Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem was a great start, but unless people actually move into the city, Nehemiah would have failed to restore Jerusalem. It is interesting. The people all had established their home elsewhere already. Most were not living in Jerusalem when it was in ruins. The leaders set the example by moving into Jerusalem. But they still needed people to move. They selected volunteers by casting lots.
This is actually a good reminder for us even today. There is much work we can do for the LORD, but if we don’t engage the people, we often have not actually accomplished the task completely! What good is it to build a community center or place to meet for worship if we don’t bring the people?
Time Passes; Heads of Provinces
1Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities. 2And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
3Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah each lived on his own property in their cities—the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. 4Some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; 5and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. 6All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 able men.
7Now these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah; 8and after him Gabbai and Sallai, 928. 9Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second in command of the city.
10From the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, 11Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the leader of the house of God, 12and their kinsmen who performed the work of the temple, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, 13and his kinsmen, heads of fathers’ households, 242; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14and their brothers, valiant warriors, 128. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.
15Now from the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God; 17and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the leader in beginning the thanksgiving at prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18All the Levites in the holy city were 284.
19Also the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren who kept watch at the gates, were 172.
Outside Jerusalem
20The rest of Israel, of the priests and of the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each on his own inheritance. 21But the temple servants were living in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants.
22Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of God. 23For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the song leaders day by day. 24Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king’s representative in all matters concerning the people.
25Now as for the villages with their fields, some of the sons of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26and in Jeshua, in Moladah and Beth-pelet, 27and in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its towns, 28and in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns, 29and in En-rimmon, in Zorah and in Jarmuth, 30Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba as far as the valley of Hinnom. 31The sons of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, at Bethel and its towns, 32at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35Lod and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36From the Levites, some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin.
Reflecting on this scripture can remind us of the importance of people being engaged in any of our work for God. There are people that lead but also people that have many other roles to play. They are all needed. In the scripture above it is gatekeepers, priests, Levites, and general audience to live in Jerusalem. There are people we need to work with and alongside us, and there are people we are trying to serve.
What work are you doing for God? your church or community? What are the key roles for people to play as you accomplish these works? Do you have a plan to manage the change for the people involved and to engage them? Are you trying to do this alone? or do you have the right team around you? We could also ask if you are part of the team helping whoever is leading!
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, please help us as Your people to stand together and work toward common goals that bring glory to You and help one another. Please help us to bond together in unity. Help bring about the right people to support and lead whatever works You call us to do! Help us to understand and play the role You have for each of us. Some will lead, some will support in key roles, some will support in more indirect ways, like the people who moved back into Jerusalem. Help lead Your people through change, which can be hard, as it was hard for many to leave behind their homes to move into Jerusalem. Amen.
Shalom
Devotion by John in service to Christ
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