The Book of Nehemiah
Chapter
5
¹ Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish kin.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 1)
Oh God, my Father, today there is an outcry as a consequence of contracting the Corona Virus. Many people are in panic and are raiding supermarkets and small shops just in case they end up being isolated in their own homes. Many people are fearing the harm or death of the body but no care is being given to the spiritual welfare Amen.
² For there were those who said, "With our sons and our daughters, we are many; we must get grain, so that we may eat and stay alive."
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 2)
Oh God my Father we wish to have power and control over our own lives. The I and the We are becoming common in our use of language. It is as if we have control over our lives. I pray that You make us more aware that You are in the driving seat and not ourselves Amen.
³ There are also those who said, "We are having to pledge our fields, our vineyards, and our houses in order to get grain during the famine."
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 3)
Oh God my Father we have become so selfish that we want to benefit from the opportunities of life, without having to make an inch of sacrifice as payback or thanksgiving. I pray that You heal us my God and Father Amen.
⁴ And there were those who said, "We are having to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay the king's tax.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 4)
Oh God my Father during the good times we do not thank You, however, when the not so good times come upon us we are people with a list of thousand complaints. I pray that You change our negative attitude to one that is more positive Amen.
⁵ Now our flesh is the same as that of our kindred; our children the same as their children; and yet we are forcing our sons and daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been ravished; we are powerless, and our fields and vineyards now belong to others."
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 5)
Oh God my Father, we declare that we are a free people, however, this small virus is keeping us locked up in our homes. We say we have superpowers and nuclear warfare and can control the destiny of future generations by pressing one button, however, a small virus is disabling our economy and potential. Oh God by means of this virus You are showing us that we have no control over our selves and our future. The future is in Your hands Amen.
⁶ I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 6)
Oh God my Father I also cannot stand being in the presence of negative people, who tend to complain about many things and almost never give thanks to You for all the goodness that they have received from You Amen.
⁷ After thinking it over, I brought charges against the nobles and the officials; I said to them, "You are all taking interest from your own people." And I called a great assembly to deal with them, ⁸ and said to them, "As far as we were able, we have bought back our Jewish kindred who had been sold to other nations; but now you are selling your own kin, who must then be bought back by us! They were silent and could not find a word to say.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 7 to 8)
Oh God my Father I thank You for sending us good leaders who by which You raise our awareness of both our positive actions and even of those areas that still need much work Amen.
⁹ So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God, to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 9)
Oh God my Father I pray that we stop and think about our daily lives and question the value behind the actions that we do, and if we do not find a valid reason or value, we be brave enough to challenge that practice, so that our values will always be aligned with Yours my God and Father Amen.
¹⁰ Moreover I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us stop this taking of interest.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 10)
Oh God my Father bless such generous people who do not lend people money or things with the intention of making a profit from them. I pray that we become a more generous world who is always ready to help those in need Amen.
¹¹ Restore to them, this very day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the interest on money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them."
² For there were those who said, "With our sons and our daughters, we are many; we must get grain, so that we may eat and stay alive."
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 2)
Oh God my Father we wish to have power and control over our own lives. The I and the We are becoming common in our use of language. It is as if we have control over our lives. I pray that You make us more aware that You are in the driving seat and not ourselves Amen.
³ There are also those who said, "We are having to pledge our fields, our vineyards, and our houses in order to get grain during the famine."
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 3)
Oh God my Father we have become so selfish that we want to benefit from the opportunities of life, without having to make an inch of sacrifice as payback or thanksgiving. I pray that You heal us my God and Father Amen.
⁴ And there were those who said, "We are having to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay the king's tax.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 4)
Oh God my Father during the good times we do not thank You, however, when the not so good times come upon us we are people with a list of thousand complaints. I pray that You change our negative attitude to one that is more positive Amen.
⁵ Now our flesh is the same as that of our kindred; our children the same as their children; and yet we are forcing our sons and daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been ravished; we are powerless, and our fields and vineyards now belong to others."
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 5)
Oh God my Father, we declare that we are a free people, however, this small virus is keeping us locked up in our homes. We say we have superpowers and nuclear warfare and can control the destiny of future generations by pressing one button, however, a small virus is disabling our economy and potential. Oh God by means of this virus You are showing us that we have no control over our selves and our future. The future is in Your hands Amen.
⁶ I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 6)
Oh God my Father I also cannot stand being in the presence of negative people, who tend to complain about many things and almost never give thanks to You for all the goodness that they have received from You Amen.
⁷ After thinking it over, I brought charges against the nobles and the officials; I said to them, "You are all taking interest from your own people." And I called a great assembly to deal with them, ⁸ and said to them, "As far as we were able, we have bought back our Jewish kindred who had been sold to other nations; but now you are selling your own kin, who must then be bought back by us! They were silent and could not find a word to say.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 7 to 8)
Oh God my Father I thank You for sending us good leaders who by which You raise our awareness of both our positive actions and even of those areas that still need much work Amen.
⁹ So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God, to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 9)
Oh God my Father I pray that we stop and think about our daily lives and question the value behind the actions that we do, and if we do not find a valid reason or value, we be brave enough to challenge that practice, so that our values will always be aligned with Yours my God and Father Amen.
¹⁰ Moreover I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us stop this taking of interest.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 10)
Oh God my Father bless such generous people who do not lend people money or things with the intention of making a profit from them. I pray that we become a more generous world who is always ready to help those in need Amen.
¹¹ Restore to them, this very day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the interest on money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them."
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 11)
Oh God, my Father, Your justice supersedes our form of justice. When Your hand is at work there is full compensation of the injustice that had been carried out as in verse 11. Let us all be just when dealing with others both of our own circles and even with others. Amen.
¹² Then they said, "We will restore everything and demand nothing more from them. We will do as you say". And I called the priests, and made them take an oath to do as they had promised.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 12)
Oh God my Father I pray that we be held responsible for what we believe in for our faith and our vows taken on our behalf at the time of our baptism and later on confirmed before Your people. Amen. I pray that we be responsible and committed Catholics and Christians Amen.
¹³ I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, "So may God shake out everyone from house and from property who does not perform this promise, Thus may they be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 13)
Oh God my Father I am not good at keeping promises so I do not promise anybody. My life is so subject to change that I cannot even make appointments and promise to keep them. I pray to become more committed to both You and humanity Amen.
¹⁴ Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 14)
Oh God my Father I pray that if we are given a raise or a promotion we never forget from where we started and never use our power against others but for others Amen.
¹⁵ The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people, and took food and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver, Even their servants lorded it over the people, But I did not do so.
(The Book of Nehemiah Chapter 5 verse 15)
Dear God my Father honesty has always been the best policy and those who make it an integral part of their life in management and in all sectors of service to others are blessed by this virtue. Amen.
