Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Da jeg hørte disse klagene, ble jeg veldig sint. Etter å ha fått tenkt en stund, irettesatte jeg landets ledere og sa til dem: «Krever dere inn noe dere har lånt ut til deres egne brødre?» Så kalte jeg sammen en stor forsamling og sa til dem: «Etter vår økonomiske evne har vi kjøpt fri de av vårt folk som ble solgt til andre folk. Vil dere nå virkelig fortsette å selge deres eget folk? Eller skal de nå selge seg til oss?» Da ble de helt stille og folk ble stående uten ord.
What Does This Mean?
In Nehemiah 5:6, Nehemiah expresses his strong anger upon hearing the cries and complaints of the people. He is deeply moved by their suffering and feels a sense of responsibility to address their issues.
Explained for Children
Imagine you hear your friends crying because someone is being mean to them. You would feel very upset and want to help, right? That's how Nehemiah felt when he heard the people crying and complaining.
Historical Background
Nehemiah, a Jewish leader, wrote this during the Persian period, around 445-433 BCE. He was addressing the Israelites returning from exile to rebuild Jerusalem. The cultural setting was one of hardship and tension between the wealthy and the poor.
Living It Out Today
Consider a scenario where you learn that a colleague is being unfairly treated by a manager. You feel compelled to take action to support your colleague, just as Nehemiah felt moved to address the grievances of his people.
Nehemiah was angry because he heard the cries and complaints of the people who were suffering, and he felt a deep sense of responsibility to address their issues.
How does Nehemiah's anger compare to other biblical leaders?
Nehemiah's anger is a righteous response to injustice, similar to Moses and Samuel, who also showed strong reactions when seeing the suffering of God's people.
What does this verse teach about leadership?
This verse teaches that effective leadership involves not only taking action but also feeling deeply about the struggles of the community one serves.
How can this verse inspire social justice activism?
Nehemiah's response to the people's cries can inspire us to act on behalf of those who are suffering, to advocate for justice and to take action when we see injustice.