They Made The Book

This morning, we find ourselves with another lengthy list of names...73 verses total in Neh.7, and most of that a list of names. But, here's the deal, the list is nearly identical to the one found in Ezra 2, and since I've already tortured the both of us with reading that list once, I'm not going to do it again.

Just remember what a mind-boggling thing it is that they made the book...and most of them are relatively unknown people! It does remind us that in all likelihood, we will live and die in faithful service to the Lord for little to no earthly credit. And that's okay. Doesn't the psalmist remind us that it is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.

But, there's a larger point that I think Nehemiah is pointing out here: God is faithful. He's faithful to His people...

He's faithful to His promises...

He faithfully continues to provide...

And this list we have here, these folks who have made they book, it's because of God's faithfulness.

Let's turn and study Nehemiah 7 together.

God is faithful to His people.

Protection

It is odd too find the gatekeepers...singers, and...Levites listed here since they are officials who help lead worship. It could be that in order to establish YHWH worship in the temple, guarding the city was deemed a necessary aspect of worship. Jerusalem's guards are employed from people in the city. They would've been the most motivated to protect it.

If the city is viewed as an extension of the city, a sort of temple courtyard, then Nehemiah's placement of temple workers as guards makes sense. And, as the previous chapter attests to, the completed walls did not mean that the danger was no longer present. Nehemiah's timing of standing guard isn't certain...one understanding would suggest that plenty of time is given for the guards to come on duty, and another suggests that the gates would remain closed during a "siesta" portion of the day, when guards may not be as alert.

Guides their Leaders

The primary concern for the returners was the construction of the wall. Even now, no houses in the city had been rebuilt. Nehemiah's continual communion with God is once again brought to light as God puts it in Nehemiah's heart for the next step. He decides to take a census, aided by the book of the genealogy he finds.

Jerusalem's population had been decimated by the events of 586 BC, mostly through death or exile. Even though the past 80 years have seen several waves of returners from Babylonia, the population of the city is still small. An accurate head count will help Nehemiah unfold the next plan God gives him.

The defensive measures were probably a stop-gap until the city was re-established. Jerusalem was still decimated with a sparse population, leaving it vulnerable. So, God lays it on his heart to take a census, seeking to repopulate the city with those of genuine Jewish heritage.

While the city was wide and large, it must have seemed like a ghost town.

While the city had walls, it remained in danger because it was underpopulated, possibly because there weren't enough houses. It seems (and this meshes with context from the threats in earlier chapters) that the people preferred to live in the surrounding areas. Those who sacrificed to live in Jerusalem would be equally distributed among the families.

God is faithful to His promise.

Ezra-Nehemiah is set in motion to fulfill Jeremiah's prophecy

Continuity between Ezra 2 and Neh. 8

God continues to provide.

Worshipers are provided — again, the goal of the city is the covenant faithfulness of God, a people that are holy unto Him, and a worshipping community.

Servants are put in place — Everything that the community needs for temple service to take place has been provided: Levites, gatekeepers, priests, singers…you name it.

The treasury is filled - - He has even provided financially.

Salvation history moves forward.

Still some noticeable absences (lack of glory in the temple, no priest/king over the people)

Yet, YHWH worship continues

You can trust that God will protect you and lead you, because He's faithful to His people.

You can cling to God's promises, because they are not spoken in vain.

Seek His kingdom and righteousness and know that everything you NEED is met in Christ.

Until He returns, serve Him faithfully, because salvation history moves forward.