Time for a Decision

People do all kinds of things to make decisions. Some people will investigate, gather as much information as they can, and then make an informed choice. Where will I go to college? What will I major in?

Other people flip coins to make major life decisions. Some people will even use a magic 8 ball.

(Ask for questions…)

I have one. Will I preach for a really long time this morning?

In Nehemiah 11, we come across a situation where the people are faced with a big decision. But instead of taking a vote or tossing a coin, they get out the magic 8 ball to decide what they need to do.

Actually, the biblical phrase is that they “cast lots.” In the Old Testament, the casting of lots was like throwing dice and was a way of discovering God’s will. We even see this used in the Book of Acts when the disciples are trying to figure out who should replace Judas in:

Acts 1:26 ESV

And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

They didn’t believe in “luck” or “chance.” They actually were so committed to the sovereignty of God that they knew God would direct the outcome of the lots according to His divine will.

Proverbs 16:33 ESV

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Now, don’t think that this is good way to make decisions in life today. Don’t go out and buy a magic 8 ball and use it to determine your career, your relationships, what you do and don’t do. The magic 8 ball really isn’t magic. Of the 20 answers, 10 are positive, five of them are neutral, and only five are negative (and not really that negative). The odds are stacked in your favor.

We are not meant to cast lots today. You will never read about it being used in Scripture after Acts chapter 1 because on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the people and dwelled inside of them. Today, we need to search Scripture and pray in order to determine God’s will, not cast lots.

We find in Nehemiah 11, since the walls and gates of Jerusalem were now restored, it was important that the people start living in their capital city and make the population grow. Some of the people volunteered willingly while others had to be “drafted.”

And it was a big deal. Think about the city of Jerusalem at this point. The Temple was there. They had a wall around the city and that was about it. The city was still in ruins. The people had spent all of their time and effort on rebuilding the wall. The homes that had been destroyed weren’t the priority because if there was no wall, there was no way to defend them.

How many jobs do you think there were in Jerusalem? The priests and the Levites would have something to do but what about everyone else? How would you pay your bills and feed your family if you lived in a city instead of a farm? It was a big step for them. It was a scary too.

So, we’ll read the first 3 verses in Nehemiah 11 and see how this worked out for them. Let’s pray first.

Pray!

Nehemiah 11:1–3 ESV

Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants.

The people had promised to give a tenth of their produce in chapter 10; now Nehemiah decides to do the same with the people by arranging for 10% of them to move out of the suburbs and into the city.

These people show us four counter-cultural characteristics that we desperately need today.

Move out of your comfort zone

Most of the families living outside Jerusalem depended entirely on the land for their daily existence. Over the years they had developed a pattern of life as they plowed, planted and harvested their crops. For many of them, the thought of leaving their comfort zone was more than they could handle. But some left their homes, relatives, neighbors, work, friends, and familiar routines to set up a new life in a radically different environment.

Are you willing to leave your comfort zone for the sake of the kingdom? I don’t know what God might be asking you to do, but I do know that He wants you to be available.

When we say that we won’t move, we won’t go, we won’t do, we won’t change because of our own selfish reasons, what we are really doing is saying to God:

I won’t move outside of my comfort zone. I don’t want you to use me unless I’m comfortable with it. I don’t want to be obedient because I’m too old, I’m not capable enough, I’m not good enough, smart enough – whatever reason you have – God you can’t use me because I’m too comfortable with the way I am and the way the church is right now. Use someone else. Do it somewhere else.

What is God asking you to do to move you outside of your comfort zone? Maybe you need to get more involved here at Ashland Avenue. Maybe God is calling you to serve.

As you pray for your neighbors, and look for ways to care for them, God wants to use you to share with them. For many of us, that’s outside our comfort zone. Maybe it’s as simple as inviting your friends and neighbors to church. Or it might be a commitment to start giving. Whatever it is, tell God you’re willing to live outside your normal boundaries. Let him stretch you.

When He says move, we need to be willing to move.

After moving out of their comfort zone, the believers commit to holy living.

Commit to holy living

They didn’t just agree to live in a remodeled city; they were coming to “the holy city.”

Nehemiah was fascinated by the holy and has reminded us that the Sabbath is a special day (10:31) and that the temple sacrifices are sanctified (10:33). His ministry partner, Ezra, emphasized that God’s people need to be holy (Ezra 9:2). Jerusalem itself was set apart for the Lord’s special use. To live in Jerusalem and be given the opportunity to serve God in such a holy place was an immense privilege.

To live in the holy city might be a great privilege, but it was also a challenging responsibility. It’s one thing to have a home in a holy city; it’s another thing to make a home holy. Living in the holy city did not automatically make the people living there holy.

They were made holy by giving everything over to God.

Have you committed yourself to holiness? Are you living your life separated from the “world” because you’re set apart for His use? Are you ready to live in the world for Him instead of yourself?

Now that the people were committed to live outside their comfort zone and wholeheartedly devoted to holy living, they are now ready to serve in ministry.

Serve in ministry

We’ve already seen that some people were drafted to live in Jerusalem. But there were others who offered themselves freely to this new work in verse 2:

2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

In the remainder of chapter 11, we see that God has always used a wide variety of people. There are at least three different groups in this passage:

Those with leadership gifts

In addition to the leaders mentioned in verse 1, there were “the chiefs of the province” mentioned in verse 3. These people were noble examples to those who were relocating to Jerusalem. If the leaders are out front, then others will follow. Someone has said, ‘The speed of the leader determines the speed of the team.” This is true.

And as the leaders in this church – the pastor, associate pastor, the deacons, Sunday School teachers – commit their time, talents and treasures to kingdom living and kingdom expansion, the stage is set for others to follow that example.

Those with administrative gifts

As you read this long list of names in chapter 11, (and there are a lot!) there were other people who served as administrators.

Nehemiah 11:9 ESV

Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.

These men made sure the city functioned well and that the infrastructure was able to handle the growing population.

Later in verse 16:

Nehemiah 11:16 ESV

and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God;

The temple had to be kept in good repair and these individuals dedicated their practical skills to care for the building. A healthy church needs to be filled with people who use their specific individual serving gifts on a regular basis. Where is it that you are serving?

Are you ready to serve? As Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 make clear, every believer has at least one spiritual gift that has been given to be used. We are saved to serve.

No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Let me encourage you to find your place in ministry and discover the joy of serving in your area of giftedness.

Serve in ministry. And next:

Worship in community

Take a look at verse 17:

Nehemiah 11:17 ESV

and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader of the praise, who gave thanks, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.

In thanksgiving we acknowledge God’s generosity. In prayer we seek God’s help. These themes were often expressed in song as we see in verse 22:

Nehemiah 11:22 ESV

The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God.

David had commissioned his worship leader Asaph in a similar way centuries earlier in:

1 Chronicles 16:7–9 ESV

Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers. Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

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

Worship can be defined as “worth-ship,” where we involve our mind, our emotions, and our will to acknowledge the worth of our God. There is no other human activity as important as worshipping God. It’s why we’ve been created.

If we’ve been made to worship, then we need to know how to do that. And Nehemiah chapter 12 helps us understand how we can. The chapter starts out with another list of names but I want us to see in verses 27-47, some guidelines for worship.

The Purpose of Worship

Let’s start by looking at the purpose of worship.

In verse 27 we read about a dedication service for the newly completed wall.

Nehemiah 12:27 ESV

And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.

Celebration, thanksgiving and dedication are the three main themes, and they take us to the heart of what worship is all about.

celebration

dedication

thanksgiving

· Celebration is the primary aspect of worship. It does not begin with us, but with who God is, what God has said, and what God has done.

· By offering themselves in dedication, they were surrendering themselves to God.

· Thanksgiving was a way of marveling at God’s generosity. Verse 31 tells us that people were appointed to give thanks. That was their job or purpose. Let me just say that our thanksgiving needs to be specific. I think its best when we can itemize our thanks to God.

These three elements of celebration, dedication and thanksgiving are expressed by our total being.

When we celebrate, we involve our minds by remembering what God has said and done.

In dedication we use our wills by surrendering to Him.

When we give thanks, we express our hearts in gratitude.

The Joy of Worship

The secret of acceptable worship is not simply what we do but how we do it. The new residents of Jerusalem celebrated with jubilant songs of thanksgiving coming out of joyful hearts. The opportunity to magnify God was an extremely happy time.

Remember how they responded to Scripture being read in:

Nehemiah 8:12 ESV

And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

When they lived in shacks made of branches and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles “there was very great rejoicing” (8:17).

Worship was never meant to be drab and boring. There was nothing stereotyped or monotonous about this thanksgiving service. A wide variety of musical gifts were used to express worship and praise. In verse 27 we see that musicians played “cymbals, harps and lyres.” Verse 35 and verse 41 tell us that the priests played their trumpets. Vocal music was given the most prominent place, as many singers joined two large choirs to give thanks on behalf of all the people.

In verse 27 they celebrate “with gladness.” The choirs are not just choirs but “great choirs” in verse 31. In verse 43:

Nehemiah 12:43 ESV

And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

43 And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced…

There is nothing half-hearted about their joyful worship because it is coming out of grateful hearts from people who have personally experienced the generosity and goodness of God.

The Witness of Worship

Verses 31-39 tell us that the leaders went up on the top of the wall. The Jews were used to having workers and watchers on the walls, now the people are called to be worshippers on the walls. Two large choirs walked on top of the wall, one to the right, and the other one went to the left. Ezra led one group and Nehemiah the other.

This worship service could have taken place at the temple area, but instead Nehemiah wanted it to take place on the walls themselves. I think he did this for at least three reasons.

First, it was important for the people to see and touch the walls during this dedication service. It was a visual reminder of God’s faithfulness.

Second, the people were bearing witness to the world that God had done the work, and He alone should be glorified. The enemy had said in 4:3 that the walls were so weak that a fox could knock them down, but here the people are marching on the walls! It was another opportunity to prove the truth of 6:16:

“…that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”

As they marched on top of the walls, everyone could see what was happening, and for miles around unbelievers heard the sound of praise.

Look at the end of verse 43:

Nehemiah 12:43 ESV

And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

…And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

Third, it was a symbolic act by which they stepped out in faith to claim God’s blessing. In that day, to walk on a piece of property meant to claim it as your own. In Joshua 1:3, God said to Joshua,

Joshua 1:3 ESV

Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.

Maybe we should be out walking the streets of Latonia, doing some “prayer walking” and asking God to use us as we invite people and hand out information. Prayer can accomplish great things.

The Response of Worship

The final verses present us with another aspect of authentic worship: the offering of our resources as well as our time and service for the Lord’s work. After the exciting service of dedication was over, provision must be made for the continuing worship of God’s people.

Nehemiah 12:47 ESV

And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

It was organized, specific, grateful, regular and universal. But most of all, the people gave in response to who God is and what He had done for them

Thomas Adams, a colonial Puritan, said this: “Let us do good with our goods while we live…to part with what we cannot keep, that we may get what we cannot lose.”

I’m reminded of a verse from

Joel 3:14 ESV

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

We face important decisions every day that affect us throughout this life but there is only one that has eternal consequences. And you don’t even need a magic 8 ball to know the answer.