The Problem With Injustice!

Nehemiah 5:5 – And now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” NASB

As I was preparing my mind to write this blog, I realized that I really wanted to address an issue related to Black History Month, while at the same time wanting to continue with my study on Nehemiah. When I looked at Nehemiah 5 and saw that it dealt with the issue of injustice, I knew I was having a Holy Ghost moment!

There are injustices across the world. While we are becoming more “civilized” and more “technologically advanced” today, we still haven’t silenced the voices of injustice! It seems that no matter what we do to make others aware of the injustices of our society, there are always those who benefit from them, and therefore we find ourselves painfully entrenched in the struggle.

Nehemiah was in the midst of his rebuilding campaign. They had already faced several obstacles and were now building and guarding the city at the same time. Before Nehemiah can rest from one serious situation, he is thrown into the fray of another one.

Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.

Nehemiah 5:2 NASB

All of Nehemiah’s problems thus far have been from the enemies without the city, but this enemy is from amongst them. The men and women of the city begin to complain about their Jewish brothers. The people they should have felt safe with were the ones they were having a problem with. So what was the problem? Well, there were several.

For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let’s get grain so that we may eat and live.” And there were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses so that we might get grain because of the famine.” 

Nehemiah 5:2-3 NASB

First, there appeared to be a shortage of food for the multitude of people who were now living in Jerusalem. And even with the available food, there was no way to purchase the grain. Their fields, vineyards, and homes were all mortgaged to the hilt.

There also were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. And now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

Nehemiah 5:4-5 NASB

If that wasn’t enough to cause despair, their situation was so dire, that their condition in Jerusalem was no different than the Jews who were in bondage in Babylon. They also found themselves, along with their children, to be captives of another. These complaints they brought to Nehemiah because it’s bad enough to have foreigners enslave you, but when the people who are your brethren are enslavers, it’s harder to bear. However, not everyone was struggling because while many experienced oppression, the oppressors were getting richer!

As believers, our hearts should be forever submitted to the cause of justice. Why? Because it’s a command from God:

He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 NASB

The prophet tells the people of God that they are to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with their God. That rings as true for us as it did for them. We are to do justice! That means we are to the things that promote justice in our realm of influence! Jesus echoed the sentiment when He spoke these words:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

Matthew 23:23 NASB

I once heard a Christian say that our responsibility as believers is to promote the kingdom of God. Well, news flash! Justice is a part of the kingdom’s agenda! Always has been, and always will be.

Here we see the people coming to Nehemiah with their complaints of injustices that are thrown at them to the point that life is becoming unbearable. Nehemiah doesn’t look at them at say, “We’re rebuilding the wall right now. That’s all I’m here for. Nothing else! And in case you didn’t realize it, I’m in bondage too! I’m a cupbearer to the king and I have to return to Babylon and live under his rule. You don’t hear me complaining!”

Nehemiah didn’t keep silent, nor did he ignore what was happening since all was well in his heart. He spoke out against it:

So I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the taunting of the nations, our enemies? 

Nehemiah 5:9 NASB

Dr. Tony Evans wrote these words about this verse:

They weren’t walking in the fear of . . . God, and it stained God’s reputation in the eyes of outsiders. Understand that when you are not doing what is right, it makes God look bad. Your job is to make God look good through everything you do.

Dr. Tony Evans, Study Bible

The Jewish people who were placing this heavy yoke on their fellow countrymen while claiming to be the people of God, were in actuality, an embarrassment to God! Wow!

During the Civil Rights Movement and other movements since that time, the Black church was outspoken about the injustices that Black Americans were facing. When Black children and adults are killed in the streets, again, we hear the voices of our Black church leaders. (Not all of them, but a large portion of them!) And from our White counterparts, it’s the opposite. We hear from a small minority of them, while the vast majority of them keep silent. And like in the past, anyone who stands on the side of justice becomes known as evil, and those who stand on the other side are considered to be righteous! When will we become unified enough to stand for justice for all people?

Nehemiah didn’t just tell the people they were wrong for what they did! He led by example by redeeming all he could redeem, sharing his food, and requiring no extra benefits for being the leader; and those with him followed his lead. Then he called for retribution! Yes, he did!

Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, as well as the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you are charging as interest from them.” 

Nehemiah 5:11 NASB

Give it back, he said. Everything that you have taken from them, give it back to them! Not retribution again? Yes! No one who has died at the hands of an offender can receive their life back, but there are other ways to make amends. Starting with a heartfelt apology. Those who have become rich as a result of the oppression of others need to make retributions for what they have taken! Give it back! Find ways to support the communities of the marginalized. Find ways to invest in someone other than yourself! Find ways to display the love of God in a hurting world! And mostly, find ways to stand for justice and against injustice! It’s our responsibility!

I am not trying to be political! I love Jesus first and foremost! But I am also not ignorant of the injustices happening around the world and in my city. And since God laid this on my heart, I believe He wanted me at this time to say that the problem with injustices in our world is that they infiltrate the church. A place they should never be welcomed. Jesus said that justice, mercy, and faithfulness should be part of what we do in the church. We shouldn’t ignore injustices or pretend that they don’t exist. They do! And the problem with it is that as long as we keep silent, it will continue to be a part of our nations and our church families. Wonderful Jesus!