The title for today’s reflection comes from is a famous slogan popularised by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa in the 1990s. The point is that, unless fundamental issues of justice are addressed within a society, even great changes which appear to improve peace are superficial. It’s no use giving people the vote if they can’t feed themselves, or find employment. Or, in the case of Jerusalem in the fifth century BC, there’s not much point rebuilding the city walls if most of the inhabitants are still being exploited by a small minority of people with power and wealth.
It appears from the text that many of the city’s (and region’s) Jewish residents had been sold into slavery since the conquest and exile more than a hundred years previously. Part of Nehemiah’s more comprehensive plan for the renewal of his homeland was to buy back their freedom (v8). This would be vital if effective self-government was to be restored and the economy revitalised.
Yet, at the same time he was doing this, Jewish nobles were still exploiting their fellow countrymen, charging excessive interest so that loans could never be paid back; taking their land and property and forcing them to pay inflated prices just to live there – in other words, keeping them effectively as bonded labourers. In extreme cases, they were still selling those who could not keep up the repayments as slaves to other powerful non-Jews (v8).
Such practices were explicitly forbidden by Jewish Law, the law God gave to them via Moses 800 years earlier. However, we only have to read the Old Testament prophets to know that greed and exploitation were common among the people, and indeed formed much of the reason why Israel was consistently warned by the prophets about the coming judgement if they continued to tolerate or even encourage such inequality and injustice. Nehemiah knew that a new wall was a sticking plaster, unless the people started living as God had always planned for them to live – in willing obedience to His commands.
So, when the poor of the area come to him in desperation, he tackles it head-on. Note first, though, that, despite being ‘very angry’, he takes time to reflect and plan his response (vv6-7, a wise practice for us to observe in passing). Then he challenges the nobles and officials, using two main arguments: first and foremost, it is against God’s law (v9). Second, he himself is practising integrity, refusing to charge interest on the loans he gives (v10) – which is also part of the Law.
The exploiters had no answer to that; they couldn’t hide behind the excuse which is usually given to justify greed and immorality: ‘everyone else does it, so why shouldn’t we?’ Nehemiah’s integrity shamed them into change, something which Nehemiah wisely corroborated with an oath taken in a public assembly (vv12-13).
Reading today’s story, we could be reading about our own age; sadly, the greed and self-interest of a small powerful elite continue to drive world affairs. Oh, that more of us had Nehemiah’s courage and integrity to effect change! It may feel hopeless at present; but let’s be encouraged by the fact that God sees, and knows, and will one day put things right; and in the meantime, let’s pray that God would raise up Nehemiahs for our own day, and that the spirit of Nehemiah would renew our own public life and society.