Nehemiah 11-12:26

The building of the city walls (chs 1–6) and the spiritual renewal of God’s people (chs 8–10)

were accompanied by the formation of a new brotherhood or fellowship within Jerusalem (chs 7; 11; 12).

In chapter 11 Nehemiah returns again to the problem of how to repopulate the capital city of Jerusalem

in order to decrease its vulnerability to enemy attack.

The defense of the capital was vital because within its walls was the temple

around which Jewish life and worship centered.

An integral part of the repopulation of Jerusalem was the census of the nation (ch. 7),

which ensured that the residents of the city were of unmixed Jewish descent.

This concern for a pure stock was not a racist policy

but was crucial to safeguard the

exclusive worship of God and the

distinct identity of His own people.

It was fitting that a ‘a holy nation’ ()

should live in ‘the holy city’ (11:1, 18).

Both citizens and city belonged to God.

The members of the city of God’s church are ‘called to be saints’ ().

Does our conduct match our title?

Do we live up to what God requires of us?

1 "Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns. 2 "The people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.” ()

An integral part of the repopulation of Jerusalem was the census of the nation (ch. 7), which ensured that the residents of the city were of unmixed Jewish descent. This concern for a pure clan was not a racist policy but was crucial to safeguard the exclusive worship of God and the distinct identity of his own people. It was fitting that a ‘a holy nation’ () should live in ‘the holy city’ (11:1, 18). Both citizens and city belonged to God. The members of the city of God’s church are ‘called to be saints’ (). Does our conduct match our title? Do we live up to what God requires of us?

I’ve entitled this message:

How to get where we’re going!

I’m sure as you look from 11:1-12:26 you see a massive staggering list.

And i’m sure you would probably want read on your deathbed rather than !

But just as a house foundation and roof rafters are important to a building’s stability while remaining unseen,

passages such as these in Nehemiah (are foundational as well)

they relate a redemptive purpose for the city of Jerusalem

that will only later develop into something deeper and far more glorious.

God intends to populate a city—the New Jerusalem into which the nations will come (, ).

In the New Jerusalem, people - people with names on a list- will dwell in fellowship and community with one another and with their Savior.

Isn’t that a description of the local church on earth.

A group of people who are listed on a church roster who are called into fellowship and community with one another and Christ?

They are typifying the New Jerusalem which is to come in the future?

So the city of Jerusalem has prophetic significance.

Israel as a nation was actually restored to the land after seventy years of captivity,

just as Jeremiah had predicted ().

This restoration, however, did not correspond to the projected glory predicted by the prophets,

indicating that this restoration was incomplete.

The city of Jerusalem prefigures and anticipates the New Jerusalem of

2 "I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 "Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.” ()

Returning to the city for these believers in Nehemiah’s time was more than an act of sentimental homecoming;

it was an act of faith.

They understood in some way that they were participating in the purposes of God for his people.

And much in the same way, we to are seeking to repopulate the city, as Nehemiah and this group is.

Where are we going? Jerusalem is the focal place (or city) in this chapter.

We have now reached a section in the book where we are given two further lists.

Nehemiah returns to his plan to repopulate Jerusalem with sufficient citizens to ensure its

developing economy and safety, and

inserts a list of those people who went to live in the city (11:3-24)

and of those whose homes were elsewhere in Judah (11:25-36).

(11:3-24) and of those whose homes were elsewhere in Judah (11:25-36).

The last list in the book is found in 12:1-26, which provides us with details of those

priests and Levites who returned with the first exiles under Zerubbabel and Jeshua in 538bc.

History was immensely important to God’s people.

These were reliable records and they certainly trace roots but they are something more.

We are going to glean some spiritual principles from the spirit empowered mind of Nehemiah.

This isn’t a dusty and irrelevant catalogue of names and families; these archives convey a series of far-reaching biblical truths.

SO… how to get where we’re going.

ONE. Willing partnership is a necessity.

Jerusalem had to be repopulated if it was to develop a vigorous economic, social, and spiritual life.

In order to repopulate the city he adopted the principle of the tithe,

so that one person in ten was expected to move from their country homes to establish a new life within Jerusalem (1).

1 "Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns.” ()

These Israelites recognized that the city’s community life could only be developed at great personal cost to themselves.

The first thing which strikes us about Nehemiah’s unadorned account of this repopulation is the people’s total subservience to God’s will.

In order to determine who was to make the sacrifice, the people cast lots to discern whether they were among the one out of every ten destined to live in Jerusalem (1).

In their culture, the casting of lots was one means of discovering the divine will.

For centuries they had treasured the conviction of Israel’s wise men that ‘the lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord’. (Prov. 16:33)

About five thousand of these contemporaries of Nehemiah were prepared to

subject themselves and their whole future

to the unfolding of God’s sovereign will for their lives.

What they preferred was secondary to what God desired.

I wonder this morning. Is that true of you? Is what you prefer secondary to what God desires?

Their exemplary surrender and uncomplaining sacrificial response to God’s will must be noted and sought after.

I pray that God is leading some of you to surrender and sacrifice to partner with us to spread and advance the gospel.

SECONDLY. To get to where we are going, we see the supremacy of holiness.

We are told that these people who responded to Jerusalem’s practical need went to live in the holy city (v1).

As a devout believer, Nehemiah was fascinated by the holy, that which has been ‘set apart’

for the Lord’s use. He knew that the priests were holy people in that they worked exclusively for God ().

He reminds us that the

Sabbath is a holy day (9:14; 10:31; 13:22)

and that other occasions in Israel’s year have

also been designated as ‘holy’ (10:31).

The sacrifices offered in the temple are also holy (10:33), and

his contemporary, Ezra the priest, rightly emphasizes that all God’s people need to be holy (Ezra 9:2).

Here we are twice told that the city itself has been set apart for the Lord’s special use (1, 18).

To live in Jerusalem and be given the opportunity to serve God

in such a holy place would be regarded by these newly enlisted citizens as an immense privilege.

But there is something more here.

To live in the holy city might well be regarded as a high privilege but it was also a challenging responsibility.

It is one thing to have a home in a holy city; it is quite another to make the home holy.

Living in a holy context did not automatically transmit holiness to the individual citizen.

Anymore than being in church makes a person a Christian.

As you think about that Christian.

You should consider every place as holy or set apart because God is there.

Also, you should look at every part of your life as a matter of holiness, because it is to be offered unto God.

Our members meetings,

church counsel meetings,

songs we sing

worship services,

Care Group gatherings

are all to be regarded as holy, set apart for God.

A holy city would be a contradiction in terms if inhabited by unholy people!

THREE: to get to where we’re going, The Privilege of Service.

v2 contains an intriguing comment about the way people were recruited fro the repopulation program.

We have already seen that lots were used to obtain many of those ‘one in ten’ people

who were required, but it is also clear that,

alongside those whose names were discerned through lots,

there were others who freely offered themselves for this new work: 2 "The people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.” ()

Do you remember the prophetic call into ministry for Jeremiah?

4 "The word of the Lord came to me: 5 "I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations. 6 "But I protested, “Oh no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.”” ()

Jeremiah loved to quietly contemplated God and His love.

So naturally, he wasn’t desirous of public ministry.

Isaiah on the other hand desired the active life i preaching so here’s how he responds to the call to serve:

7 "He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for. 8 "Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who should I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.” ()

Those who serve God, whether with the

eagerness of Isaiah or the

caution of Jeremiah,

must do exactly what those two prophets did.

Gladly or reluctantly there has to be a total surrender to

God’s sovereign purposes so that we are ready to do whatever he has in mind for us.

FOURTHLY. In order to get to where we’re going, there’s going to have to be A Variety of Ministry.

There are two lists in these two chapters.

There is Judah’s residents (11:4-36) and Israel’s priests and Levites (12:1-26)

So, we find ourselves confronted with a wide range of gifts and abilities which these people brought to God’s work.

There were people with fine leadership qualities.

In addition to Jerusalem’s leaders (1), Judah’s provincial leaders (3) came to live alongside them in the city,

setting a noble example to those they served, who would also be required to uproot themselves

by leaving their homes to populate Jerusalem.

Many qualities are required for effective leadership,

but few can be more important than exemplary conduct.

It is not enough to tell people what they must do; the leader must become a visible model of obedience, holiness and love.

For that reason leaders need to cultivate their own spiritual lives so that they do not contradict their message.

Both Paul and Peter urged their first-century colleagues in ministry to take care of themselves so that they did not become a bad advertisement for the gospel.

28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.” ()

1 "I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: 2 "Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 "not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” ()

Furthermore, there are people in these lists with administrative skills.

The newly populated city had its chief officer and an additional colleague who kept a watchful eye over the Second District of the city (9).

These are local government officers.

Other people were equipped with maintenance experience.

Two of the heads of the Levites had charge of the outside work of the house of God (16).

The temple had to be kept in good repair and these men were entrusted with overall responsibility for the care of the fabric.

Our church must be grateful for the dedicated practical skills of men and women who care for our building,

many of them in an entirely voluntary capacity.

Their low-profile work is done for their Lord rather than their church.

The service of such devoted people is hardly likely to reach the pages of church history books,

but their loving service is not forgotten

in the place where the best records are kept.

FIFTHLY. The Priority of Worship.

FIFTHLY. The Priority of Worship.

Others had responsibility for the temple’s worship.

There was a chief officer in the house of God, was probably the high priest of the time, and

he was supported by a team of priests who carried on work for the temple (11).

Their spiritual ministry was supplemented by people with evident musical gifts.

There was a Levite assigned to the work of the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer (17).

Centuries earlier, Israel’s greatest king had encouraged the people to do those two things: ‘Give thanks to the Lord’ (praise), ‘call on his name’ (prayer).

7 "On that day David decreed for the first time that thanks be given to the Lord by Asaph and his relatives: 8 "Give thanks to the Lord; call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples.” ()

Praise and prayer are central to the spiritual life of God’s people.

Music has played an immense part in the worship of the Lord’s people, and throughout history

the church has been indebted to

choirs,

instrumentalists and

musical groups

who have offered their gifts to the Lord and enriched our praise and prayer in churches throughout the world.

Besides the leaders and prominent people such as priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants (11:3),

there were innumerable others, whose different qualities, skills, abilities and expertise had been willingly and gratefully offered to God.

SIXTHLY. To get to where we’re going, we’ll need The Grace of Humility.

God doesn’t call everyone to be a leader in the church.

In fact, biblically only two offices are appointed: Elders and Deacons.

The truth of the matter is, is that innumerable tasks have to be

devotedly performed by men and women

who are happy to accept less prominent roles in God’s work.

In addition to respected leaders and chief officers,

this list also contains the names of people

who were content to serve as

deputies,

assistants,

colleagues and

partners

of those in more eminent positions.

I’ve often wondered in the esteem of God, if He were to bare witness to us over the rich history of the church:

of the faithful but all but forgotten

committed believers,

ordinary church members,

forgotten ministers,

evangelists,

tract-distributors,

Bible Study leaders,

card writers,

those who cook meals for others,

church cleaners,

door greeters and, most important of all,

undaunted intercessors

People who’ve never written a book. Never got a degree. Never planted a church.

Just served quietly behind the scenes, content to just serve the Lord.

These are humble folks who understand:

that whatever is done, whether in leadership from the front or in supportive partnership,

must be done not for the praise of the individual but for the glory of God.

Peter reminded the first-century churches that all our service,

applauded or unsung,

is an opportunity from God, for others and to His glory alone.

10 "Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 "If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” ()

There is always a need for this kind of support.

Every church needs men and women who are committed to work as loyal supporters and reliable partners.

The apostles knew the strategic importance of supportive brothers and sisters,

just read how many of the NT letters end,

testifying to their invaluable contribution and encouraging practical help.

SEVENTHLY. The Importance of Family.

How are we going to get to where we are going? Oh my, the family is important.

"while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem): Judah’s descendants: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of ...” ()

4 "while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem): Judah’s descendants: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of ...” ()

As we look back over these lists, we realize that there is something more here than a catalogue of dedicated individuals.

They refer throughout to the families into which these workers were born and where their faith in God was encouraged and nourished.

Their parentage is traced through six or seven generations with its clear acknowledgment of the crucial role of the family.

As loving and secure units of personal care and spiritual instruction,

families were intended to play an enormous part in the life of God’s people.

These lists and similar genealogies in Scripture testify to the reality of Israel’s commitment

to share God’s Word with their children and working members of the ‘household’: 4 "One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts.” ()

How to get to where we’re going, will take families that are dedicated to:

God

one another

the church of the Lord Jesus.

Families who provide for their children a life centered on the gospel.

Show them the gospel,

preach to them the gospel

preach to them the gospel

Let them see you tell others the gospel.

Let them see you tell others the gospel.

When you look at the level of commitment of the Israelites to the priority of family care,

let it rebuke you! Yes, rebuke your for our modern casualness about marriage.

Let’s all be put on notice as believers in 2017 that we have a responsibility to

encourage,

nurture and

protect family values,

and that, in tragic situations of family breakdown,

Us, as a local church, we have a vital role to play in offering

biblical counsel,

love,

understanding, support,

practical care and

security.

I think of Jesus’ words in , “I was a stranger and you took me in.”

May many see Christ in us, as we help them through their crisis.

How are we going to get to where we’re going?

ONE. Willing partnership is a necessity.

SECONDLY. To get to where we are going, we see the supremacy of holiness.

THREE: to get to where we’re going, seeing The Privilege of Service, you’ll volunteer.

FOURTHLY. In order to get to where we’re going, there’s going to have to be A Variety of Ministry.

FIFTHLY. The Priority of Worship.

SIXTHLY. To get to where we’re going, we’ll need The Grace of Humility.

SEVENTHLY. The Importance of Family.

The Holy Spirit led the recording of such labor to remind us that the efficient running of the holy city,

just as the efficient running of a church, depends on the skills of all.

Speaking of the church, the apostle Paul declares, “The whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped,”

grows only as “each part is working properly” ().

As we all look towards that New Jerusalem, may we press on with all these ingredients.