not walk"- in the fear…
Nehemiah urges them to consider the nations around them, not just out of fear of judgment, but because their oppressive actions dishonor God. This isn't just about personal sin; it's about how their injustice makes their entire faith look bad to outsiders.
Nehemiah confronts the Jewish nobles and officials who have been exploiting their own people by charging exorbitant interest on loans. He calls out their actions as morally wrong and argues that their behavior is a disgrace to God and their nation. This is particularly concerning because their non-Jewish enemies are watching, ready to use any injustice as proof that God's people are no different from anyone else.
Nehemiah confronts the Jewish nobles and officials who have been exploiting their own people by charging exorbitant interest on loans. He calls out their actions as morally wrong and argues that their behavior is a disgrace to God and their nation. This is particularly concerning because their non-Jewish enemies are watching, ready to use any injustice as proof that God's people are no different from anyone else.
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c. 445 BC
Wall Reconstruction Begins
Despite initial opposition from surrounding peoples, Nehemiah rallied the Jewish community to begin rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, a project that faced constant threat and sabotage.
"So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?" — Nehemiah urges them to consider the nations around them, not just out of fear of judgment, but because their oppressive actions dishonor God. This isn't just about personal sin; it's about how their…
