Justified Anger

Read Nehemiah 5:1-13

If we're honest, probably all of us at one time or another has had the experience where we've been angered by something or someone and we've felt that our anger was justified. Now truthfully while we may think our anger is more often than not justified - let's be honest, many times we are biased so we work hard at trying to justify our anger but the truth is our anger is wrong. But then there are times when we are absolutely right in our anger and it is justified. Nehemiah provides a fine example of justified anger.

He is helping lead the project to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem after years of disgrace as the walls and gates had been burned and were lying in rubble. Here in Nehemiah 5 we find the people in Juday facing opposition to this rebuilding project but at the same time they were being opposed by their own countrymen. Read Nehemiah 5:1-13 and you'll see what I'm talking about. Since there was a famine going on the people needed grain, but they couldn't afford it so they had to borrow money to pay the king's tax on their fields and vineyards. Verse 6 tells us Nehemiah was angered by this. So he calls them out saying "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!"

Listen we are so accustomed in our culture to paying taxes and interest that many times we don't give it a second thought but here Nehemiah says this is wrong. In Exodus 22:25 and Leviticus 25:36 Israel is told if you lend money to someone in need do not charge interest and not to take interest of any kind. Now this throws a monkey wrench into our culture today doesn't it? What do we, today, do with this?

Honestly I don't know. But it appears Nehemiah got through to his countrymen and they agreed to give back (v. 12) what they had taken. What seems to be the point is when we borrow money we are slave to the one who lends us the money. Now people are within their legal rights to charge interest. But that doesn't mean we have to borrow from them. While many of us would not own our homes, cars or be able to afford college without interst bearing loans there is a warning in scripture to be wise. And it appears what was originally by God's design was that assisting a brother or sister in need meant lending money with the intent that what they pay back was the amount they borrowed.

So where does this leave us? With this thought - Nehemiah shows anger against the nobles and officials who were taking advantage of their countrymen. Let's not do this. But at the same time, let's be wise with what we ourselves are willing to borrow because we too must pay back what we have taken. Justified anger is based on what God says so listen to His word and know that we are to walk with our brothers and sisters in life helping and holding and not harming each other.