The book of Nehemiah [the combined work of Ezra & Nehemiah] gives us an inside view of how God reconstituted HIS people, the nation of Israel. When God exiled them HE promised HE would bring them back…
How does God rebuild HIS people [Israel] & HIS place [Jerusalem]????
1st He has leaders HE relocated rebuild the temple as well as the walls and gates of HIS city [Structural]
2nd He has leaders that HE relocated lead HIS people to rebuild their relationship with HIM…through Repentance, Scripture, Remembrance and Worship. [Spiritual]
In today’s passage God is going to relocate some people to govern and serve this newly reformed nation. They have no government. They need officials to serve in Jerusalem, the capital of the province. Kingdom Building takes leadership…sometimes those leaders are relocated
The Book of Nehemiah not only tells us of Nehemiah’s leadership but the leadership of others. And in all the information we have about people stepping up to lead God’s people there is a thread that runs throughout…they all sacrificed to to be kingdom builders. There is a lot of of sacrifice that involves relocating. Being a part of leading God’s people is a sacrifice, a surrender of your life in general, and in specific God-led ways… such as where you live. God calls leaders to go places, for seasons and sometimes permanently.
God relocated Ezra who read the Law of Moses and the levites and priests who led this reforming nation of Israel in the reading of scripture, prayer, song and praise. He relocated he guys Nehemiah left in charge while he went back to Persia: Hanani & Hananiah. Not to mention all the others who led the 1st return from exile to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple. [Neh. 7:7]
And of course our hero, Nehemiah…God moves people to relocate, for HIS glory!
1 The leaders of the people were living in Jerusalem, the holy city. A tenth of the people from the other towns of Judah and Benjamin were chosen by sacred lots to live there too, while the rest stayed where they were. 2 And the people commended everyone who volunteered to resettle in Jerusalem.
- The ‘reconstituted nation’ would be governed from the Holy City: Jerusalem
- They tithed people to be part of the central government in the city [giving idea]
- Going without being picked [perhaps replacing someone who needed to stay]
3 Here is a list of the names of the provincial officials who came to live in Jerusalem. (Most of the people, Priests, Levites, Temple Servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants continued to live in their own homes in the various towns of Judah, 4 but some of the people from Judah and Benjamin resettled in Jerusalem.)
- Listed are leaders who came to be part of the new government in Jerusalem
- Beyond the ‘Tithe’ of people and the leaders to be mentioned, others came too
V. 4a-6: From the tribe of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the family of Perez. Also Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, of the family of Shelah. There were 468 descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem—all outstanding men.
- Only leaders from Judah & Benjamin listed by name [Southern Kingdom]
- The newly formed nation would be led by the tribes of Judah, Benjamin & Levi
V. 7-9: From the tribe of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, After him were Gabbai and Sallai and a total of 928 relatives. Their chief officer was Joel son of Zicri, who was assisted by Judah son of Hassenuah, second-in-command over the city.
- Joel from the tribe of Benjamin was an established leader
- These people, from Judah & Benjamin had land they gave up to serve
V. 10-14: From the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib; Jakin; and Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the supervisor of the Temple of God. Also 822 of their associates, who worked at the Temple. Also Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malkijah, along with 242 of his associates, who were heads of their families. Also Amashsai son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, and 128 of his outstanding associates. Their chief officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.
- The priests were all of the tribe of Levi but they were descendants of Aaron
- Zabdiel was the leader of the priests who moved permanently to the city
- Priestly families lived all over and traveled to the temple to serve [Zacheriah]
- As Priests they had a lot of local comfort they gave up to move to the city
- Big Sacrifice for them to move…
V. 15-18: From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni. Also Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were in charge of the work outside the Temple of God. Also Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zabdi, a descendant of Asaph, who led in thanksgiving and prayer. Also Bakbukiah, who was Mattaniah’s assistant, and Abda son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. In all, there were 284 Levites in the holy city.
- Lots of Levites… but only a quarter as many as the priests who came
- Levites did not have property, they lived in specified towns and were supported
- This is the list of ‘Non-Specific’ Levites…
V. 19-2: From the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and 172 of their associates, who guarded the gates. The other priests, Levites, and the rest of the Israelites lived wherever their family inheritance was located in any of the towns of Judah. The Temple servants, however, whose leaders were Ziha and Gishpa, all lived on the hill of Ophel.
- Gatekeepers were a special group of levites as well: [1 Chronicles 9:26]
- Temple Servants were another special group of levites
- The hill of Ophel was inside the city adjacent to the temple [lived near the work]
22 The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, a descendant of Asaph, whose family served as singers at God’s Temple. 23 Their daily responsibilities were carried out according to the terms of a royal command. 24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was the royal adviser in all matters of public administration.
- ‘Lead Levite’: Uzzi, descendant of Asaph [musical service 1st Chronicles 25:1]
- Another descendant of Asaph: The Sons of Asaph were a musical / poetic guild
- Pethahiah was connected to the King of Persia
- It is not a government of their own, the Persians were giving Judah some autonomy
25 As for the surrounding villages with their open fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba with its settlements, Dibon with its settlements, and Jekabzeel with its villages. 26 They also lived in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth-pelet, 27 Hazar-shual, Beersheba with its settlements, 28 Ziklag, and Meconah with its settlements.
- Towns around Jerusalem
29 They also lived in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, and Adullam with their surrounding villages. They also lived in Lachish with its nearby fields and Azekah with its surrounding villages. So the people of Judah were living all the way from Beersheba in the south to the valley of Hinnom.
- Province of Judah, part of the Persian Empire
31 Some of the people of Benjamin lived at Geba, Micmash, Aija, and Bethel with its settlements. 32 They also lived in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, Ono, and the Valley of Craftsmen. 36 Some of the Levites who lived in Judah were sent to live with the tribe of Benjamin.
- They evened out the levite distribution, sending them from Judah to Benjamin
- There is always a need for servants of God among his people
- God constantly calls HIS people to Go! Starting with Abram…
BIBLICAL PRINCIPALS 4 U TO APPLY!
God constantly calls HIS people to relocate for HIS purposes.
Biblical churches partner with God to send HIS people to places for HIS purposes.
Serving a people or a church is training that may be for another place. [Will Wang]
God calls some to go and some to stay but ALL to lead & serve.
God blesses the leaders & servants who relocate when HE calls them to.
Now matter where God’s people live, the center of their life is the worship of God.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ~ Jesus @ Matthew 28:18-20