Nehemiah 11:22-36

[22] The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God. [23] For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, as every day required. [24] And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s side in all matters concerning the people. [25] And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, [26] and in Jeshua and in Moladah and Beth-pelet, [27] in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its villages, [28] in Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages, [29] in En-rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, [30] Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its villages. So they encamped from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom. [31] The people of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages, [32] Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, [33] Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, [34] Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, [35] Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. [36] And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah were assigned to Benjamin.

That is a lot of Scripture right there, but it is mostly the listing of the villages outside of Jerusalem. The Israelites loved their lists, and they loved to keep track of history. I’m posting all of this at once, because it is hard to make a life application with a list of towns… but here goes.

The one thing I could snatch out of this list was the bolded part above. Pethahiah was “at the king’s side in all matters concerning the people.” This meant that he was responsible for the affairs of the Israelites when it came to matters of the throne. To be successful at his job, he had to put the lives of the Israelites first, literally being concerned for them, in everything, to make sure the king did right by them.

That leaves but one question, to me:

Who do you take into account when making a decision?

Do you think of yourself, only?

Do you think of your family, only?

Do you think of everyone else, first?

There’s that old acrostic for joy:

Jesus

Others

Yourself

The idea is that you put your priorities in that order and you will get – JOY!

The problem comes when we go to make a decision and start with Y. Instead start with J.

Nehemiah 11:7-14

[7] And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, [8] and his brothers, men of valor, 928. [9] Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.  [10] Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, [11] Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, ruler of the house of God, [12] and their brothers who did the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, [13] and his brothers, heads of fathers’ houses, 242; and Amashsai, the son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, [14] and their brothers, mighty men of valor, 128; their overseer was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim.

What an awesome name, Seraiah. Well, at least I think so, but my name is Isaiah, so, I guess I’m a little biased about -aiah names.

Anyway, Seraiah was the high priest, and their brothers “did the work of the house,” which is, the Temple of God. So these guys were the ones who worked in the temple, and they label him as “those who did the work of the house of God.”

How would you like that label?

In some ways, I think it would be awesome to be known that I work in the house of God. In other ways, I’d almost be afraid to let people know that, if I’m honest.

Would you want to be known as someone who works in the house of God?

Now we can say that our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, so whenever we do anything we are in the house of God. But then that leads to another question…

Am I treating my body like God’s temple?

Am I acting like I work in the house of God – with my words and actions – even when people aren’t looking?

Can people tell that you work for the house of God?

We all are a testimony to something and someone, in what we do and what we say. We can be a testimony to God or a testimony to our own selfish selves.

So which will it be today?

Will you serve the House of God or the House of [your name]?

Nehemiah 11:3-6

[3] These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. [4] And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; [5] and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite. [6] All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men.

All the sons of Perez, who lived in Jerusalem, were valiant men. Men of courage. Just yesterday we talked about how there had to be a lottery type casting for those who were to live in Jerusalem.

Those who chose to live were considered valiant men, courageous men.

How would those around you define you?

Are you valiant? Are you courageous?

or

Are you fearful and cowardly?

The choice is up to you. These sons of Perez were known as valiant men.

What will you be known as?

Nehemiah 11:1-2

[1] Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. [2] And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

Come one, come all, to the Jerusalem lottery! Leaders only need apply, but one out of ten of you will be able to live in the holy city of Jerusalem!

I can just see the above as a sign, trying to promote living in Jerusalem. It was the holy city of God, but few people were actually living there. Since few were living there, no one wanted to move there. The other issue that Jerusalem faced was that a small population wouldn’t be able to defend Jerusalem, so, somehow, someone came up with the idea of a lottery [literally casting lots] to see which of the leaders would go.

1/10 of the leaders were called via the roll of the dice. Depending on how you read verse 2, you can take it that the people were happy for those who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem (by being in the lottery), or that there were others who volunteered to go live in Jerusalem.

That leads to a question:

Would you rather be chosen for something, seemingly at random, or volunteer?

To me, it seems like just leaving it up to chance would show that you didn’t necessarily want to be in Jerusalem. That you felt that if you were picked, then, well, God must’ve chosen you to go to Jerusalem, but you’d rather stay home if possible.

I wonder what would happen if we did a lottery in Churches for who gets to go as a missionary somewhere. Would you rather see people volunteer for it, or be chosen by lot? Would they serve better if chosen by lot or by willingness?

Now, the final question:

Are you waiting to be picked out of a crowd, at random, by God to serve, or are you willing to volunteer to serve Him today?

Nehemiah 10:38-39

[38] And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. [39] For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.

The Israelites just said that they would give of their firstfruits, and now they’re talking about the full tithes to God. The last sentence in the last verse of Chapter 10 really hit me.

We will not neglect the house of our God.

Do I neglect the house of my God?

Do I neglect my God?

Do I neglect the temple of the Holy Spirit – my body?

In this context, they’re talking about not neglecting in giving of the tithe of grain, wine and oil. Literally the food that would keep the Levites and priests alive. When they say they will not neglect the house of God, it infers that they had before… and they had!

So, what about you?

Have you before neglected the house of God (tithe)?

Have you neglected the house of God (serving)?

Have you neglected the temple of God (your body)?