Nehemiah 11-12

Nehemiah  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  46:47
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INTRO
The 7/10 of Neh 11-12.
​
MESSAGE

7 Spiritual Principals

The Necessity of Partnership
Neh 11.1 “1 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.”
What is a city without a people?
made to be used
1/10 a tithe of the people
Many may desire, only few will enter in
Lots = sovereign choice of God
HS for the Christian
there is no entering in without surrender!!!
cost to the people - potential inheritance…
The Primacy of Holiness
Neh 11.1 “1 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.”
Nehemiah - loves the holy!
we should too.
what is a holy city with an unholy people?
think of the kingdom to come
Richard Baxter = “A holy calling will not save an unholy man”
The Privilege of Service
Neh 11.1-2 “1 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. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.”
Count your cost and weigh your reward
Some VOLUNTEER some are CONSCRIPTED
ALL are HONORED !!
Neh 11.4-24 = Names and duties of those in privileged service

in the late sixth century, Gregory the Great made use of two great Old Testament accounts of a prophetic call as he sensitively contrasted Jeremiah the conscript with Isaiah the volunteer. There is room for both in the Lord’s work. Gregory makes the point that both men were motivated by love. Jeremiah’s response is ‘based on the love of God’ and Isaiah’s ‘on love for the neighbour’. Isaiah ‘desired the active life in the office of preaching, moved thereto by the wish to benefit his neighbours’, but Jeremiah preferred to express his love for God in a life of quiet devotion, so naturally he ‘remonstrated against being sent’. Jeremiah feared that by preaching ‘he should forfeit the benefit of quiet contemplation’, while Isaiah feared ‘that by not preaching he might suffer harm for the lack of arduous work’. 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.

do you view your service to God as a privilege or a duty or perhaps even drudgery?
King David did not…
The Variety of Ministry
Examine these lists and see the variety
Priests, Levites, Leaders, Singers, “Men of Valor”, Gate Watchmen, Administrators…even maintenance foremen
Neh 11.16 “16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God;”
Todays church is no different… Yes this church has a preacher, and yet there are a multitude of important behind the scenes ministry opportunities and volunteers
The Grace of Humility
This service may not be recorded but it is not forgotten !!
Neh 11.1 “1 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.”
Neh 11.20 “20 And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, every one in his inheritance.”
Neh 11.25 “25 And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages,”

The story of Christian work and witness over the years is something far more enriching than a record of great names and remarkable events. It is about millions of unremembered but committed believers, ordinary church members, forgotten ministers, evangelists, tract-distributors, Bible Class leaders, Sunday School teachers, sick visitors, caterers, cleaners, door stewards and, most important of all, undaunted intercessors.

Churches and Christian organizations all over the world are grateful for the dedicated practical skills of men and women who care for their buildings, many of them in an entirely voluntary capacity. Their unobtrusive 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.

1 Peter 4:10–11 ESV
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
“when everybody is somebody, then no one is anybody”
There is grace and honor in humble service to God… The apostles knew this for it was modeled to them first hand by Christ
The Importance of the Family
Neh 11-12 Not just names… Families
Neh 11.1-24 = 62 Times = Son
Psalm 145:4 ESV
4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
Family is where faith is encouraged and nourished
emotional security - material necessity - physical care - intellectual stimulation - moral value - spiritual teaching = takes place !! or does not
Reminder to the CHURCH to… encourage, protect, nurture… families
Reminder to INDIVIDUALS… you are a member of this family !!
Praise be to God for our SPIRITUAL grandparents
Praise God for our adoption and our brothers and sisters in the faith
The Priority of Worship
Let us remember where we are in the context of Nehemiah
The City and The Wall - Lead to this !! = WORSHIP
Who God IS / What He HAS done / What He IS doing / What He WILL do
Neh 11.17 “17 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.”
Neh 11.22 “22 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.”
1 Chronicles 16:7–8 ESV
7 Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers. 8 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
Praise & Prayer

In thanksgiving we acknowledge God’s generosity. The praise element ought always to come first. All too easily we crave for more without recalling what we have already received. To neglect thanksgiving is to ignore one of the Christian’s distinctive characteristics; the godless do not do it.

In prayer we seek God’s help. Whenever we pray we are making the confession that we cannot live without God. We are openly testifying to our reliance on him.

Worship is the CHIEF END OF MAN
Worship IS and CAN be all we do!!
Thousands were in this throng
“The builders hammer was no less expressive of sincere devotion than was the choristers voice”.

10 Aspects of Rich Worship

The Message of Nehemiah: God’s Servant in a Time of Change 15. Our ‘Chief End’ (Nehemiah 12:27–47)

William Temple described adoration as ‘the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable, and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.’

The Message of Nehemiah: God’s Servant in a Time of Change 15. Our ‘Chief End’ (Nehemiah 12:27–47)

although Christians formally recognize the priority of worship, they do not have a common mind regarding its character and form.

The Message of Nehemiah: God’s Servant in a Time of Change 15. Our ‘Chief End’ (Nehemiah 12:27–47)

One of the most pressing issues which needs to be at the heart of contemporary discussion is not what pleases us in worship but what most honours God.

It’s Purpose
Celebration, Thanksgiving and Dedication are the three main themes...
Neh 12.27 “27 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
God not us
Who/what/how He is, has done, will do, is doing
How often do you say to yourself on Sundays “I really didn't get anything out of that today”
Thanksgiving
thanksgiving should be specific !
Let us count the blessings we have recieved by the gracious hand of your God.
Dedication
to dedicate means to give over the work of human hands to God’s ownership
Worship demands the surrender of ourselves, and the surrender to him of all that he has given to us.
in thanksgiving, the heart is moved with gratitude; in dedication, the will is surrendered to him.
How often do you say to yourself on Sundays “I really didn't get anything out of that today”… “Did I bring my all to Him today”
It’s Nature

However skilled the instrumentalists and choristers, Scripture emphasizes a quality which takes priority over musical ability and the eager participation of gifted people in worship. The hearts of the worshippers are of greater importance than their voices

Neh 12.30 “30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.”
Ps 51.16-17 “16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Rom 12.1 “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Jhn 4.23-24 “23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.””
Anything less is not worship it is mere singing… you rob from God and you surely rob from yourself !!
It’s Traditions
We are debtors to our past.
Neh 12.45-46 “45 And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.”
Neh 12.24 “24 And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers who stood opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch by watch.”
These worshipers were pleased to continue these traditions of worship at the temple
This worship enriched many from centuries prior
reminded of the reality of faith
encouraged continuation of the faith
declared the solidarity of the faith
It’s Variety
The God who made the Moth is the God who made the Peacock
Neh 12.27 “27 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.”
Neh 12.35 “35 and certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph;”
Ps 150 “1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Worship is meant to be a shared experience to which a variety of participants bring their particular gifts.
How then do you respond during the singing of a Hymn?
How then do you respond during the singing of a Contemporary song?
How then would you respond to a rap, a dance, a clapping or raising of hands, a xylophone solo??
How you respond to these things says more about your heart and your value of God then it does about the method of worship!
It’s Priority
Not what you do… how you do it.
Neh 12.27 “27 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.”
Neh 12.43 “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. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.”
Drab and dreary is not what God intends for you nor what He wants from you
Those who lead worship take note… get it, take note!
Ecclesiastes - time for everything… weep not in the house of the LORD
Priority of joy and thanksgiving in our worship
This is not a fake it till you make it this is a call to live in the peace that surpasses all understanding and to be satisfied in the joy of your salvation
It’s Witness
Others will see and take note
Neh 12.31 “31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate.”
Neh 12.38 “38 The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall,”
Neh 12.43 “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. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.”

All occasions for worship (as distinct from evangelistic opportunities) need to incorporate the essential elements of adoration, thanksgiving, petition, the assurance of forgiveness, the exposition of and submission to God’s Word, the offering of our gifts as well as ourselves, intercession for our world and specific individuals in need, and commitment to future service. People who participate will ensure that, in sharing their distinctive gifts, they always direct attention to their Lord and not to themselves.

Anything we do is totally ineffective if it does not turn people’s gaze to the one who is worthy!
Remember they separated themselves first… others are watching you!!
Your worship is a witness on your behalf… what does it testify of you, your faith, your God?
It’s Unity
Look around yourself today and marvel
Only God can take so many, so different and draw them together
This church is but a meager sample of His power to unify
Neh 12.27-29 “27 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. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; 29 also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem.”
Sad that such an opportunity for unity has often become a source of division
what division might be destroyed if we shared no ambition other than the glory of God.
It’s Quality
What quality of worship does our God deserve?
Neh 12.43-44 “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. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away. 44 On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered.”
Can there be any argument that our God deserves less than our best?
Yet if we are honest, less than our best is all to often what we bring.

Innumerable things clamour for attention, and worship often receives neither our best preparation nor our total commitment.

Doesn't that bother you? What will you say when you see Him face to face? Why wait until then to rectify what you know to be true today?
It’s Cost
Don’t you think this kind of worship cost something?
Look at Neh 12:44-47 and count the cost...
labor, finance, danger, time, etc.
An intense worshipful experience can create a fervor of generosity but time often tamps our flame
Remember back to Neh 10.35-39 = they had promised to keep these religious duties and commands
If you want to experience rich, deep, connection to God it will cost you something.
Pursuing rich worship of God may cost you
Time
Money
Position
Power
Jesus paid that cost…
It’s Vitality
Jhn 10.10 “10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Superlative = (adjective / adverb) - expressing the highest or a very high degree of a quality.
This is what is happening in this chapter…
Neh 12.43 “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. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.”
27 = celebrate with gladness
31 = great choirs
43 = great joy
great and awesome God
steadfast loving kindness
rich in mercy
abounding in grace and forgiveness
When you have recieved this forgiveness, when you meditate on this love from this God through this sacrifice for you… when you contemplate the generous gift of spiritual blessings of an inheritance not our own and yet freely given to us by the adoption of a heavenly father into an eternal family… when we gather together to sing about and deepen our affections for this glorious God, who supplies us His Spirit to heal, train and transform us as His children then we will experience the richness that is worship.
There is nothing half-hearted about their worship.
This kind of worship is life giving !
Does your worship of God leave you feeling alive or drained? One is a sign of work, the other is a sign of worship!
CLOSE
Neh 11-12 exist to point us to Christ
These 7 Spiritual Principals are only accessed through Christ
These 10 Aspects of Rich Worship are only available in Christ
If any of this is attractive to you I invite you to come to Christ today.
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Group Questions
Was there one part of this message that stood out to you this week? If so share that with the group and express why it was that you clung to this particular part of the message.
As we remember back to the first half of the message regarding the Seven Spiritual Principals:
How do you view the primacy of holiness? Would you say you think to little or to much of personal holiness?
What might personal holiness look like for us today? How do we grow in this? What are you doing to grow currently?
Do you view service as a privilege? Why or why not? If you have one share about a time when you were surprised by the blessing of serving in a way that you did not expect.
How can we encourage others to serve? How can we recognize and thank those who are serving?
Do you feel that worship is a priority for you? Where does your life need to be more worship-full? (ie: work, school, hobbies, etc.)
As we remember back to the second half of the message regarding the Ten Aspects of Rich Worship:
If you have one, share with the group a memory of a time of worship that was impactful on you.
Pastor said “if your heart is not being brought in the worship you rob God and yourself”, how do we rob from ourselves? How do we rob from God?
Do you prefer tradition or variety in worship services? How do we seek a balance?
What is one thing you have to give up to regularly attend church services?
If church worship services are to be “vibrant and life giving” what is the place for grief and sorrow? How do we manage this seeming divide?
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