I Stood Against Social Injustice
Open Your Bible
Nehemiah 5:1-19, Exodus 22:25, 2 Corinthians 8:9
BY Guest Writer
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 5:1-19, Exodus 22:25, 2 Corinthians 8:9
I’m no bargain hunter when it comes to shopping and did not inherit whatever gene it is my grandmother and mother and at least three of my brothers seem to have. I want and weigh and debate and discuss until finally I buy at full price. There is one place, though, where I have no problem hunting for bargains: my standing before God.
It seems I’m always being measured and measuring myself up against the standards of others, and therefore, against the standard of God. Unconsciously, I list my good deeds against my less than good deeds and, finding myself short, try to make it up to God.
I’ll be more faithful here.
I’ll give more of myself there.
I’ll be a better friend here.
A better wife there.
I’ll be quick to say I’m sorry here.
And I’ll be slow to take offense there.
Surely the scales will be weighed and I’ll not be found wanting?
Surely my generosity must count for something?
What I love about Nehemiah chapter 5 is that while Nehemiah is a man who is known and loved by God and loves Him in return, somehow he still feels the need to present his list of good deeds before God. It’s as if he is a small child who’s come in from a long day of playing outside to then dump out the contents of his pockets and present them as treasures before his father.
I found this rock and this stick.
Look at this leaf and this frog.
I played with this boy and then we built this fort.
Come see it…
And instead of ignoring or rebuking the child for distracting him, the father delights in the boy’s account. This child is not earning the love of his father; he is simply overflowing with the gift of who and what he is—a child, about the work of being a child, doing the things a child does, and certain in the love of his father.
It is not a bargain Nehemiah is on the hunt for here. He’s not listing his deeds to God in order to gain His approval. He knows who he is and what he is called to do: rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and call the people to repentance. It is not scales on which Nehemiah lays the goodness of his deeds—it is for the delight of his Father.
We know that as children of God, our “good deeds” are like filthy rags before the goodness of Christ (Isaiah 64:6). We are fully covered in the sacrifice of Christ’s death; therefore, we can no more justify our good deeds or count our bad ones against us. Jesus’ work on the cross is complete, as is our justification through Him (Galatians 2:16).
So since we are children of God, as we go about our lives today, let’s not tally mark our good deeds or our bad ones, but instead be about our Father’s business, being faithful with what He has called us to today. And at the end of the day, whether we’re tempted to feel self-sufficient and justified or ashamed and unworthy, based on what we did or did not accomplish—let us instead empty our hearts before the Father and show Him the treasures of a life lived in faithfulness for our joy and His glory.
Lore Ferguson Wilbert is a writer, thinker, and learner. She blogs at Sayable, and tweets and instagrams at @lorewilbert. She has a husband named Nate, a puppy named Harper Nelle, and too many books to read in one lifetime.
107 thoughts on "I Stood Against Social Injustice"
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In Chap 4, the people are literally laboring on the wall reconstruction with one hand and carrying a weapon on the other.
As the people do all within their strength, vs 20 says “Our God will fight for us.”In chapter 6, we see this pattern once again. As the people turn their eyes toward God, injustice is seen for what it is, and the outcry goes up. Nehemiah trusts God, and shows this by speaking the truth. The people believe God fights for them, but they are called to walk in a manner worthy.
Like Jesus reminded us, we can’t simply say to the mistreated and vulnerable, ‘go in peace and be warm.’ Our trust in God still requires us to act on behalf of the oppressed.
Live justly, love mercy, walk humbly.
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Man the commentary was hard to follow. I didn’t see Nehemiah “listing” his good things before the Lord. I saw a good leader noticing the injustice, and doing this differently. He fixed the problem, he worked with the people (as other governors hadn’t,) and he ate like the people. I think he saw the problem in the first place because of the way he did life with the people, even as a leader. He writes the whole book as a first person narrative. He’s not having a conversation with God when he lists these things. He’s narrating what is happening as he has in the whole book.
Seeing as the title was “I Stood Against Social Injustice,” that’s what I assumed the guest writer would write about. -
Because I fall short in so many ways I forget that my salvation is not based on what I can offer. It is filthy rags! My salvation is based on the Love and sacrifice of the Father through Jesus Christ on the cross. Nothing I can offer or do could ever measure up. I need to focus on being faithful. Faithful in going to him and praising him in how he is using me. Such a good word!
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Wow! This rings abundantly true for me right now in my current life situation. I really needed this today.
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this is sooo applicable to my life. As i’ve been struggling this past month feeling like i dont measure up and the bad things are out weighing the good that i’m doing this is an amazing reminder that the things i do in comparison to what Christ has done for me doesn’t matter and doesn’t define who i am. I thank God for this reminder and my journey with Him!
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When we are the most vulnerable we should be able to count on those around us to help us through. That’s what families are suppose to do. Chapter four sees everyone bonding together to complete the rebuild then chapter five steps in and shows us the weakness among the people. Instead of giving each other a break, like we should, it’s business as usual for some. Nehemiah stands out because he stands up and speaks out. He’s setting an example for others as a leader and is showing them we should be doing what is right not taking advantage or making the burdens even harder. There’s a job to be done. A call in his life and he is staying true to what God called him to do. Maybe toward the end of chapter 5 he is simply talking to God and not listing all he has done but just sharing his heart with God and trying to also assure himself in his call. We all have moments where we want to make sure we are walking the right way and Nehemiah is no different. He’s leading by staying close to God in every step. That’s an example of a good leader.
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