In our reading in Nehemia today, Nehemia exemplifies what God requires of man. We were reading (Living Bible) about how Nehemia was angry with the leaders of Judah for charging interest and mortgages to God's people who were already struggling. The people were even having to sell their children into slavery just so they could have money to get food. He said how he and his officials were not taking any salaries and were doing all they could to help God's people but the leaders were not and should be ashamed. The leaders, to their credit, heard Nehemia's rebuke and gave back to the people their land and possessions. "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" Isa 58:6 KJV.
This scripture in Isaiah has particular importance for me at this time as we are leaving a family fast behind and now starting a corporate fast with the people we assemble with. In order to 'do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God'(Micah 6:8) we need to have a heart for desiring that justice is done to the oppressed and that those who are in bondage are set free. It is not wonder that the cry of my heart during this last year and into a bit of the first part of this year was 'I want to set the captive free'. God's heart is to see the captive free and the oppressed treated justly so of course His Spirit would put those types of inclinations in our heart.
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