Nehemiah 5: Injustices and resolutions : Finances and Debt
1 Introduction: What danger is there in Debt? Can you give any examples from your own life?
2 What did the Mosaic law say about extracting usury (interest on money borrowed)? Ex 22:25
-27; Lev 25:35 - 37; Deut 23:19,20; 24:10-13
3 How should this apply to today? Should the church work on the same principles? What about
those that are perpetually in debt and do not know how to take care of their money? (Who does
the Sabbath Year 2016 & Year of Jubilee 2038 apply to?) Can we mentor people who have
financial problems?
4 How did Nehemiah, as governor, resolve this conflict when the guilty refused to admit guilt
and make things right?
5 How did Nehemiah appeal to the abusers? (v 8 - 11)
6 How did Nehemiah lead by example? V 14 - 18. How was Nehemiah different from the
previous governors? What was his motivation (v.15)
7 What character qualities can we see in Nehemiah in this chapter?
8 Have you been in a situation of need and God has used others to meet your needs? Can you
share that with the group. How can the church effectively meet the needs of people?
9 Can you see any injustices or problems in our current economic system? Is there anything
which speaks to these from the Bible?
10 What responsibility do believers have to the alien, stranger and brother in need? What does the New Testament teach about financially helping others? Rom 12:13, II Cor 8:14, Eph 4:28, Phil. 4:16, I Tim 5:3, 16, James 1:27, I Jn 3:17
11 Do you know of anyone you could help or perhaps we all could help?
12 The people pointed out a violation of the Mosaic law on the part of the leadership. Nehemiah dealt with it so that it did not derail the wall project. When leadership does not follow scripture, how can we appeal?
13 What does it mean to walk in the fear God? ( Neh 5:9 ought ye not to walk in the fear of our
God) Neh 5:15
14. What can we learn about Nehemiah from his prayer in 5:19?
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