Servant Leader

"Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” (Ne 5:1-3)


Nehemiah was appointed governor of Judea by the Persians and commissioned to rebuild Jerusalem after the Babylonians had destroyed the city.  He exhibits in this chapter the kind of servant leader God desires for His people.  Famine had struck the land and hard times were upon the people.  Nehemiah was entitled as governor to taxes and large portions of food for him and his household.  Because of the suffering of his people he did not take advantage of this perk.  He lifted that burden from the people.


In addition Nehemiah confronts all the nobles and chief officials in the land who had been seduced into luxury.  They were part of the problem. If debts were to be collected from families who couldn't pay, they confiscated land or took their children as slaves and sold them to pay the debts.  The poor people of Judea who had an inheritance of land given them by God were being robbed by their own countrymen! 


I'm sure it never occurred to the rich noblemen that they were selling out their own countrymen.  They were just practicing good business.  But God calls for a different arrangement. God calls for mercy and a covenant community that cares for all its members.  If some "have not," the "haves" give to them.  They do not lend at interest, nor take control of their possessions for profit.  They simply give in order to help a brother or sister in the covenant community.


Nehemiah inspires me.  He had a true servant's heart for God's people.  He saw their need and acted to fulfill them.  He raised the bar for all "the haves" to serve the needs of the "have nots." He reminded them all of God's vision for the holy community.  We take care of each other and honor God.  God will take care of all of us if we are keeping His commands and loving our neighbors.


Lord, help me to be the kind of person who uses my abilities to serve Your people.  Thank You for leaders like Nehemiah who serve with a humble heart and who do right by You.  Make this Daniel Fast an opportunity to serve others.  Amen.