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<v SPEAKER_00>It's Thursday, May 21st, and I'm Dan.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Good morning.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Nehemiah chapter 5 deals with Nehemiah handling a conflict related to Jerusalem's poor by reinstating the no usury clause from the Mosaic Law.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What was that clause?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, it's found in Exodus 22, 25, where it says, If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Charge no interest.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So you could also call it the no interest law if you like.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Wouldn't that be wonderful to not be charged interest?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yes, this is true, but I'm thinking that many of you listening to me actually have the means to pay interest when it's required.

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<v SPEAKER_00>However, if you are in a financial bind, just having that little burden of not having to pay back a loan with interest is a blessing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you read Nehemiah 5 too quickly, you might miss the heart-wrenching drama that's going on with God's people, raising an outcry against the nobles and officials of Jerusalem who were keeping their people in bondage in so many ways.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Besides charging interest on the poor, verse 3 says the people were mortgaging their fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during a severe famine that was happening at the same time Nehemiah was building the wall.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Verse 4 speaks of the people having to borrow money just to pay the king's taxes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And tragically, some of them were even having to sell their sons and daughters into slavery.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No wonder Nehemiah was very angry after hearing the outcry of his own people.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now, I ask you today, does it make you angry when you see the poor of our society oppressed?

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<v SPEAKER_00>More importantly, does it lead you to action?

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<v SPEAKER_00>What are you going to do to help?

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<v SPEAKER_00>The whole chapter reminds me of the oft quoted Micah 6.8, which says, He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's my prayer today that we have the will for justice to be done for the oppressed and a heart of kindness that reaches out to all in the name of Jesus.