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Trinity Community Church
Trinity Community Church
The Passion Project - Oppression & Generosity
In this installment of The Passion Project, Pastor Neil Silverberg walks us through Nehemiah 5, revealing how internal injustice can derail even the most determined community. Neil, simply called Neil when he’s teaching, underscores that while rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls was a monumental task, neglecting to show economic justice threatened to undo it all. Families poured their time and effort into construction, yet they found themselves going hungry, mortgaging fields, and even selling children into debt slavery—all because wealthy Jews were charging interest in direct violation of God’s law.
Neil shows how Nehemiah responds with righteous anger, but not rash words. Before confronting the nobles, Nehemiah “took counsel with himself,” choosing his approach carefully. The question at hand was bigger than just lost property; it was about the community’s covenant identity. If God had freed them from Egyptian bondage, why were they now enslaving one another financially? By reminding everyone to “walk in the fear of God,” Nehemiah addresses the spiritual roots of the crisis. His bold confrontation hits home, and the wealthy immediately repent, restoring land and forgiving debts. Their united “Amen” and praise to God mark a turning point—a reminder that transformation is possible when hearts bow to the Lord’s standards.
Neil then highlights the sacrificial leadership Nehemiah models. Despite serving as governor, Nehemiah refuses his rightful food allowance and instead feeds 150 people daily out of his own pocket, laboring on the wall just like everyone else. This resonates with Jesus’ message in Matthew 20:26-28, where greatness is found in serving, not dominating. In a single chapter, we see a blueprint for genuine revival: passionate confrontation of injustice, humility in leadership, and a renewed commitment to God’s ways.
For us today, Neil points out, the story begs a crucial question: does our faith change how we treat others, especially those in need? Nehemiah 5 suggests that real spiritual renewal can’t sidestep financial ethics. If our community thrives outwardly but is compromised internally by exploitation or indifference, God’s redemptive purpose stalls. By walking in the fear of God and embracing generosity, we can restore not just broken walls, but broken hearts and relationships. Whether in families, churches, or broader society, this blend of justice, repentance, and love stands as a potent force for transformation.
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We are in a series entitled the Passion Project and it's a study of the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. How many have been enjoying going through Nehemiah? Isn't it wonderful? It really is. This message is called Oppression and Generosity. Oppression and Generosity.
Neil Silverberg:We're going to talk today about money. Part of our message will deal with money. How many know the Bible has a lot to say about money and how to steward it? And so this chapter demonstrates how stewarding our money improperly can hinder God's restoration program.
Neil Silverberg:So Nehemiah, by the way, was mentioned last week by Mark was one of two vessels God used to rebuild the temple of God after it had been destroyed in 587 BC by the Babylonians. The other one was Ezra the scribe, and together Ezra and Nehemiah were the two represented two components needed for true spiritual recovery work. First came on the scene Ezra, and he restored the word of God to the people of God. You know it says of Ezra in chapter seven of Ezra, verse 10, for Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. All true spiritual recovery work. There must be a return to the authority of Scripture. The authority of Scripture is definitely needed and in all true spiritual recovery work the Bible is front and center. This is followed by Nehemiah and Nehemiah in Hebrew. Anybody know what Nehemiah in Hebrew is? It means God's comforts, god comforts. It's based on the Hebrew word necham, meaning to comfort meaning, and his name represents the true work of the spirit. In any genuine work of God, word and spirit are necessary elements working together, because in the Hebrew Bible, ezra and Nehemiah are one book, not two, but one. So together they represent, you know, the necessary elements that God does when he's doing a work of restoration. This morning I want to read chapter 5. We're going to be in chapter 5. So the words will be on the screen If you want to look there, or in your Bibles will be in Nehemiah 5. I'm reading from the English Standard Version Now.
Neil Silverberg:There arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers, for there were those who said with our sons and our daughters, we are many, so let us get grain that we may keep alive, eat and keep alive. There were also those who said we are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our houses to get grain because of the famine. And there were those who said we have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields, our vineyards and our houses to get grain because of the famine. And there were those who said we have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards. Now, our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been slaved, but it is.
Neil Silverberg:I was very angry when I heard this outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself and I was brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them. I said to them you are exacting interest, each from his brother. And I held a great assembly against them and said to them we, as far as we are able, have brought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations. But you even sell to your brothers that they may be sold to us. They were silent and could not find a word to say. So I said the thing you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, to prevent the taunts of the nations and our enemies. Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards and their houses and the percentage of money, grain, wine and oil that you have been exacting from them. Then they said we will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say. And I called the priest and made them swear to do as they had promised. I also shook out the fold of my garment and said so may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep the promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied. And all the assembly said Amen and praised the Lord. And the people did as they promised Verse 14.
Neil Silverberg:The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration 40 shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people, but I did not do so because of the fear of God. I also perceived in the work on the wall and we acquired no land and all my servants were gathered there for the work. Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. Now, what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and, every 10 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. Remember for my good, oh my God, all that I have done for this people. Thank you, father, for this portion of scripture. Lord, we ask you to open it up to us by the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus' name. And everyone said amen and amen. Let me take a minute and review where we've been in our journey through Nehemiah.
Neil Silverberg:When the book opens, we see that the Jewish people are rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. The temple had been built, but the wall had been destroyed, and this book is about the rebuilding of the wall of around Jerusalem. We need to ask why is building a wall around the city of Jerusalem so important? Why, first of all, a wall speaks of protection from their enemies, and this is the key to understanding its importance. In ancient times, a city's walls were all they had to protect themselves, and so building this wall was very critical. But they represent more than protection. They represent distinction as well. Everything inside the walls is designated the holy city. So when the walls are broken down, it speaks of the failure of the people of God to be distinct from the world. We have to ask the question what good is a wall around the city of Jerusalem if the people of God are not living in a distinct manner from those around them? Israel was called to be a light to the nations, but how could they fulfill that calling if, internally, they were no different than the nations? So that is why rebuilding the wall is so important in this book of Nehemiah.
Neil Silverberg:When the book opens up, we see that Nehemiah is living in Persia and he's the cupbearer to the king. He's the guy that would drink the wine for the king and prevent him from being poisoned. Great job, huh. While in Persia, nehemiah received word that the Israelites in Jerusalem were in great difficulty. We've seen this already as we've marched through the early chapters of Nehemiah. The city is in disrepute due to the fact that the wall was burned down and destroyed.
Neil Silverberg:Immediately, nehemiah is called to action, and what's the first thing he does? The first thing he does is pray, which is always the first thing we should do when we're called to action. The first thing he does is pray, and all through the book Nehemiah is presented as a man of prayer and we can learn much from his prayer life. Those who want to be effective in terms of spiritual work know the central place that prayer holds. And Nehemiah specifically prays that God would open a door for him to return to Jerusalem. And the next chapter, chapter 2, the Persian king Artaxerxes grants him his request and even funds it and sends him back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. And the first thing Nehemiah does when he returns to the city is he inspects the walls. Nehemiah builds his team and in chapter 3, the rebuilding begins. But as is often the case in any true work of spiritual value, there is always opposition, and Scott's going to be talking about that opposition, which really comes to the front in chapter 6 next week.
Neil Silverberg:Now we come this morning to chapter 5, and we see in this chapter that God is not so much building a wall as he is building a faithful people. Nehemiah and his team face many challenges. Those challenges don't just come from the outside, but they come from the inside. We Christians like to think much about the corrupt nature of our culture and why it's corrupt and it is corrupt, but what about what's in us? That's what Nehemiah is talking about.
Neil Silverberg:This chapter begins with a great outcry against their Jewish countrymen, and it's very important that we realize the word outcry, which appears here in Nehemiah 5, only appears one other place in the Bible, in the book of Exodus, when it talks about the children of Israel being in bondage to Egypt and their cry reached up to the God of Abraham, isaac and Jacob, and God heard their cry and delivered them. That word outcry in Exodus is the same word used here in Nehemiah 5. In this account, the people were being oppressed, not against Egypt, though, but against their own Jewish brothers. There are three different complaints against their brothers in the opening verses. Very important that we recognize that.
Neil Silverberg:First, in verse 2, the people said there's a famine going on, and we are many, and there isn't enough grain. These were large families whose husbands and families are the primary breadwinners and are attending to the wall for no pay. This meant that they had no time for the usual work to buy eat, to earn money, to buy food. The first group's problem was life-threatening, they were literally starving. And then the second group appears in verse 3. We see that there are people who are mortgaging their fields, their vineyards, their houses to get grain, and this meant, sadly, that the second group was on a trajectory to insolvency, and this was the problem. And then the third group some of them were forcing their sons and daughters to be slaves.
Neil Silverberg:This might be a reference, by the way, to Exodus 21, where if a Jew fell into debt to another Jew, he could pay his debt by becoming a slave for six years and then, after six years, they were free to leave. They paid their debt. By the way, there was a provision made in that commandment that if, after six years, you say I love my master, where can I go and find a master better than this? They would literally cut your ear, and your ear being cut was a sign that you were a bond slave and you were indebted to serve that master forever. You're not serving anymore out of duty, you're serving out of love. And this is what was happening in verses four and five. And the Israelites said one author said many had to borrow money from their Jewish brothers to pay the Persia king's tax on their assets. However, on top of this loan, the wealthy Jewish brothers were charging interest. Property might be taken in a pledge pending a repayment of a loan. However, taking interest from a fellow Israelite who borrowed out of poverty and need was a major no-no. Some were so behind in paying their debt that they were selling their sons and daughters into debt slavery. While this practice was legal, it nonetheless hit them financially strapped families quite hard and simply added insult to injury.
Neil Silverberg:Now how does Nehemiah respond when he hears this? He says I was very angry. There's a lot we can learn from this. Listen, he says I was very angry. There's a lot we can learn from this. Listen, he says I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. What if we handled our anger this way? We would expect him to say I was very angry when I heard this and I freaked out. But that's not what he says. He doesn't handle that way. Instead, he says I was angry when I heard their outcry and I took counsel with myself. I love that phrase I took counsel with myself. It indicates he collected his thoughts and prayed. Now, nehemiah was justifiably angry when he heard these words.
Neil Silverberg:The situation called for an angry response. Sometimes, when I say that Christians are shocked because they've embraced the idea that anger is never justified, but you'll not find that in scripture. It actually says. Paul says in Ephesians be angry but sin not. So anger is called for at times and this is one of those times when it's justifiable because of the situation called for an angry response. There are times when angry responses are totally justified, especially in the New Testament. How many remember when Jesus went into the temple and he stood up and said please don't do that. That's not nice. No, he made a whip, a cord, a whip out of cords of rope and drove them out. And you see in that story the wrath of the lamb, see in that story the wrath of the Lamb. And in fact in Revelation, chapter 6, john says he hears the Lamb say fall on us. People say fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come and who can stand. So the New Testament allows for anger as long as it's righteous. Anger and be angry, but sin not. So he says.
Neil Silverberg:I took counsel with myself and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials.
Neil Silverberg:I said to them you are exacting interest, each from his brother. And I held a great assembly against them and said to them we, as far as we are able, have brought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations. But you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us. They were not dealing with their brothers properly according to the commandment found in Leviticus 25. Listen to the commandment. If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he was a stranger and a sojourner and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him, but fear your God that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him food for profit. I am the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God. That last verse is significant. It says why do you lend your money at no interest? Because you fear God. The law of God is supposed to govern the people of God. They were not to loan money and interest. Why? Because they were brothers and because the Lord brought you out of slavery, so don't you dare enslave your brother. And Nehemiah calls for a great assembly against them.
Neil Silverberg:It's interesting to note that the previous attempts at opposing rebuilding the wall were not able to do it, but this financial opposition was successful at stopping the work on the wall. Isn't that interesting? It speaks to the fact that when God's people fail to live distinctly from those around them and oppress their brothers financially, they are unable to be part of God's building program. Listen to what Scripture says about financial oppression. Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. Proverbs 22.16. How about Proverbs 14.3? Whoever opposes a poor man insults his neighbor, his maker. Whoever opposes a poor man, insults his maker.
Neil Silverberg:It's little wonder that when Peter preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost, the first thing the Spirit of Jesus did was form a new community characterized by financial liberality. Remember what it says as a result of the Pentecost, the pouring out of the Spirit and the repentance of 3,000 people, it says all who believed were together and had all things in common. This is incredible. This became, by the way, a necessity because many of the Jews who responded to Peter's gospel came from the diaspora, the technical term for the scattering of Jews throughout the whole world, and they couldn't go back. They wanted to stay in Jerusalem, to be part of the new community. So it became necessary for their needs to be met, because they needed housing and food in order to remain.
Neil Silverberg:This is the total opposite of what the people were doing in Nehemiah's time. This is the total opposite of what the people were doing in Nehemiah's time. There, the rich Jews were oppressing the poor. You know, when the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, it created what has been called a divine socialism. A divine socialism. This is what resulted from the supply of manna.
Neil Silverberg:Remember, in the wilderness, it says, when they measured it with an omer whoever gathered much had nothing left. Whoever gathered little had no lack. And Nehemiah rebukes them, saying the thing 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? You know, the only way to get free from financial oppression is to walk in the fear of God. Nehemiah calls them to action. He says return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards and their houses and the percentage of money, grain, wine and oil that you've been exacting from them.
Neil Silverberg:And the people responded immediately. Wasn't it incredible to see the immediate response. How many wish that everybody you talked to and rebuked would respond that way. Be nice, wouldn't it? Here's what the people said we will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say. And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. I also shook out the fold of my garment and said so may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this. So may he be shaken out and emptied. And all the assembly said Amen and praise the Lord. And the people did as they promised. What a response. Nehemiah calls them back to the fear of the Lord. You know, the fear of God produces obedience hearts. That's why the assembly said immediately amen, and they praised the Lord, because the fear of God produces obedient hearts, and that kind of repentance always produces true worship. That's why all the assembly said amen and they praised the Lord corporately for what God was doing. Now Nehemiah, on the other hand, himself modeled what true generosity looks like. It said, moreover, from the time I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the 20th year to the 32nd year of Artaxerxes the king 12 years.
Neil Silverberg:Neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration 40 shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people, but I did not do so because of the fear of God. I also persevered in the work on the wall, and even Nehemiah was involved in the work on the wall. Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations and were around us. Now, what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every 10 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. Remember, for my good, o my God, all that I have done for this people.
Neil Silverberg:Nehemiah was appointed governor by the Persian king, artaxerxes. As governor, he was given a daily food allowance that only the rich could enjoy, but neither Nehemiah or his team took advantage of it. The former governors laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them the daily rations. Nehemiah says even their servants lorded it over them, the people. But that's not how Nehemiah viewed this exercise of authority. He said but I did not do so. Lorded over the people because of the fear of God. This reminds me.
Neil Silverberg:Six centuries later, the Lord Jesus taught his followers what true leadership consists of. Remember what he taught. It's found in Matthew 20, 20 through 28. Remember James and John, the sons of thunder. They get their Jewish mother to appeal to the Lord. It's one way to move God's hand. If it's not, if you're having trouble moving God's hand, find a Jewish mother to plead with him. And the mother of James and John came to him, kneeling before him, and said I have a request. The Lord said yes, what is it? She said pray that grant that my two sons may sit on your right and left hand in your kingdom. And Jesus said you don't know what you're asking. Are you willing to drink the cup that I was going to drink? And they said yes, we're willing. He said you will drink the cup that I drink, and that's of course, meaning that they would suffer.
Neil Silverberg:James was killed by the sword and John outlived James and the other apostles. They tried to kill John, according to church history, by throwing him in a cauldron of burning oil, but he wouldn't die. So they exiled him to Patmos. But he said, when the ten other disciples heard that they had tried to get their mom to control the Lord, they were offended and they were angry with the two. But Jesus called them all together.
Neil Silverberg:Remember what he said. He says you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them and their great ones exercised authority over them. It shall not be so among you, but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be the first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. Wow, wow. Nehemiah mirrored what generosity looks like. This is incredibly incredible, especially in the lieu of the financial oppression that was rampant among the people at the time.
Neil Silverberg:But Nehemiah refused to enrich himself at the expense of the people. He said but I did not do so because of the fear of God. We need a restoration in God's house today of the fear of the Lord. What the scripture says about the fear of the Lord we should study earnestly, and we saw previously that Nehemiah indicted the people for their failure to fear the Lord. The thing you are doing, he said, is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of our enemies or nations? We learned that the only way to get free from financial oppression is by walking in the fear of the God. Here in this passage, we learn that the fear of the Lord makes one to be generous when it comes to handling our money. In an article entitled God Fears Respond to Economic Injustice Promptly, luke Bobo says this.
Neil Silverberg:In a stark contrast to his Jewish brother's greed and perpetuation of economic injustice, nehemiah models generosity, grace and fairness. As governor, nehemiah had the prerogative to raise taxes for his food allowance, which was very great one ox, six choice sheep per day, along with birds and much wine. Nehemiah's predecessors laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them their daily ration of 40 shekels of silver. These former governors used their position for their personal enrichment and for their servants' enrichment. Unlike his predecessors, though, nehemiah did not lord it over his people. Nehemiah not only refused to lay his heavy financial burden on the people, but he and his servants labored side by side with their fellow Jews on the wall project. Nehemiah did not desire to live comfortably while his people were in great need. Additionally, nehemiah hosted Jews and delegates from the nations at his table, providing food and drink at his own expense.
Neil Silverberg:Listen carefully to what this author had said. Nehemiah models generosity, grace and fairness, elements we desperately need in the house of God today. He's a true example of a godly leader. He's a true example of a godly leader. Kosti Hinn writes this. Much like today, there were leaders throughout the Bible who used their positions of power to abuse and exploit people for their own gain. And much like today, there are leaders throughout the Bible who use their position as for good.
Neil Silverberg:Nehemiah is one of the most prominent examples of spiritual leadership that viewed authority as God-given privilege, a responsibility, really not a mandated right. Nehemiah held a job as the king's cupbearer and later as governor, and used his position of influence to carry out God's agenda. Warren Wiersbe strikes the heart of leadership challenges when he writes In our day of public scandals in almost every area of life, how refreshing it is to meet a man like Nehemiah, who puts serving the people ahead of gain for himself. He is a great example of that. So this financial oppression was met by repentance on the people's part, which Nehemiah called for, and Nehemiah's own example of generosity and grace led this move of God.
Neil Silverberg:Let's pray. Led this move of God, let's pray. Lord, god, thank you for the godly example you've given us in your servant, nehemiah. Lord, may you raise up a new generation of Nehemiahs in our day who use their position of authority as a God-given responsibility, not a mandated right. Raise up leaders in our day who use their position of influence to carry out your agenda. Use these leaders to deliver your people from oppression in all its forms. In Jesus' name, and everyone said amen.
