I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (v.12-14)
– Notice the repeated “Christ Jesus”, unlike the other apostles who knew Him as Jesus first then came to know Him as Lord. Paul met Him after His resurrection, and came to know Him as Jesus. That’s when he understood that he was a guilty, lawbreaker. He violated all of God’s laws against heaven and earth. He did claim ignorance, but he did not claim that ignorance made him innocent of the guilt.
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (v.15)
– This is one of the five “trustworthy” statements in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus. It was a likely a creed or key doctrinal confession of the first century church. The Lord Himself said that He “came to seek and save the lost” and that He “did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (v.16-17)
– Paul was saved so that God could display His grace and mercy to others. He saved the worst, so that no one can claim that some people are just too far gone or too bad to be saved. Paul became a living testimony to light the way for others to go from death to life. His testimony is recorded 6 other times in the New Testament. God be praised!
This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (v.18-20)
– Timothy was called by God to ministry and gifted to continue the gospel in the next generation when the apostles would be gone. His “good conscience” would be a rudder to steer him around the rocks of sin and lies. But some rejected the faith (the content and doctrine of the truth, perhaps this very creed) and destroyed themselves. H & A were spiritual catastrophes. They turned away to lies and Paul put them out of the church with redemptive intent. Paul was a blasphemer and was taught by God not to blaspheme. And God would do the same for them, while the work of God would continue and the church’s well-being safeguarded.
This statement is completely reliable and should be universally accepted – Christ Jesus entered the world to rescue sinners. I realize that I was the worst of them all. (v. 15, JB Phillips)
– Paul formerly regarded the Nazarenes as a dangerous cult. He met the Nazarene and was never the same again. He had been the Sanhedrin’s chief tormentor. Blood had covered his hands. This verse describes a sure reality. How sure is it? Think about the lives of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. How the knew Him? The effects He had on them. How reliable is the record/testimony of those four men? Without them, we would know almost nothing about Jesus of Nazareth. The father of apologetics, Simon Greenleaf, Harvard law professor, put these men on trial and applied all the laws of evidence. His conclusion: “by all the laws of evidence, these four men are absolutely credible witnesses.” Have you accepted this truth? The pardon is available to you, but will never be compelled upon you. You must repent and believe for yourself.
Summary Points:
– No one is too bad to be saved; but perhaps too good?
– We face controversies because we hold on to this creed. The strife distracts us and tempts us to ignore the next world.
– Have you fully accepted this truth? Have you committed your life to follow Christ?
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope.
This is a declaration of his truest identity: SENT for Christ, by Christ, of Christ
He didn’t appoint Himself
HE RECOGNIZES WHO GOD MADE HIM TO BE
He is committed to obedience [He does as God commands]
Paul’s theology: God and Christ are known to be ONE
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
What does Paul mean His ‘True’ child in the faith? [Sonship in that culture]
He has seen the reality of Timothy’s faith from His actions
Paul knows Timothy HAS received: Grace / Mercy / Peace… FROM GOD!
This is why Paul is entrusting so much responsibility to Timothy [PROVEN]
Paul trusts what He tells Timothy to do for himself & others, will be enacted
3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.
Keep on doing what I asked you to do:
Stay @ Ephesus
Teach Certain Men… we assume they know who they are talking about
Non biblical stuff [tradition]
Jewish people put a lot of weight on genealogies
These things do not help people grow in Christ! [What does?]
5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
THE goal of Christian Discipleship: LOVE
Real Love, God patterned Love
Pure Heart / Good Conscience / Sincere Faith
Only God can make this happen!
The goal of ‘Their’ instruction is the same for Midtown Church
6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Why does Timothy need to teach these men? They are creating bad culture!
They want to interpret the Torah without understanding ‘The Author’
Their pride is driving them… [they want to be teachers] not a desire from God
What they are doing is ‘Fruitless’…God’s people are called to bear fruit [Jn. 15]
8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, [the way God meant it to be used] 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane…
The Law [Torah] is good when used as God intended…
The Scripture is not the problem…people misusing it are [Gun Control]
The key to using The Law as God intended: Not for those God makes righteous
It is to expose the rebellious, those who mock their creator, openly against God
Broad labels of people…so let’s look at the specific behaviors of such people
The law is a schoolmaster teaching us to recognize our need for Christ. Once we surrender to Christ, we do no require that particular tutoring any longer.
Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. ~ Galatians 3:24-25
THE LAW WAS MADE:
…for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and for immoralmen [fornicators] and for homosexuals and for kidnappers and for liars and for perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
These are ‘Lifestyles’, not giving in to temptation at times
Dishonoring and neglect
Now we are talking about murder = killing for your reasons
Sex between a man and a woman outside of marriage
Sex between people of the same gender
Human traffickers / slave-masters
Scammers /con artists
Corruptors of legal systems
SUMMARY / APPLICATION
Paul’s entire life purpose and identity flowed from His Faith In Christ.
~ Should every Christian live this way or just Paul? How about You?
Timothy, at a young age, duplicated Paul’s commitment to Christ.
~ Should every Christian respond to discipleship this way?
Timothy was charged with creating and enforcing standards for Biblical Discipleship.
~ How important is it for a Body of Christ to teach the right things?
Timothy was to demonstrate the God intended use of Torah In Light of Christ
~ How well do you understand the whole message of the Old & New Testaments?
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Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for His service. ~ Nehemiah 13:14
Why does Nehemiah ask God not to wipe out what he did?
Because it was for ‘God’s Place’ & ‘God’s Glory’ in the lives of God’s people
Not self promotion! Nehemiah has God’s heart for God’s people [CH. 1]
Nehemiah understood what is best for God’s people, for Christ’s people
To live by God’s commands, ordinances and principals [HIS will & ways]
We have seen God re-constitute His people, in His place [Jerusalem] and they proclaimed HIS glory in dedicating the wall! The nation is one in repentance and committing to live based on God’s will and ways…
In last week’s passage we heard what happened when Nehemiah went back to Persia to visit King Artaxerxes. The High Priest had given place to God’s enemies in God’s Holy Temple BIG DEAL. The communal system that enabled everyone to share in worship had been corrupted and hijacked to benefit a local official [Tobiah] Nehemiah throws all of Tobiah’s stuff out and re-consecrates the Temple, restoring the regular support of the levites to serve.
Nehemiah 13:15-31 [CJB]
15 During this time, I saw in Judah some people who were treading winepresses on the Sabbath, also bringing in heaps of grain and loading donkeys with it, likewise wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads; and they were bringing them into Jerusalem on the day of the Sabbath. On the day when they were planning to sell the food, I warned them not to. 16 There were also living there people from Tyre who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the people in Judah and even in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah had gone back to Susa after The Wall was dedicated, then returned
These activities directly violate the letter and the spirit of sabbath practice
God’s people were letting ungodly people dictate culture to them
Dishonoring of The Sabbath is a attack at the cornerstone of Jewish Culture
The Sabbath serves as a weekly reminder of God’s Sovereignty & Care
17 I disputed with the nobles of Judah, demanding of them, “What is this terrible thing you are doing, profaning the day of the Sabbath? 18 Didn’t your ancestors do this, and didn’t our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you are bringing still more fury against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”
Nehemiah called to account those who were allowing the sabbath breaking
Nehemiah basically says: ‘Haven’t you learned??’
It was a foundational part of a walk with God: the honoring of the Sabbath
What is the theology behind the Sabbath for a Christ follower? [RE-CREATION]
It is about taking time out from your normal work life to focus on God
We don’t take a break from ministry on the Sabbath…
19 So when the gates of Jerusalem began to grow dark before the Sabbath, I ordered that the doors be shut; and I ordered that they not be reopened until after the Sabbath. I put some of my servants in charge of the gates, to see to it that no loads be brought in on the Sabbath. 20 The merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem once or twice, 21 until I warned them, “Why are you spending the night by the wall? Do it again, and I’ll use force against you!” From then on they stopped coming on the Sabbath.
Nehemiah is moved to action
He is going to regulate the behavior of the people to build a habit
The threat of force… is it Christ-like?
You have to confront outside influences that dishonor the God of the Bible
You Gotta Fight…For Your God: YAHWEH!
Satan influences bullies…when you stand up to them they retreat
22 Then I ordered the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard the gates, in order to keep the day of the Sabbath holy. My God, remember this too for me, and have mercy on me in keeping with the greatness of your grace!
To make sure this practice didn’t start back up, ‘Spiritual Oversight’ put in place
Nehemiah asks God to validate his action to keep the sabbath holy
He knows he is not worthy but pleads for God’s undeserved favor [Grace]
23 Also during this time I saw the men Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab; 24 As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them knew how to speak the language of Judah, but only the language of his own people. 25 I disputed with them and cursed them, and I beat some of them up and pulled out their hair. Then I made them swear by God, “You will not give your daughters as wives for their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves.”
Ashdod = Philistines [God ordered the Israelites to eliminate them]
Ammon & Moab: Last week we heard they were to be excluded…
The intermarriage was altering their culture [language is one example]
God’s people cannot stand for the degradation of their Scripture based culture
These are examples of what we call ‘Slippery Slopes’
Nehemiah argues, curses & physically reprimands them [corporal punishment]
Then he makes them swear an oath by God: They must have been persuaded!
26 Wasn’t it by doing these things that Solomon king of Israel sinned? There was no king like him among many nations, and his God loved him, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin. 27 Are we to give in to you and let you continue in this very great evil, breaking faith with our God by marrying foreign women?
The example from God’s Word is definitive
Even the Greatest King of Israel compromised his obedience for foreign wives
So why would you even think about doing it???
28 One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib, the high priest, had become son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; so I drove him out of my presence. 29 ‘My God, remember them; because they have defiled the office of the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites’. 30 Thus I cleansed them of everything foreign, and I had the priests and the Levites resume their duties, each one in his appointed task. 31 I also made provision for the delivery of wood at stated times, and for the first-fruits.
Grandson of the High Priest married a Horonite [from Horoniam, a city in Moab]
Nehemiah exiled him from Jerusalem / removal of the corrupt influence
He asks God to enact judgement on Eliashib, Joiada and his son [spiritual]
Nehemiah stepped in to personally get things right
Cleansed of foreign influences, the Levites and Priests resumed their duties…
My God, remember me favorably.
God, I have lived based on your will and ways
God, I have stood up for YOU and your Word
SUMMARY:
If you belong to God, YOU form your life around HIS Word. [Streams of Culture]
God has blessed HIS people with the principal of Sabbath. [Work 6 days, Rest 1]
For God’s people, marriage joins man & woman based on a shared worldview.
Values and culture that dishonors God are to be confronted and fought against.
Having Studied The Book of Nehemiah…
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO LIVE?
Ways Christ’s Church is to live from Nehemiah
LIVING BY PRAYER = Praying as God’s Word Directs [His Heart]
LIVING BY GOING = Kingdom Focus & Purpose Directing Life Choices
LIVING BY WORKING = Kingdom Building Where God Places YOU
LIVING BY CARING = Treating People Based on God’s Standards
LIVING BY WARRING = Prepared to Fight for God’s Principals and Purposes
LIVING BY GOD’S WORD = Commitment to Reading & Applying Scripture
LIVING BY REPENTING = Humility & Contrition Before Your God
LIVING BY WORSHIPING = Lifestyle of Giving Thanks, Praise & Glory to God
LIVING FOR COMMUNITY = Financial, Emotional & Spiritual Faith Family
LIVING BY GOD’S WORD = Realigning YOUR life in serious, meaningful ways
LIVING FOR GOD’S HONOR = Culture & Lifestyle that Fully Honors Christ
LIVING BY RENEWAL = Building & Rebuilding A Walk with Christ
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13 On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, 2 for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.
4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah, 5 prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.
6 While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king 7 and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
10 I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. 11 So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. 13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers.
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.
Summary points: Recognize your sin Let God’s word bring you to action Leaders are not perfect If God calls you, listen Sin spreads easily
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. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.
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….with trumpets…..with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. At the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate on the east.
Then 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….and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half the officials with me; and the priests….with trumpets…..and the singers sang…..And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.
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. 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. 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. 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.
Summary Points:
-Prepare/purify yourself for the gatherings of God’s people
-Your labor in the Lord will never be in vain (I Cor 15:58)
-Rejoice in the Lord. It is a gift (Rom 15:13), a fruit (Gal 5:22-23), a command (Phil 4:4), and a privilege (Ps 122:1)
-Pray for renewal/revival in the church and the nation
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The text today shows how different people have different roles to play. There are certain people who are supposed to be priests, others high priests. Some Levites were called to sing, others to stand watch and keep the gates.
We see how God is faithful in keeping his promises.
This passage is meant to memorialize the people to whom the ancient Israelites owed, through God’s providence, the “happy revival and re-establishment of their religion among them”. – Matthew Henry
Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
12These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: [22 men]. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.
• Right away we see that this is a complicated passage. I’m going to do my best to walk us through the names and the players and not overwhelm.
• Nehemiah is remembering the leaders who contributed to the restoration of Gods people.
8And the Levites: Jeshua [and 5 others], who with his brothers was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 And [two men] and their brothers stood opposite them in the service. 10 And Jeshua was the [great-great-great grand] father of Jaddua.
• This is the record of the renewal of the ancient practices of God’s people. David had set apart groups of people who were to minister at the temple by singing praises. You can read about this in 1 Chronicles 24 and 25.
• All of this shows that God was watchful over them in their time in exile. He preserved the line of Aaron to make sure there could be a high priest. He saved Levites who could serve as priests in the temple.
12-21And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers’ houses: [of the 20 Levites, 20 sons]
• We’re now getting a run down on the second generation. Joiakim is HP2.
• This is something truly miraculous. 20 fathers left behind 20 good sons who would be good priests for the people. Only one or two are left out from the previous list, people disagree about how to interpret the list.
• But these men are recorded because they were faithful in serving God’s people. God was faithful in providing this young, newly restored nation good leaders to get them off to a healthy start.
22 In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua (four generations of high priests: from the building of the wall to the time this was written), the Levites were recorded as heads of fathers’ houses; so too were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 As for the sons of Levi, their heads of fathers’ houses were written in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Johanan [HP4] the son of Eliashib [HP3].
• v22 begins to tell us about the leaders from the third generation onward. The Levites and the priests are mentioned, implying they too were holding fast to their duties.
24 And the chiefs of the Levites: [three men], 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. 25 [6 men] were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates. 26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra, the priest and scribe.
• Reminder, there are a few roles the Levites can have. The whole tribe was set apart for God. They didn’t get their own land and they had religious duties they were expected to do, things like singing, serving as guards or carrying the holy items.
o Next step up, a group of the Levites were priests. They offered the sacrifices at the temple, taught the people and maintained the temple.
o Lastly is the high priest, and that was always passed down to the oldest living son upon death all the way down the line of Aaron, the brother of Moses.
o “The work of God shall never fail for want of instruments”
These people who were on fire for the Lord, who built the wall, had only one avenue to express their gratitude. Those people could only be thankful for their ancestors who were the remnant of Israel, remaining faithful in a foreign land under persecution. They could only memorialize their ancestors who came before them to rebuild the temple.
Hebrews 6:12 commands us to pay close attention to the leaders of the past
“[be] imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Takeaways
Remember your spiritual ancestors
• We cannot repay the debt; we can only pay it forward. Likewise, we are to go out and make disciples.
God’s work cannot fail.
• God told his people how he was to be worshiped. He sets the rules, but he’ll also see to it that it’s fulfilled
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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!
Nehemiah 11
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
Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing…on the seals are the names of Nehemiah the governor….the priests….the Levites….the chiefs of the people….and the rest of the people….all who have separated themselves….(v.9:38-10:28a)
….all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his rules and statutes. (v.28b-29)
We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. (v.30)
And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. (v.31)
We will also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. (v.32-33)
We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground….to the house of the LORD….the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the first of our dough, and our contributions, and to bring the Levites the tithes from our ground….We will not neglect the house of our God. (v.34-39)
Summary Points
-We will pursue honest, right, God-honoring relationships.
-We will honor God in all our business dealings. Put God first.
-Our identity as God’s people is vital. We will not neglect the house of our God.
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22 “And you [God] gave [Israel] kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23 You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess.
Genesis 13:14 The LORD said to Abram…, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.
24 So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. 25 And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
26 “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies.
27 Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer.
Dueuteronomy 28:15-36 (paraphrase)
“if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God… the Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies… and you shall be only oppressed and robbed continually… a nation that you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your ground and of all your labors”
27b And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies.
28 But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies.
29 And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey.
Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?
30 Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. 31 Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
32 “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33 Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them.
35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.
38 “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.
Takeaways:
Set up reminders of the things God is doing and has done
We have a God worth praising. Find these characteristics of God in scripture:
• He is faithful.
• He is merciful.
• He is caring.
• His love is steadfast.
• He is just.
• He keeps his promises, to our earthly benefit and detriment (his discipline).
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When God’s people are constantly exposed to Scripture and Spirit Led Instruction & Interpretation… amazing things happen! The principals found in Scripture guide us: Truths about God & US. The story God tells in His Word brings a response by His Spirit. The response is important but don’t miss exactly what the story tells us about God.
STORY & RESPONSE…They had been soaking in God’s Word [Torah / Pentateuch]
THEY GATHER AND FORM A COMMUNAL BOND AROUND GOD’S WORD…God’s Word – Repentance / Confession – Praise – Sacrifice…They form / reform Community Based on His Name…BY HIS WORD !
This is the end of The Festival of Tabernacles / Booths / Sukkot
shelters was to commemorate the time the people of Israel lived in the wilderness for 40 years sustained by God alone.
Last Week…
And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths… And there was very great rejoicing. And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he [Ezra] read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule. ~ Neh. 8:17-18 [Lev. 23:33-36 & 39-43]
Nehemiah 9:1-21 [ESV]
1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. 2 And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
Time for the feasting to end and the full impact of God’s Word to have it’s effect
Everyone participated [Important factor]
They fasted [self denial to create dependance on God]
Sack cloth & dirt on the head [show of contrition and humility]
They separated themselves from all foreigners [set apart = Holy]
They confessed their own SIN… AND the community / nation’s SIN
They Got real with God’s Word! It prepared them for this solemn assembly…
3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God. 4 On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God.
3 Hours: Sanding and listening to the Book of The Law: The Pentateuch [1st 5]
3 Hours Confession & Worship
The Levites led the prayers of confession & worship [Emotional & Active]
5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said,
Levites = Ministers / Worship Leaders….in both list who comes 1st?
Here is how the rest of the day is going to go…
THIS WEEK PREVIEW:
2nd: Declaring What He Has Done
3rd: How His People Have Failed Him
4th: Recognition of God’s Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness
NEXT WEEK PREVIEW
5th: People Fail Pt. 2
6th: God’s Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness AND Judgement / Exile
7th: Repentance / Ownership & ‘Re-Covenanting’
Here is what is declared by the ‘Leading Levites’
“Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You are the Lord, You alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and You preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships You.”
Posture of Honoring…’Standing Up’ for something [Wholehearted / Whole Bodied]
1st statement about God: Self-Existent / Eternal [both ways]
Based on Who God IS, HIS Name, is to be blessed, glorified, exalted, praised…
2nd statement about God: The TRIUNE God alone created & preserves ALL!
Because THEY know the fullness of YOUR creation, all heaven worships YOU
They Declared Foundational Truth about God [From HIS Word]…Now His Story of God’s personal relationship with His people
7 “You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before You, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept Your promise, for You are righteous.”
9 “And You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, 10 and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for You knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers.
Quick synopsis of the ‘Egypt Years’… the ten plagues up to Passover
‘Our fathers’ was Moses & Aaron and they were representing Yahweh
You made a Name for Yourself, as it is to this day.
Yahweh distinguished Himself as the one and only God of the universe
The Name God made for Himself among people of the world: Omnipotent
11 You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and You cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters.”
No one could have even imagined the idea of what God did [Creative]
There was one group of people God protected and another HE destroyed
The archeological evidence has been found, it happened
12 “By a pillar of cloud You led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go.”
Once the Egyptians were no longer a problem there was the natural world
Every day the pillar of cloud protected them from the sun & heat
Every night the pillar of fire kept them warm & safe
These are no shabby miracles…they demonstrate God’s care for His people
13 “You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 14 and You made known to them Your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses Your servant.”
The coming down…condescending to the level of His people for RELATIONSHIP
God’s Ways, Will & Rules are the best possible thing for us: Right, True & Good!
They mention only one of all the commandments Sabbath [balance]
They place great importance on the Law of Moses [synopsis is ok but…]
15 “You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and You told them to go in to possess the land that You had sworn to give them.”
God supernaturally fed them and produced water…
God proves He takes care of His chosen people that walk with Him in relationship
God says: Go take this great land, I have promised it to your ancestors…
16 “But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey Your commandments. 17 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that You performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt.”
Instead of dealing with the truth about God they presumed wrong things of Him
They forgot what God had done
They wanted to go back to slavery in Egypt…How about you?
“But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. 18 Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your god who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies,”
God people declare God’s character!
He kept his part of the covenant relationship with them… even when they did not
Worst possible open rebellion!
19 “You in Your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. 20 You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. 21 Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.”
Even after ALL the evil things they did, God STILL continued to care for them!!!
The generation that rebelled did not enter but their children did
PRINCIPAL & APPLICATION
Constant exposure to God’s Word releases great joyousness & solemness. A Biblical relationship with Christ as His disciple is a balanced life of both.
Model Christ’s balance and share the joy & seriousness of life. [Jn. 1:14 & Rom.12:15]
PRINCIPAL & APPLICATION
Constant exposure to God’s Word in community will leads to humility before God that brings confession & worship. Scripture should lead us in our approach God.
Develop a habit of Word based Confession & Worship. [Ps. 139:23-24 & Hosea 14:1-2]
PRINCIPAL & APPLICATION
Constant exposure to God’s Word shows us how personally and supernaturally God protects and cares for His people in relationship. God promises to care for those He calls to be His people.
Trust God to provide rather than your planing and resources. [Philippians 4:12-13]
PRINCIPAL & APPLICATION
Constant exposure to God’s Word reminds us of our stubborn disobedience to God’s revealed expectations. Our need for ‘SELF’ is proven to be destructive.
Honestly hold Yourself to God’s standard not the world’s. [Romans 12:1-3]
PRINCIPAL & APPLICATION
Constant exposure to God’s Word shows us over and over again what a graceful, merciful, forgiving and loving God He is. He is bigger than our sin, just as He has always been!
Develop a habit of thanksgiving for God’s Grace in Christ. [1 Thess. 5:16-18]
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