Nehemiah Chapter 7 * Neighborhood Watch
Nehemiah Chapter 7
Gone to Mex & Back
“The Neighborhood Watch”
In my “gated” community of about 50 homes, we depended on the guards to open and close the gate and be aware of who came and went. Although we had lots of construction going on and daily deliveries and people coming up from the beach, the traffic was minimal. Playas Santa Monica was the kind of neighborhood where kids played soccer in the streets and friends carried on long conversations in front of their gates or dog-walkers gathered at the street intersections to share news. Still, we were security-minded when it came to watching out for our neighbors.
One day, I was outside working when Debbie stopped by. A couple of minutes later, Robert joined us in front of my gate. He mentioned that he had seen a man, carrying a backpack, go into Marty’s house.
“Really?” I asked, because I knew that neighbor was out of town. We talked about the mystery man a little more, and wondered why he had gone into Marty’s house. Since the guards at the gate were elsewhere, I suggested we check it out. “There’s three of us. Let’s make sure this guy isn’t up to something.” My friends agreed, and three of us ran a block down the street. Just as I suspected, Marty’s car was gone, verifying he wasn’t home. Cautiously, we approached the door and found it unlocked, raising even more suspicion. We entered quietly, but anyone would have known we were there because we started calling out, “Marty? Are you home?” I opened a closet door, and peered in. Nothing but linens. Meanwhile, Deb and Robert scouted around. Like me, they’d never been in the house before, but we planned to leave no stone unturned in our investigation. The two-story house was quiet, except for the sound of our slamming closet doors and calling for our friend.
Satisfied the robber wasn’t downstairs, we imagined he would be rifling through valuables in the upstairs bedroom. “Sh-h,” we said, laying a finger across our lips. “Let’s check upstairs.” Robert started up the concrete stairs first, Deb and I followed, once more warning whoever might be up there that we were coming. “Marty?” Before we reached the top, we saw someone stumbling from a room. Only it wasn’t an intruder, it was Marty, squinting at us as if we were part of a dream or his imagination.
“Are you alright?” I asked him.
“Yes. I was asleep. What . . . ?”
Robert started explaining and pretty soon Deb and I were adding to his story of how we happened to be in Marty’s house uninvited. Marty looked pained by our explanation. He said he stayed home with a migraine, and let a friend take his car for a trip to the States.
“But what about that stranger? The man with the backpack?” Deb asked.
Without a word, Marty walked toward another room, peeked in, then turned to face us. “I hired him to do work on the bathroom,” Marty said. “He only speaks Spanish.” To prove Marty right, a younger man wearing a bandana on his head, dressed in a dark-colored work shirt and jeans, stood in the frame of the bathroom door, a baffled look on his face. A look that couldn’t compete with our red faces and wide eyes and open mouths. And then I remembered an Avengers movie where Robert Downey Jr. was always apologizing. Fortunately for me, the movie had Spanish sub-titles, so I called out to the young man, “Lo siento, lo siento,” before he disappeared back into the bathroom.
To Marty, we apologized over and over. “Just think of us as your neighborhood watch committee,” I said as we backed down the stairs and out the door, the three of us giggling like teenagers.
We were lucky Marty forgave us.
I admit now that I’d been too quick to judge someone by their appearance. Just because I’d been studying Chapter 7 in my Nehemiah class didn’t excuse me for being suspicious. Unlike Nehemiah’s security plan that had been well-thought out, I had jumped to conclusions, and that could have put everyone in a dangerous situation. It would've have been no surprise after that, if all our neighbors locked their doors when they saw us coming.
NEH 7: DAY 25 READY, SET, READ!
Section I: Setting up Security
1 Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.
Although the wall was built, Nehemiah still had much to do. He appointed his brother and Hananiah as municipal officials in charge of security. Each man was responsible for half of the city. To choose men whom Nehemiah knew to be men of God, would help maintain the integrity of Jerusalem and to keep the city and its people above reproach, as well as protect them against any future enemy attacks.
3 And I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors; and appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and another in front of his own house.”
This was part of the security system Nehemiah put into place. The gates were not to be opened until afternoon, plus specific instructions on keeping them closed. The guards, appointed from among those who lived in Jerusalem, would have a vested interest in protecting their homes.
4 Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few, and the houses were not rebuilt.
Most of the people lived outside of Jerusalem because the houses in town were uninhabitable. The temple had been rebuilt by the returnees led by Zerubbabel, and then Ezra, who arrived with more people. Under Nehemiah’s leadership, the wall and gates were finished. The next logical step was to build homes and re-populate the city.
Section II: The Captives Who Returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 2:1-70 )
5 Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the people, that they might be registered by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up in the first return, and found written in it:
6 These are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city.
God gave Nehemiah the idea of registering the nobles, rulers, and people. Fortunately, Nehemiah found the old genealogy record of the first captives who returned to Jerusalem. The registry according to genealogy of the people was a way of sorting out history.
7 Those who came with Zerubbabel were Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.
This chapter is like the Hall of Fame or Hall of Faith. Ezra the Scribe, and, Zerubbabel had money, but a lot of good it did them after the culture and money had crashed. You may have recognized the name, Mordecai, but the man who came with Zerubbabel was not Queen Esther’s uncle. Nor was the man, Nehemiah, “our” Nehemiah. In verses 8-25, these families represented the strongest of clans.
The number of the men of the people of Israel:
8 the sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two;
9 the sons of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two;
10 the sons of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two;
11 the sons of Pahath-Moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen;
12 the sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four;
13 the sons of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five;
14 the sons of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty;
15 the sons of Binnui, six hundred and forty-eight;
16 the sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-eight;
17 the sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two;
18 the sons of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven;
19 the sons of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-seven;
20 the sons of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five;
21 the sons of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight;
22 the sons of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight;
23 the sons of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-four;
24 the sons of Hariph, one hundred and twelve;
25 the sons of Gibeon, ninety-five;
Verses 26-38 were people who lived outside the city, but supported the rebuilding.
26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred and eighty-eight;
27 the men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight;
28 the men of Beth Azmaveth, forty-two;
29 the men of Kirjath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three;
30 the men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one;
31 the men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two;
32 the men of Bethel and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three;
33 the men of the other Nebo, fifty-two;
34 the sons of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four;
35 the sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty;
36 the sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five;
37 the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one;
38 the sons of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
Verses 39-60 were temple personnel, and included the Nethinim. We also find the Nethinim in Chapter 3, repairing the Water Gate. These temple assistants were established when David was king, but they were not Levites. Solomon’s servants and sons of his servants were non-Jews. Solomon’s many wives probably brought along their own servants and people outside of the Israelites.
39 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three;
40 the sons of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two;
41 the sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven;
42 the sons of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.
43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the sons of Hodevah, seventy-four;
44 The singers: the sons of Asaph, one hundred and forty-eight.
Aha! Here’s a familiar name—Asaph. He was one of King David’s brilliant wisdom writers, credited with writing psalms to sing or recite for worship. For an example of his work, read Psalm 61. Note in this registry, Asaph is not listed, but his sons (the singers) numbered 148.
45 The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, one hundred and thirty-eight.
46 The Nethinim: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon,
48 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Salmai,
49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,
50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,
51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,
52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephishesim,
53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Tamah,
56 the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
57 The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,
58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
59 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, and the sons of Amon.
60 All the Nethinim, and the sons of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred and ninety-two.
According to Ezra, Chapter 2, the Nethinim and the sons of Solomon’s servants were included as “the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles,” and numbered “the people of Israel.” They either knew God or had been forced to follow the religion of the Israelites. These people were considered second-class citizens. According to my Nehemiah instructor, Pastor Michael, this group was a living bridge from the Old Testament prophesy to the New Testament.
61 And these were the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not identify their father’s house nor their lineage, whether they were of Israel:
62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two; 63 and of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name.
64 These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled.
Just a reminder that those named are the first wave of returned captives. Not all of the people listed were able to support their genealogical claim. Perhaps some of them included men who had married Jewish women. The governor, Zerubbabel gave strict orders regarding what these men should or shouldn’t do until their claim was founded.
65 And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.
Who or what is the Urim and Thummin, and why is it so popular? I consulted Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, along with online research for the definition. To briefly sum it up, in Hebrew the Urim and Thummin mean “lights and perfections,” and are most likely two gems or rocks carried in or on the breastplate of the High Priest who would cast them like dice to interpret the will of God. (Ex. 28:16, Lev. 8:8, 1 Sam 14:37-45.)
66 Altogether the whole assembly was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, 67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred and forty-five men and women singers.
68 Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five, 69 their camels four hundred and thirty-five, and donkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
70 And some of the heads of the fathers’ houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand gold drachmas, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priestly garments. 71 Some of the heads of the fathers’ houses gave to the treasury of the work twenty thousand gold drachmas, and two thousand two hundred silver minas. 72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand gold drachmas, two thousand silver minas, and sixty-seven priestly garments.
73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the Nethinim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities.
When the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
In other words, they were home at last!
This concludes Chapter 7. The same genealogy list that Nehemiah read is almost identical to the list as it appears in Ezra 2. In Nehemiah, a name or two may have been added, but the numbers are the same. The whole assembly was 42,360, plus 7,337 servants and 245 singers or about 50,000 people who returned with Zerubbabel.
NEH 7: DAY 26 CLASS NOTES & CONNECTIONS
Chapter 7 is known as the transition chapter. The first half of the book of Nehemiah is about people who existed to build the wall; people worked on the wall, yet felt God was working with them. The second half is about how the wall exists to protect people, giving them a sense of security and knowing that God was still with them. Other themes in Chapter 7 are security and protection, and how genealogy played an important part in restoring the city.
Setting up a Super Security System
The wall was finished. Nehemiah took steps to re-establish Jerusalem as the God-fearing center of the nation of Israel.
- He put together a team of God-fearing people, including his brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, in charge of security.
- He assigned gatekeepers and watchmen who possessed the qualities of integrity and faithfulness. He wanted men who had already invested time working on the gates, or had a personal interest in protecting the gates. This strategy provided intrinsic motivation to stay on the job.
- At Jerusalem’s wall, three types of guards would be posted. 1) The men assigned to the gates; 2) the walking patrol around the wall; 3) the neighborhood-watch. His security advisors were in charge of making each person or home-owner responsible for his own gates.
Keeping the Israelites’ Heritage Pure
Nehemiah’s plan to re-establish the purity of the Israelites’ heritage meant keeping anyone out who might pollute the Israelite nation. Remember how King Solomon’s heart became polluted and compromised when he allowed his wives of many nations to bring in idols and false teachings? Nehemiah fought hard to keep such beliefs from polluting Jerusalem, the same type of beliefs that got Israel into trouble with God that led to their exile. Besides the watchmen and gatekeepers standing guard, Nehemiah gave specific instructions on opening and closing the gates.
Keeping the Gates Closed
Keeping the gates closed until the sun was high was a wise strategy on Nehemiah’s part. If an enemy army or adversaries wanted to attack, they would have to do it in the light of day. At night or early morning, if the gate was open, enemies could use the cover of darkness to their advantage. Plus, the two men Nehemiah appointed as head security instructed those who had worked on the wall to keep watch in front of their own homes. Remember, the houses were in the process of being rebuilt, and a sense of pride and home-ownership coupled with family strengthened the resolve of the men on guard. We learned about the spiritual application of the gates in Chapter 3, and how we needed to keep our wall and gates in good repair to discourage the enemy.
Can you think of how to set a spiritual guard in front of your gate? What type of strategies could you use to prevent an invasion? Is there a time when an enemy might easily gain entrance or attack?
Did you know? The Great Wall of China was penetrated four times. The enemy did not break in, but paid off guards and walked in.
Thanks to Nehemiah’s “Take Back the Wall” strategy, the enemy could no longer take advantage of the Israelites. With the wall finished, those merchants who used to camp outside the walls or conduct their business on the Sabbath were no longer welcome. This same security strategy can be used for our spiritual protection. Our wall might appear invisible now or in shambles, but as we strengthen our faith, we learn how to keep our focus on God, 24-7. The Holy Spirit, like a gatekeeper or watchman, inwardly warns us when the enemy is trying to breech our wall. In Nehemiah’s case, the rebuilt walls signified protecting the strength of the Israelites and their respect. The same is true for us. Our rebuilt spiritual walls signify what we take back from the enemy.
Other Benefits of Rebuilding
By restoring the physical walls, and getting the people to re-commit to helping each other, Nehemiah was able to restore the walls of worship. He motivated the singers (and musicians) to maintain worship services in the temple while serving as temple guards. Levites who were priests were appointed as teachers; scribes who copied the scriptures were assigned as judges. Other Levites assisted with temple worship like preparing sacrifices or maintaining the temple. Levites were like the nation’s regulators for buying and selling. The Levites were responsible for accurate weights and measures. North of Jerusalem, in a very vulnerable part of the city, Nehemiah handed over control of the army and the city to men who were highly respected, faithful, and feared God.
He found people to fill the bill, whose character was above reproach. Our character, too, should be above reproach, so we can be worthy of leading others. God honors huge steps in our commitment and development of our character. We should be a kindred spirit with Nehemiah. As God’s people, we have to protect what we have accomplished for the LORD. How do we do that? Read Ephesians 6, if you haven’t already. You’ll find a complete list of armor and why it’s needed.
In Nehemiah, the spiritual wall is as important as the physical wall. The laborers restored the wall around the city, yet Nehemiah knew God was the overseer of the project. We, too, can provide the labor to restore the spiritual wall and then benefit from the security the wall offers, but who provides the wall in the first place? Jesus Christ is the wall, the protector of our spirit; He is the day light. Yet, if we grow careless in our watch or in the decisions we make, or if we compromise with the enemy, we might lose some of the ground we’ve gained. It’s not that God would desert us, but the other way around.
When that happens, if you feel alone or can’t seem to find your way back to God, don’t worry because He knows exactly where you are. Again, His words in Nehemiah 4:19 remind us: “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
Protecting what we take back from the Enemy
“Our God will fight for us” is a familiar theme. God’s Word emphasizes it more than once. To fight for us is His privilege, His strategy to protect us from the enemy.
In Chapter 1, we read 2 Samuel 5 regarding David praying and waiting on the LORD. The LORD gave explicit instructions to ensure David’s victory against the Philistines. “And it shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, advance quickly for then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” All David’s army had to do was show up.
Look at it from a spiritual perspective. Suppose you have anger as big and violent as the giant, Goliath. You try hard to control your temper, but it’s not working. Finally you go to God in prayer and ask Him if He will give you victory over the enemy. Then, trust him. Don’t expect anger to flare up; expect it to be gone. God will advance and help you reclaim that peaceful part of yourself. But you have to let Him go ahead of you, and trust Him to lead. Pray the second you feel something is threatening you.
BUILDING THE WALL: We are the watchmen.
We stand guard during the darkness of night. It’s especially important to stand watch over our homes during those dark times in our lives when things don’t always go the way as planned. The baby’s sick; the car needs repairs, you a lost a job or maybe a home. You ask, “Where is God when I need Him?” During those times, we’re more susceptible to the enemy’s attacks, slamming us with depression, anxiety, anger, hopelessness.
Registering the Captives who returned to Jerusalem
While Nehemiah was no doubt wondering how to re-populate Jerusalem, God put it on his heart to gather the nobles, rulers, and people to register them according to their genealogy. Consequently, Nehemiah found an old register of the first captives who returned to Jerusalem. I picture Ezra the scribe waving the old rolled parchment in front of Nehemiah, saying, “Look what I found! It happens to be the registry Zerubbabel recorded!”
Census-taking to the Israelites was important because it kept track of family history, and who was who among the twelve tribes. Although God put it in the heart of leaders when to take a census, men still had to follow the exact rules, much like Zerubbabel did. He carefully followed God’s guidelines for the first captive-return census.
In Joshua, God tells the people to divide lots for the 12 tribes to share, plus the 2 tribes to represent Joseph’s sons. God promises to give the Israelites the land, complete with housing, livestock, fruit and vegetables ready to be picked off the vine. There’s one condition, however. The Israelites are expected to completely wipe out the enemy. Why? Because the Canaanites did not worship the True God; the inhabitants of the land of Canaan worshiped idols. Any remnant left alive could introduce their practices of idolatry to the Israelites, and turn the heart of God’s people away from Him. The Israelites failed to follow God’s orders completely. Instead, they secretly worshiped the same idols as their enemies while trying to con God into believing they worshiped Him alone. They figured He would never know. But the joke was on them. God did know.
THE JESUS CONNECTION: Mark 10
The disciples are discussing among themselves which one of them is the greatest. Jesus asks what they were talking about, and they kind of shrug their shoulders and murmur, “Oh, nothing.” And Christ begins to lecture them about the greatest being the least. Another time, they’re asking each other what Christ meant, and again when He asks them what they are talking about, they’re silent, afraid to tell Him. He knows everything, but wants us to ‘fess up,’ and realize there is nothing we can do or say or hide from Him.
Similarities between the books of Ezra and Nehemiah
The challenges Zerubbabel and Nehemiah faced from their enemies were very much the same.
As I read through Chapter 7, I studied the registrar of the first group of exiles who returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem. Reading 2 Chronicles and Ezra cleared up a lot of confusion. Credit is often given to Ezra for rebuilding the temple, Ezra the scribe came to Jerusalem with the second wave of refugees 13 years before Nehemiah. Ezra’s intention was to teach others about God’s word according to the Law of Moses, and incorporate God's word into the worship service. That’s why the people asked Ezra to read.
One similarity was the way the adversaries intimidated the laborers, mocking them, and even threatening to attack them. The adversaries also spread rumors and wrote letters to discredit Zerubbabel and Nehemiah. God intervened again and again, working through the kings.
At times, the two books said the same things, and I wondered if they had copied each other, But history repeats itself, and our adversaries use the same tactics on us today. Our enemy tries to get us to give up, feel discouraged, fearful, and hopeless. Aren’t you glad God is on your side?
52 Days! The Wall is finished but is the work done?
With the completion of the wall, there were many reasons for celebration. Number One, the construction of the wall would give the Israelites more victory and a deeper praise. Something we should follow. Every victory or completed project, whether physical or spiritual in our life are steps that take us deeper into praise. The end result of what Nehemiah put into place was a religious government. Think about it. How would that change things, instead of having a government and church and states function separately?
NEH 7: DAY 27 NEHEMIAH & ME
Feb. 28, 2018 Being On Guard
In Mark 13:31, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of the day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray . . . and what I say to you, I say to all. WATCH!”
I sat down with my coffee to praise You, LORD, and my thoughts dart to journal writing, “I don’t need to write this morning. I’ve done enough.” I’m amazed at the negativity and resistance that tries to ambush me and separate me from You.
Romans 8:38-29 . . . neither death nor life nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come . . . shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our LORD.
Romans 8 really needs to be read again and again, digested slowly, savoring each word. Words like, “death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come . . . shall be able to separate us from THE LOVE OF GOD which is IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. Now that’s something to think about!
Also read I Peter 4-5, a reminder on being watchful.
Vs. 7 - But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
Okay, Peter wrote I Peter about 30 or 40 or more years after walking with Christ. What Peter said in his letters to the new converts was something he learned from the LORD on that last night during the last supper. Peter, James, and John accompanied Jesus to the Mount of Olives. Christ told them to watch and pray, but they fell asleep. Three times He woke them and again told them to stay awake and watch and pray.
That wasn’t the only time He urged them to watch. Prior to the three denials of Peter, Christ told him Satan wanted to sift Peter like chaff, so Peter should watch, and Jesus was going to pray for him. What is the message here, LORD?
In his letters, Peter heard it from You, and the Holy Spirit repeated what You said, “the kingdom of God is near . . . the end of all things is at hand.” Peter strongly suggested we get more serious about watching and praying. That was almost 2000 years ago, and so far the end of times hasn’t happened yet. Does that mean, the end of times is not going to happen? No, it means God is patient and wants to lose no one because He loves us all.
So, LORD, instead of me whining and feeling overwhelmed, I need to recognize that the enemy is desperate to distract me to keep me from watching. Whether these are the final days or not, Your message, Your word holds true. The kingdom of God is near, and we need to be watchful because the enemy is trying to separate us from Your love.
May 2, 2018 When God Offers Options
This morning, I turned to Jeremiah 21. Jeremiah laments why he was every born because the people hated him for his prophecies. Yet when he tried to shut up about God, God’s word burned in his heart and throat until he could no longer hold it in. The prophet said King Zedekiah of Judah (the last king of Judah) and Jerusalem’s inhabitants would be destroyed by the armies of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and Jerusalem would be burned. King Zedekiah would die in captivity. Zedekiah was not a good king. He did not worship God, but idols. False prophets lied to the king. The cool thing is God told Jeremiah to tell the king’s messengers all about the unfavorable outcome of predicted war with the Babylonians. However, if the house of David chose to defect to the side of the Chaldeans, they would be treated very well. “His life shall be as a prize to him.” So God offered options.
Wait! What? Back up. God does what?? God offers options. I Chron. 21:1 (NIV Bible) Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”
This was quite a big deal to Joab, loyal to King David and God. Joab knew God did not want David to number the men. God did not want David to think his power came from numbers because that would be limiting God. By worshiping false idols in the wilderness, the Israelites limited God. (Psalm 77)
The LORD wanted David to be dependent on Him and not the size of an army. Joab obeyed David, but fudged with the numbers a little bit. “Joab did not include (the populations of) Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king’s command was repulsive to him.” This command was also evil in the sight of God, so he punished Israel. Though the seer, Gad, the LORD told David to pick his punishment, and offered 3 options. Three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, or three days of the sword of the LORD—days of plague in the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel . . . David chose the plague, and 70,000 men of Israel fell dead. Even God had had enough, and ordered the plague stopped. God offers options. So, did the Israelites defect to the Chaldean side? I’ll have to check into that. I don’t think they did since King Cyrus defeated Nebuchadnezzar, and Darius followed Cyrus, then King Artaxerxes stopped the rebuilding under Zerubbabel and Ezra, but ended up granting Nehemiah’s request to rebuild the city. God is always behind the scenes.
Another story about whether more men guaranteed a win happened when Gideon went against the enemy. He took 30,000 men with him, but God kept reducing the number of fighting men for one reason or another until only 300 were left to fight against the Mideonites. Guess who won?
Author's Note, April 22, 2020: When I published this study guide online, we were in the midst of the Corona Virus Pandemic. I thought it was interesting that King David lost 70,000 men to a plague because he conducted an unauthorized census. At the time of this writing, nearly 47,000 have died of the Corona Virus while the United States is trying to complete the government census; 60,000 expected to die before the end of summer. Top scientists, world leaders in the numbers game, predict that the virus will be back in the fall, only worse. Coincidence? No matter what, God is always behind the scenes. Scriptures I've found scriptures in the Old and New Testament confirm God does not like to see people die.
(Lamentations 3:32) "Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men."
(Ezekiel 18:32) "I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the LORD GOD. "Therefore turn and live!"
That's Old Testament, yet Jesus, during His ministry, taught from the Old Testament and Laws of the Prophets and Moses. The sole purpose of His dying was to show us God's merciful side by redeeming mankind from sin through the resurrection of Jesus. We no longer have to fear death if we believe and receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and confess our sins.
YOUR TURN! Lots to write about! The wall is finished, is yours? What about the section of registering. Do you or another family member keep track of your family tree?
NEH 7: DAY 28 PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE
INSPIRATIONAL VERSE: NEH 7:5 Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the people, that they might be registered by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up in the first return . . .
Understanding the Genealogy of the Israelites
The Israelites may have survived captivity, but they were still in the healing process. Their recovery depended on the rebuilding Jerusalem and their nation. Part of God’s plan also depended on rebuilding the nation to set the stage for the Messiah. Nehemiah understood this. What appears Nehemiah did to help his countrymen on a physical level of rebuilding, he also did by helping his brethren on a spiritual level as well. In verses 4 and 5, he begins to sort out history through genealogy. Some of the passionate people who wanted to help on the project (i.e. Nethinims and sons of Solomon’s servants) might not be a full-blooded Jews, so it was necessary to “clean house.”
Through the genealogy register, Nehemiah was able to purify the bloodline. He knew that the Messiah was going to come from King David’s line, and no doubt he had heard of Ruth the Moabite, who became David’s great-great grandmother. Ruth and her mother, Rahab, were included in the lineage because of the Davidic men they married. The genealogy comes from the men. So, to men like Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, keeping close track of the business of genealogy was more than numbers. Their real incentive was to protect what they held dear—the people’s relationship and standing with God, and the bloodline of Christ.
The feeling to protect the line of David ran deep. In 2 Samuel 21:15-18, David grew faint, and a giant sporting a heavy, brand new, sword tried to kill David. One of David’s mighty men stuck down the Philistine giant in the nick of time. Then David’s men swore, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” They may have been talking about David in a righteous sense as a leader, or unknowingly talking about keeping David’s line alive.
How many generations did it take from David to Christ? Matthew 1:17 “All the generations from Abraham to David are 14 generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are 14 generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are 14 generations.“
How can we relate genealogy to restoring our spiritual wall? What does it teach us? A few things you might want to think about: When God has a plan, nothing will stop Him from accomplishing it; we’re privileged and blessed if we’re part of that plan. Think of all the times Satan tried to destroy the bloodline of Christ, including the male infants and toddlers put to death as decreed by Herod. And think of all those people God used to rescue and protect that bloodline. Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, Rahab, Ruth, and 42,630 people, besides the valiant Mighty Men who protected David and many, many others. The book of Hebrews points out that we are now part of Christ’s bloodline, connected to Him by faith.
THE JESUS CONNECTION: Luke 2:1-7
"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. . . So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son . . ."
