Counting, populating
The heart of a prophet - Book of Nehemiah • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 54:30
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Handout
Handout
Revive, Revitalization
Revive, Revitalization
When you think of the word revive what comes to mind?
Revive: (V) to restore to life or consciousness; to give new strength or energy
How about the word revitalization, what does that mean, or what comes to mind when you think of that?
Revitalization: (N) to give new life or vigor to.
(Transition) Jerusalem had the walls rebuilt the guards set, the servants set, yet they were still an abandoned city. This city, the City of David, needed revitalization. That is the next step for Nehemiah under the leading of God to do, that is what we are looking at tonight.
Our passage (Another list of names)
Our passage (Another list of names)
1 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
3 Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah each lived on his own property in their cities—the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. 4 Some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez;
5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. 6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 able men.
7 Now these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah; 8 and after him Gabbai and Sallai, 928.
9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second in command of the city. 10 From the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,
11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the leader of the house of God, 12 and their kinsmen who performed the work of the temple, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,
13 and his kinsmen, heads of fathers’ households, 242; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and their brothers, valiant warriors, 128. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.
15 Now from the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God;
17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the leader in beginning the thanksgiving at prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were 284.
19 Also the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren who kept watch at the gates, were 172. 20 The rest of Israel, of the priests and of the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each on his own inheritance.
21 But the temple servants were living in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants. 22 Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of God.
23 For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the song leaders day by day. 24 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king’s representative in all matters concerning the people.
25 Now as for the villages with their fields, some of the sons of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 and in Jeshua, in Moladah and Beth-pelet,
27 and in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its towns, 28 and in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns,
29 and in En-rimmon, in Zorah and in Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba as far as the valley of Hinnom.
31 The sons of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, at Bethel and its towns, 32 at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 From the Levites, some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin.
I know there is a list of names again, but is there anything in this passage that sticks out to you?
Recruiting
Recruiting
1 Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
Prior to the completion of the wall, the city of Jerusalem was very underpopulated, we are now looking at how Nehemiah got the city to be repopulated, revitalized.
For over eighty years or so, some believe 100 years, the city had not truly been repopulated since being released from captivity in Babylon. Yes, Ezra led people back, rebuilt the temple. Under Nehemiah the walls were rebuilt. Spiritual restoration had happen too, yet for the city to prosper, it needed to be populated.
First, thing we should notice is the leaders lived there (v.1).
Leaders lead by example. We need leaders who lead by example.
Next thing to notice, the rest of the people cast lots for one-tenth to live in the city (v.1).
Hum, one-tenth, a tithe? A tithe was 10% of everything, not just money.
We then see there were blessed people who volunteered to live in the city.
Many church plants happen with several families gather together and go to a place to seed a church. They become missionaries.
These are the ones with a pioneer spirit (Guzik). People that were willing to give up their land, their community and maybe even some family to move to the city. They would have to endure city life and the problems that came with that. The city was scarcely populated, and they are moving in there now. They also had to know they were a target for the enemies of Israel as the capital city. Fear of armies not just a band of robbers when the walls were not rebuilt. They did it knowing they were doing it as to the Lord God.
So who moved into the city?
So who moved into the city?
3 Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah each lived on his own property in their cities—the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants.
Children of Judah (vv.4-6)
God had issued a call through Nehemiah to present themselves (i.e. like Paul Rom12:1-2)
God had a special job for them to do, and it started with the leaders, then named the children of the tribe of Judah.
You may notice that it even gives the number of able men 468. Remember women and children were not counted. Yet, this is still a large group of people moving into a scarcely populated city that needed to be revitalized.
Nehemiah has been good about listing names, for names are important to God. Previously
Chapter 3- people with the rebuilding project
Chapter 7 - those who had returned with Ezra and Zerubbabel
Chapter 8 - those at the water gate when the word was read
Chapter 10 - those who signed the covenant agreement
Even if your name is never recorded for posterity, God has it for eternity!
Sons of Benjamin (vv.7-9)
Why Benjamin you may ask. Well when the kingdom was divided, it was Judah and Benjamin who comprised of the Southern Kingdom known as Judah, while the other tribes comprised of the Northern Kingdom.
Nehemiah calls these men of Judah and Benjamin, “valiant men,” or “able men.”
The priests (vv.10-14)
Next was the priests who would handle the service on the altar.
Nehemiah calls them valiant warriors, or mighty men (v.14) this can mean brave fighting men or men of substance like Boaz was referred to (Rut2:1)
The Levites (vv.15-18)
The Levites are the support personnel at the temple and were much needed, think of them kind of like Deacons in the church today.
This would include the the singers, the gatekeepers too, together this was a large cross section of people - about 810 men.
Those outside Jerusalem
Those outside Jerusalem
It is here we see the rest of the priests, and Levites (v.20)
Temple servants (v.21)
Other singers for service in the house of God (v.22-23)
And yes, more leaders (v.22-24)
God uses many people with different gifts, talents to accomplish His good will. Our part is to be willing to be used by him and submit to Him in loving obedience. Each person is important, each person has a task, and you will see that when we continue in chapter-12 next week.
If you remember right it was Xerses who Nehemiah served as cup bearer and supported the mission work in Jerusalem. Well, Xerses wanted the Jews in whom he supported to support him in prayer (v.23).
Today too we are commanded to pray for our government leaders, those in authority (1Tim2:1ff)
Those in the villages
Those in the villages
Nehemiah again lists the names, and the villages.
Eventhough they lived in outline villages upon return from captivity, they were still under the authority of the rulers in Jerusalem (capital) and the king of Persia.
They had local loyalty to their community, but a bigger loyalty must be in place for the whole people.
The body of Christ is much bigger than Westside Church, we are a part of the whole, we start and build up one another here, and serve the larger body, the kingdom when we serve our community in the name of Jesus to bring, invite people into the body.
May we be volunteers (v.1) who receive blessings because we serve with an open and willing heart.
(Prayer) (Exit)
