A Generous Love
Nehemiah 5:14-19
14Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.15The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.16I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.17Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.18Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.19Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah was serving as the Governor of the land of Judah. He served from the 20th to the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes. This is from about
From the 20th year to the 32nd year, neither I or my brothers ate the food allowance for the governor.
There is a tradition among leaders as I have observed leadership, that the leader always eats last. You who are in the service know this. And especially you who are in the positions of leadership know this. This is not just related to food…it is related to an attitude of
You would not want to be caught in a situation where you were sitting down enjoying a meal while the rest of those who are following you are still working their way through the buffet line, and then about 10 people from the end, the food runs out. Then what do you do?
James 2:14-18
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
As I said earlier, this is not just related to food…it is the mind-set of the leader…and actually, the mind-set of the follower of Christ. Be a servant leader and place those who you seek to reach before you in service.
This is essentially what Nehemiah did.
There is some conjecture about whether or not the Land of Judah previously had governors, but the archeological evidence and the scriptures suggest that they did in fact have governors.
In Ezra 5:14 the term used for Sheshbazzar is Pehah. He was the appointed governor for that time. The term used for governors here in Nehemiah verses 14 and 15 is the same term. You remember that the book of Ezra represents a time that was before the account that we are hearing of today in Nehemiah.
Verse 15 says
The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people.
We read in some texts that the allowance was
In addition to this, the servants of the governor would be even more severe. It is kind of like Spike and Chester. They were more severe as servants than the governor was who was actually supposed to serve…not be served.
Verse 16 says
I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
Where does it say Nehemiah persevered? In his work as the governor? No…in the work on the wall…and it further says he acquired no land. And it says that he and all his servants were gathered there for the work.
He didn’t just say…go do it and then go recline at his table. He was present. He was there for the work.
While we are on this topic, let’s jump down to verse 18. Not only did Nehemiah not take the governors allowance from the people (in the form of a governor’s tax), he served and provided his staff with an extravagant feast…at
Verse 18 says
Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.
An Ox and six sheep, plus poultry, every day? That is a lot of food. Yes, but verse 17 explains…. There were at his table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came from the nations that were around us.
When the word says 150 men, there were accompanying those men, maybe not at the table with them, but they were accompanied by families, wife, children.
And the reason there was such a great need in Jerusalem, if you remember, was because there was a great
So let me ask you this, do you think that the famine just affected those who were in Jerusalem? That is not how famine works…it doesn’t just target one people. The nations around Judah were likely experiencing similar difficulties. So in addition to the 150 men around the table, Nehemiah also had people from other nations coming to join him.
Now back up to verse 15.
The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.
This is the word יִרְאָה
Yir-a (Yeerd ah)
This term occurs 45 times in the Old Testament, but the concept appears over 400 times in the Bible…this concept of reverence, or rather a reverential fear of God.
In other words, because Nehemiah sees/knows God as God is…remember, Nehemiah has spent much time with God in prayer…he can then see himself as God sees him, and see others and their needs as God sees them.
Nehemiah’s right view of God leads to right actions on God’s behalf to those around him.
Exactly like Jesus…who being fully God did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself and came to earth as a human in perfect obedience to the father.
Our text today closes with what I think makes Nehemiah such a great servant leader. He is continually on his knees in prayer.
He is once again in prayer to His God…to our God…and he says:
19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
He is praying to God for Him to remember all that he has done for this people.
Remember what he says his motivation for doing all of this is…out of the reverential fear of His God. Out of his relationship with God, he is asking God to remember all that he has done.
This reminds me of the words of Paul in Colossians 3…when he says:
1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
In verses 22-24 he says
22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Why? Because Jesus has demonstrated a generous love to us.
So we must be generous in many ways to those around us, because we have been given much.
We have been given much…now let’s give generously because of what we have been given, and because of whose we are, and because of what He (Christ) has given. He gave all that some may live.
Questions for reflection:
In light of Nehemiah’s generosity,
what has the Lord said to you today about what He wants you to do? Is there a need around you that only you can meet because of your relationship with the Lord?Nehemiah was continuously
interceding for the people in prayer, and always focusing on doing His work out of His relationship with God. How has God spoken to you in your prayer time? Are you focused on Him, or you, or others during your prayer time?The focus of this message is a
generous love. Can you point to a generous love in your life that has impacted you?