Nehemiah 5 – 9
The big question Nehemiah had in verse 5:9 concerns the oppression of the poor:
So I said, “The thing that 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?
God never intended us to oppress anyone and to live within a fair system. There will never be equality since there are differences in every person. You cannot have equality but you can be fair, look at the way God treated us. Many gain favor, while others are just drudging through the day. We consider this as unfair when in reality God chose people for their influence. Moses was in the kings court before he was exiled and returned.
God had raised him to be the one to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. He did not just randomly pick Moses to do this task. Moses was not equal with everyone in this aspect, he was the right man for the job. Granted he was groomed for it by God, it was not something that anyone could just step into and do.
Nehemiah had to deal with other nations and leaders who were frightened on what the Israelites would do once they fortified the wall. Verse 6:9 Nehemiah answers their concerns:
For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
It was his intention to protect the people and not create an offensive position. He was just doing what he said he would and promised to the king that sent him. Notice how this is what happens in most conflicts is one party misinterprets what the other is doing and instead of confronting the fear initially it festers into something bad. All Nehemiah wanted to do was restore a place to worship God, and they freaked about other conspiracies.
The end of verse 9:5 says it all:
Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
We need to stand up for God more and spend less time hiding from those who oppose Him. Think about it this is about the best way we can really bless God. He is over all and will be forever, one we get that into our heads maybe our short lives could be used for his everlasting glory and not ours! So next time someone challenges your faith, stand up and defend it. That will bless God more than you can imagine.