Nehemiah Chapter 11

Gone to Mex & Back

“The Dwellers”

I believe it was no accident that my family, my friends Don and Diane, and I found ourselves living in Playas Santa Monica, an outlying community of Rosarito. Nor was it any accident that several missionary families lived in the same community. It was, as I interpreted it, a perfect environment to live and grow in, both physically, and even more important, spiritually. I felt I had died and gone to heaven. There we were, families from all around the country dwelling in Mexico, establishing churches and missions. We came from outside of Rosarito, extending as far as Canada; England; and the U.S.

We also shared the feeling that God called us together to dwell within the communities of Rosarito. Some missionaries spent two years working in orphanages; others started residential rehab and recovery programs, food distribution sites, and evangelized in the streets of Rosarito. Then, as if we were all on the same God-frequency, people were being called elsewhere. Some went back to the States to plant other churches; some moved a great distance away to help others with church plantings. Even my daughter’s family and I went our separate ways.

In Chapter 11, I saw a similar pattern in the lives of the Israelites. They had once lived in Jerusalem, and then the King of Babylon captured the city and took the captives away. This was the beginning of the 70-year period of captivity. When King Cyrus of Assyria captured Babylon, he, too, was aware that the powerful God of the Israelites was using him to send the captives back to Jerusalem so the rebuilding of the burned gates and wall could begin.

Hearing my friends talking about relocation, I sensed God nudging me to pray for them as they unquestionably followed Him and volunteered to help with church plants. More than that, I wanted to be a missionary to the missionaries. It might sound crazy, but I realized those individuals and families, dedicated to the physical and spiritual restoration of helping others, could use all the support they could get. Although organizations and churches often contributed monetary donations to missionaries, prayer and encouragement played an important part in the emotional and spiritual support.

Now as I draw nearer to the end of this Nehemiah study, I’m more aware that the LORD had His reasons for bringing us together, and then sending us out in different directions.

In John 10, Jesus identifies Himself as the good shepherd who provides a place of safety for His sheep to go in and out. “And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” What a great comfort to know our Shepherd calls us, leads us, and watches over us regardless of where we dwell.

 “For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” (Psa. 95:7)

NEH 11: DAY 41 READY, SET, READ!

Section I:  The People Dwelling in Jerusalem

1 Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities. 

2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

Although the leaders lived inside Jerusalem, the city needed a larger population to make an impression on those enemies who were watching the city come alive again. Nehemiah encouraged volunteers to cast lots so one out of ten who lived in the smaller towns would take up residence in the city. The others would continue to dwell in their own inherited land. To the people, this was a big deal and worthy of a special send-off.

3 These are the heads of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem. (But in the cities of Judah everyone dwelt in his own possession in their cities—Israelites, priests, Levites, Nethinim, and descendants of Solomon’s servants.) 4 Also in Jerusalem dwelt some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin. The children 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 children of Perez; 5 and 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 Shiloni. 6 All the sons of Perez who dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.

7 And 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; 8 and after him abbai and Sallai, nine hundred and twenty-eight. 

9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, and Jachin; 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the leader of the house of God. 

Nehemiah and the leaders came up with a plan for security, as well as a plan for re-vitalization. You couldn’t just have a bunch of volunteers moving into the city without having a purpose. They needed to be personally invested in the restored holy city. Again, work assignments were made, including the upkeep of the temple as a top priority.

12 Their brethren who did the work of the house were eight hundred and twenty-two; 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, 13 and his brethren, heads of the fathers’ houses, were two hundred and forty-two; and Amashai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and their brethren, mighty men of valor, were one hundred and twenty-eight. Their overseer was Zabdiel the son of one of the great men.

The Mighty Men of valor are mentioned frequently in the history of the Israelites, especially those extremely courageous men known as David’s Mighty Men. But David’s men weren’t the only men honored for their valor. The men who served God and risked their lives to protect the people were also among those who were honored.

15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the heads of the Levites, had the oversight of the business outside of the house of God; 17 Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer; Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.

There were 284 Levites in Jerusalem participating in the worship celebration. Note that Mattaiah, the son of a son of the son of Asaph, King David’s wisdom writer, held a position of honor to begin the thanksgiving with a prayer.

19 Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren who kept the gates, were one hundred and seventy-two.

The gates were rebuilt and in place, but still required regular maintenance. This was a job for the gatekeepers who patrolled the gates on their rounds on the look-out for trouble.

20 And the rest of Israel, of the priests and Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance. 21 But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel. And Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim. 22 Also the overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha, of the sons of Asaph, the singers in charge of the service of the house of God. 

23 For it was the king’s command concerning them that a certain portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day. 24 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king’s deputy in all matters concerning the people.

Which king gave that command? King David, and after David, Solomon carried out the king’s command so the singers would receive a daily portion similar to the Levites and priests’ portion.

Section II: The People Dwelling Outside Jerusalem

25 And as for the villages with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt in Kirjath Arba and its villages, Dibon and its villages, Jekabzeel and its villages; 26 in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth Pelet, 27 Hazar Shual, and Beersheba and its villages; 28 in Ziklag and Meconah and its villages; 29 in En Rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; in Azekah and its villages. They dwelt from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.

31 Also the children of Benjamin from Geba dwelt in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel, and their villages; 32 in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah; 33 in Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim; 34 in Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat; 35 in Lod, Ono, and the Valley of Craftsmen. 

36 Some of the Judean divisions of Levites were in Benjamin.

From the long list of villages, we get an idea of how large the surrounding area around Jerusalem was during Nehemiah’s time. They didn’t have GPS or mass-produced maps to refer to for directions or mileage, but now, if you want to know the distance between villages, go to www.freemaptools.com and type “How far is the distance between Jerusalem and (name of one of the above villages)?” Then click on “Distance by land.” For an even more direct distance, click “As the Crow Flies.” For example, from Beersheba to Jerusalem, a volunteer who came from the tribe of Judah may have to travel 54 miles. Travelling from Adullam to Jerusalem equals 24 miles. From Bethel to Jerusalem, a volunteer from the tribe of Benjamin would only travel 10 miles. Freetools does not appear to have access to all the data or perhaps some of the villages no longer exist, but there are other map apps you can play with.

NEH 11: DAY 42 CLASS NOTES & CONNECTIONS                         

The In-Dwellers and Outsiders 

The first two verses sum up the entire chapter:  1 Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

Nehemiah’s Urban Renewal Plan

Although the leaders already dwelt in Jerusalem, Nehemiah’s revitalization plan included recruiting more people to dwell in Jerusalem. To populate Jerusalem meant he would need the cooperation of all people who lived within the gates of the city and outside the city.

 Volunteers Wanted

Nehemiah asked specifically for volunteers to move from the country and surrounding villages to Jerusalem. Strategically, the plan could work for four reasons.

• Not all the houses were habitable, and to the human eye, it might appear that the city was still abandoned. To bring in volunteers would bring life to the city.
• The volunteers would also be able to repair the houses and clean up the rubbish that gave the city an appearance of having “lost the battle.”
• Volunteers could fill other jobs.
• Volunteers would be able to fight if Jerusalem was threatened.

 Opportunities Galore!

The heads of families who lived outside the gates took Nehemiah’s plan seriously, and cast lots to choose one man out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem. Why cast lots? Because the Israelites believed God would actually choose who would dwell in Jerusalem. “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” (Prov. 16:33). For the volunteers and population outside the gates, this was an all-around win-win situation.

Help Wanted!

Can you see the posters plastered on the abandoned houses, advertising job openings? Indeed, it was a great opportunity. Let’s look at available jobs from two perspectives: The physical and the spiritual. Jobs involving physical labor for the Israelites would include continued work on the restoration of the city. Jobs from the spiritual perspective today would include opportunities for Christians to serve Jesus. Jesus is also looking for carpenters, fishermen, shepherds to attend flocks, evangelists, mentors, care takers, teachers, and people with unique gifts to help others. Remember, Jesus will grant us the desires of our heart, but He’s the one who put the desire there in the first place. 

What type of work would you choose?

• Gatekeepers had a huge responsibility. As part of the security system (see Chapter 7) Nehemiah put the Gatekeepers in place first. What qualities was Nehemiah looking for in a gatekeeper? Integrity and faithfulness. At Jerusalem’s wall, there were three types of guards. 1) The men assigned to the gates; 2) the walking patrol around the wall; 3) the neighborhood-watch. 
•  Watchmen (see Chapters 7 and 10) were needed to enforce the laws and security of Jerusalem. People whom God has called to be spiritual watchmen are responsible for alerting others of danger. Like a shepherd protects the sheep, we need to be on guard to protect vulnerable Christians from the enemies’ spiritual attacks. 
• Laborers of the fields are the people who work the fields outside the city walls, yet may dwell inside the gates or in a village that has fields nearby. Anyone who has been a farmer or worked the fields, knows exactly what “hard labor” means. Spiritually-speaking the faithful stewards Jesus mentioned in John 12:41, are also referred to as “laborers.” He said, “The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few.” (Matt. 9:37) The parable Jesus told was about the faithful workers who shared God’s word with others. Whether you are the oldest evangelist in the world or a zealous new Christian eager to share God’s message, both would be paid the same wage, eternal life, no matter what time they showed up. Whether we are hired to start working at the beginning of the harvest or at the end, we will all be paid the same.
• Maintenance workers oversee the walls and gates and help keep them in good repair. Like a rancher or farmer walks the fence-line checking for gaps or areas in need of repair to keep, a worker in maintenance walks the perimeter of the walls and the city looking for cracks or gaps. God needs seasoned Christians to teach others how to inspect their own spiritual walls, and how to keep the enemy from breaking in or breaking down that wall.
• Carpenters, Merchants, Brick Layers, and many other positions call for a volunteers. The sky was the limit. If a volunteer had a special skill, they’d be in high demand. Imagine the possibilities for an entrepreneur to open a bakery or messenger service. One of the goals of rebuilding Jerusalem was to turn it into a thriving city once again.
• Men of Valor Wanted! Volunteers would also defend Jerusalem against her nation’s enemies.

After lots were cast, the volunteers and heads of households packed what they needed to set up housekeeping in Jerusalem. The air must have been filled with excitement as neighbors said goodbye and blessed the men for stepping up to volunteer. It may have been difficult for some of the volunteers who had resettled after living in exile to find themselves on the move again. No doubt, tears were shed when best friends and families were separated. People would reassure each other, “Don’t worry, we’ll come visit.” Or “You’ll see us on the Sabbath (or at one of the Festivals).”

Travel may have been impeded at first by a road less traveled, but once the Israelites started work on the wall, the roads would have improved from the caravans, camels or carts carrying supplies for the Israelites and lumber for Nehemiah’s governor’s residence. Or, perhaps increased travel along the main road resulted in more ruts or invited bandits to hide in the shadows. At any rate, this wasn’t the end of the world for the volunteer dwellers, but a new beginning.

Blessings!

(Vs. 2) And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

Warren Wiersbe, known for his Bible Study series, “Be,” said the best way to bless others was to be a blessing to them. Before the volunteers left their villages for Jerusalem, their friends and neighbors blessed them. The volunteers, in turn, blessed those people remaining in their villages by their selfless act of relocating that would bring honor to their home towns, and esteem to the volunteers.

How many ways are there to bless one another? Considering all that the men would be responsible for once they moved into their new dwellings, the villagers might have sent food with them for the journey, or maybe house-warming gifts of blankets.

We can pray for each other’s safety on the road or in the city; pray for wisdom or victory. Pray especially for God’s Presence and His powerful blessings to accompany your friends or even strangers who are going through a difficult time. A blessing can be in the form of a promise like when God spoke through Isaiah to assure the Israelites that “Judah , you will be built; Jerusalem, you will be inhabited.” (Isaiah 45:2). Ephesians 1:3 talks about how rich we are because of God’s blessings. “Blessed is the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.”

What Happened to the Outsiders(Vs. 20)

Have you ever had a neighbor who moved away and nobody heard from them for months. And one day you asked, “Does anyone know what happened to the Smiths?” Fortunately, that didn’t happen with the Outside Dwellers. They kept contact with the Inside Dwellers whenever appointed festival times and celebrations brought people to Jerusalem to worship together. During other times, the rest of Israel, representing the priests and Levites lived in the cities of Judah and everyone in the land they had inherited. Even the Nethinim dwelled in their own village.

Those moving to Jerusalem were getting a pretty good package deal. They would have a house to move into or finish repairing, a job to be proud of, and the honor of serving God in His city. Literally, all kinds of gates and doors would open for the new dwellers of Jerusalem.

NEH 11: DAY 43 NEHEMIAH & ME

July 13, 2017  Chapter 11 The In-Dwellers and Outsiders

Sometimes I forget that I’m where I’m supposed to be. I’ve always heard that the LORD knows the plans He has for me, but I never really got it until I read all of Jeremiah 29. God tells His people to make the best of their captivity.

“Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruits . . . that you may be increased there and no diminished . . . seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive; and pray to the LORD for it . . . For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD. Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you . . . And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart . . .  And I will bring you back out of captivity.”

This message isn’t so different today as it was in Jeremiah’s time right before the Babylonians captured Jerusalem.

Jesus emphasized how He prays for us, and how when He was leaving to go prepare our rooms, He would send another Helper. John 14:26. A Helper is like a GPS, giving us directions on our journey and keeping us from getting lost . . . again. When we live outside the spiritual wall, we are more susceptible to the powers of darkness and Satan’s lies and conspiracies. That’s why I’d rather live within the safety of the walls. Still, Nehemiah needed to re-populate the city and fill the empty houses so Jerusalem could prosper commercially and physically and spiritually. And abundantly.

In order for us to prosper or enjoy the abundant life Jesus offers, we need to dwell in Him. How did Jesus explain it? (John 14) “My Father dwells in Me, and I dwell in Him, and you dwell in Me.”

I can only imagine the grief the disciples felt when Christ was dragged away and separated from them. Imagine how close they were, sleeping, eating, walking, praying, learning from Him. He chose them. Christ wanted them to continue feeling His presence in their daily lives so He sent them the Holy Spirit.

Six things the Holy Spirit does:

• He will be our Helper (we can call on Him anytime)
• As the Spirit of Truth, He will teach us all things.
• By bringing to remembrance all things that Jesus has said
• He will testify that Christ is the Son of God through Scripture and Prophecy
• The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin and righteousness,
• And when we are convicted and know the difference, He will bring judgment.

Really? Just six things? I think that’s a short list, but the words “All Things” cover just that. In fact, I think this was covered in another chapter, but when it comes to scripture, repetition never hurts. It’s part of the Holy Spirit teaching us. As I get older, my earthly memory may become frail and I’ll be prone to forgetfulness, but I don’t have to worry because the Holy Spirit will bring “to remembrance all things that Jesus said.” My job is to keep reading and learning. “By knowledge the (spiritual) rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Prov. 24

Dec. 1, 2017  Closure & New Beginnings

Yahoo. First day of the last month of 2017. LORD, You have been so good today, yesterday, all year, all the months of my life. Wanted to meditate on how You helped everyone, multitudes of people (thousands) wanting to be healed and desperately wanting to see and hear You. If I could be that desperate and have such longing to see and hear You. (You have healed me many times, physically, mentally, spiritually) Sometimes, no, most of the time on a one-to-one audience with You, yet I’m sure You are healing others throughout the earth (and other worlds) simultaneously.

You come to each of us who asks (and sometimes even if we don’t ask) and You make us feel special, loved, comforted and cared for.

And when the crowds get unruly or too demanding, when they want confirmation of Your Kingship, or when You need to be refreshed, You seek solitude.

SOLITUDE. I need to remember that when I feel overwhelmed.

Feb. 17, 2018  Saturday Morning

Anxious to get going to clean at the farm, but first sat down to pray. Tested myself on this week’s memory verses.

(Psa. 117:2) The truth of the LORD endures forever.

I said, “Yes! Awesome. No matter where I open the Bible, it will be truth, relevant to today.” If the Holy Spirit gives us the sense or understanding of a verse, then it will indeed be the truth. The Holy Spirit can speak nothing but the truth.

Dr. Wiersbe wrote something about random Bible readings, and how we needed to be sure that we are being led by the Spirit when studying Scripture, and that our random readings weren’t just coincidences. I agree. Yet, I feel the H.S. often chooses a verse for me to study when I open the Bible randomly. So many times, I’m led back to a verse, and there’s no marker or the page isn’t crimped or dog-eared. It all makes “SENSE.”

(Lam. 3:22-23) Through the LORD’s mercies, we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.

Jeremiah wrote Lamentations after the fall of Jerusalem. He witnessed the fulfillment of the prophecy that Babylon would conquer the City and all the people would become captives, marking the beginning of 70 years in captivity. It broke Jeremiah’s heart. I cried for his pain. Yet, such beautiful verses. God does not forget us. He renews us daily with His love and compassion.

April 13, 2019

Last night in bed, I prayed for discernment, understanding and wisdom to stay on Your path. I feel conflicted, LORD, about this membership thing, committing to one church. It’s like belonging to the YMCA; there are many facilities throughout the States and some I prefer more than others. Some churches are old and rotting with false teachings. Others are adding new rooms to allow for more teaching, whether or not that teaching is the Spirit of the LORD or the wrong spirit or the enemy trying to trick us.

Aha! Remember the dream you gave me in 1998 or 99 where I attended many churches inside a mall-type setting. Catholic, Methodist, Assembly, Baptist . . . each one offered a different form of worship.

In another part of the mall, a clerk in an auto (or hardware) store was helping people. My spirit recognized Him as You. Your voice, Your tenderness, Your mercy. (In fact, I found the dream paper, the other day with my interpretation.) How strange to see You in the middle of the mall, yet not strange, You are always there wherever we need You. In the middle of the lake or among the tomb stones and rocks, or in the midst of a crowd. Always there when we need You. Like a servant or clerk, You ask, “How can I help You? Our answer should be “How can I help You, LORD?”

You are so good. Thank You for leading us to the answer that comes from the question or turbulence in our hearts. Lead me, LORD, besides still waters.

Church membership is not about which church to join, but where I can serve you best or where you are calling me. No matter where I go, I pray that You will go ahead of me.

April 19, 2019  Outer and Inner Dwelling

Lately, I’ve put so much emphasis on the inner dwelling of the Spirit, I’ve almost ignored the importance of the outer realm where the Spirit of God also dwells.

May 22, 2019 Blessings! All for One and One for All!

Two chapters down, two to go! Yesterday, just when I was a step away from saving Chapter 11, and calling it “Done,” the Holy Spirit reminded me that I had overlooked an important lesson. At the beginning of Classroom Notes, I wrote that verses 1 and 2 summed up the entire chapter. Oh-oh. Tap on the shoulder. “Uh, Jill, you might want to look at verse 2 a little closer. You’re leaving something out:”

So I did. What I found was, “And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem."

Then I considered why blessings were so important, and what kind of blessings there were, and was there a difference between God’s blessings on an individual or a village blessing?

Whew. I’m so very thankful that I researched more because after my mini-study on verse 2, I came away feeling very blessed. I realize now that blessings are the icing on God’s cake. Chapter 11, “Blessings” has taught me more than all the chapters and words combined.

LORD, help me remember there are many ways to bless people, and many people who hunger for Your blessings, but are afraid they can’t afford it. Most of all, may I remember, “Bless the LORD, O my soul!” Thank you.

YOUR TURN!   WALL CHECK. Can you look in a mirror and see how much you’ve grown? Maybe not physically, but can you sense you’ve grown spiritually? Do you feel you’ve grown in your personal relationship with the LORD, since you’ve been restoring your spiritual wall? Take a few minutes to go back and read some your journal entries. Sum up in a few lines, how you are feeling about yourself?

NEH 11: DAY 44 PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE

INSPIRATIONAL VERSE: NEH 11:3 For it was the king’s command concerning them that a certain portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day.  

Calling All Singers and Songwriters

There were 284 Levites on duty, preparing for Chapter 12’s big worship celebration. Much of that will be covered in Chapter 12’s Class Notes. At this time in Chapter 11, a lot of preparation is going on for the first worship service reinstated by Nehemiah. Mattaniah, the great-grandson of *Asaph (King David’s very talented wisdom-writer) had the honor of starting the thanksgiving ceremony with a prayer. Remember in Chapter 10, at the sealing of the covenant, the Israelites promised to provide an offering of the grain, of new wine and oil as payment to the priests and the gatekeepers. Under King David’s command, the singers also received a portion or daily quota of the grain, wine and oil.

King David Dances with Maidservants

It was evident that King David had a soft spot in his heart for the singers and dancers. At one time, before his falling-out with King Saul, David the shepherd boy was the only harp player and singer who could soothe the savage beast that possessed King Saul. After David became king, he brought the Ark of the Covenant to the City of God with great celebration and offerings and sacrifices and dancing. Saul’s daughter, Michal, protested that her husband, David the King, had shamed himself dancing in front of the maidservants, King David reminded her that God had appointed him as ruler, and “Therefore I will play music before the LORD, and I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.” (2 Sam. 6:12-23)

*Asaph’s Prayer: Psalm 80:3, 7, and 19

Restore us, O God of Hosts, cause Your Face to shine, And we shall be saved!

Congratulations! You’re almost there. Chapter 11 was all about blessings, and especially the blessings that come from volunteering. Today, consider volunteering by helping out in a food pantry or food line to feed the hungry. How about working in a distribution center that helps families get a fresh start.

“The LORD said my LORD, sit at My right hand till  I make Your enemies Your footstool . . .

“Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power.”

 (David’s Psalm 110:1, 3)