Lists and genealogies pepper the scriptures here and there. Ezra also sees the importance of sharing the Word of God with the returned exiles.
Nehemiah 7:
1 Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,
2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.
3 And I said to them, "Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes."
4 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.
Lists of Returned Exiles
5 Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:
6 These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town.
7 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
8 the sons of Parosh, 2,172.
9 The sons of Shephatiah, 372.
10 The sons of Arah, 652.
11 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818.
12 The sons of Elam, 1,254.
13 The sons of Zattu, 845.
14 The sons of Zaccai, 760.
15 The sons of Binnui, 648.
16 The sons of Bebai, 628.
17 The sons of Azgad, 2,322.
18 The sons of Adonikam, 667.
19 The sons of Bigvai, 2,067.
20 The sons of Adin, 655.
21 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98.
22 The sons of Hashum, 328.
23 The sons of Bezai, 324.
24 The sons of Hariph, 112.
25 The sons of Gibeon, 95.
26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188.
27 The men of Anathoth, 128.
28 The men of Beth-azmaveth, 42.
29 The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743.
30 The men of Ramah and Geba, 621.
31 The men of Michmas, 122.
32 The men of Bethel and Ai, 123.
33 The men of the other Nebo, 52.
34 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254.
35 The sons of Harim, 320.
36 The sons of Jericho, 345.
37 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721.
38 The sons of Senaah, 3,930.
39 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, namely the house of Jeshua, 973.
40 The sons of Immer, 1,052.
41 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247.
42 The sons of Harim, 1,017.
43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel of the sons of Hodevah, 74.
44 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 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, 138.
46 The temple servants: 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 Shalmai,
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 Nephushesim,
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 Temah,
56 the sons of Neziah, 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-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon.
60 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392.
61 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers' houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel:
62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642.
63 Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).
64 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
65 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.
Totals of People and Gifts
66 The whole assembly together was 42,360,
67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. And they had 245 singers, male and female.
68 Their horses were 736, their mules 245,
69 their camels 435, and their donkeys 6,720.
70 Now some of the heads of fathers' houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests' garments and 500 minas of silver.
71 And some of the heads of fathers' houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver.
72 And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priests' garments.
73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns.
Nehemiah 8: Ezra Reads the Law
1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel.
2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.
3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood.
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places.
8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
This Day Is Holy
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.
10 Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved."
12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Feast of Booths Celebrated
13 On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law.
14 And they found it written in the Law that the LORD had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,
15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, "Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written."
16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim.
17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing.
18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he 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.
Things to think about…
1. In Neh 7 1-4 we see the walls are built and Jerusalem is given leadership by two godly men, Hanani (Nehemiah’s brother) and Hananiah the governor. Nehemiah had to return to Susa, back to Artaxerxes as he promised. Nehemiah gives instructions as to how Jerusalem should be protected. The job was big, but the people were few. Sounds like the situation within the church. Yet the job still needs to be done. How does the church spiritually carry out what Nehemiah suggests in vs 3?
2. In Neh 7:-65 we see those who are recorded among those who came back from the captivity. Some priests could not verify their identity vss 63-65 and needed to be determined by God using the Urim and Thummim as to their suitability to minister. We are all in Christ and are all ministering in the gospel. How do we determine who should represent the Lord’s people in the church (Leadership/Pastors/Elders) without the Urim and Thummim. The Lord says we must test the character by using the scriptures, E.G `1 Tim 3, Titus 1 for Elders and ministry leaders.
3. In Neh 7:66-73 we see the total numbers of people and resources that were available at the time. People freely gave and were now were settling into a regular pattern of worship. They had also built in the surrounding areas after the walls of Jerusalem were repaired. When the spiritual house is in order, the order and blessing of our general living conditions is also affected as a result. We also bless our country because of the Lord’s blessing is upon His people. What parallels do you see with the health of the church and the blessing (or lack thereof) upon the community and the country. What areas need improving/repairing in the church, in your opinion, that the Lord’s people may be a greater blessing within our community/city?
4. In Neh 8:1-8 we see Ezra preaching the Law from a pulpit specifically made for the purpose, vs 4. The temple had been around for over 70 years. Had he not done this before? It’s only now that the walls have been built that the Law has any effect or influence. Why do we see this to be the case? The people are protected and have the knowledge that God is powerful – he allowed the wall to be built. The Word of God is the only restraint and protector of the hearts of people going astray. Pray for pulpits in the western church to lift up Christ that the church may be strong again.
5. In Neh 8:9-12 we see the results of the Law being preached to those who heard. Firstly there was weeping. Why do you think this was the case? Ezra told them not to mourn but to rejoice. What was there to rejoice about – at least from Ezra’s point of view? The people had heard the word and knew they had not followed it and this was why they were under the Lord’s judgement to start with. They were now hearing that they were committing the same sins. It is a blessing when God’s people weep over their sin. Judgement begins with the house of the Lord. Ezra counsels that this result after hearing the word of God is a cause to rejoice. The statement “the joy of the LORD is your strength”, vs 10 remains a truth through the ages for the Lord’s people, even though there are days of severe testing, Christ has won the victory.
6. In Neh 8:13-18 we see the importance of having teachers/leaders who can explain the law to everyone. This was not just Ezra’s role, but a role for the Levites and Priests who were also commissioned to this calling. This was an ancient bible college, vs 13. Without knowledge the Lord’s people perish. The truth sets us free. In the church teaching is not just delegated to the pastor, but also to Elders, Cell group leaders, Recharge Leaders and in the case of our kids – Kidz@church teachers. Please pray for those who explain and live out the words of the Lord. What role should the church play in raising up ‘teachers of the law’? Is this just a responsibility of the theological colleges? Not at all. But the role of all those who endeavour to see the Great Commission fulfilled Mt 28:18-20
7. Neh 8:14-18 Reform comes as a result of hearing and carrying out the Lord’s word. The feast of Booths (Tabernacles) was celebrated as a result of the people understanding the Word of God, Neh 8:14-16. Great rejoicing came as a result of people obeying God’s word, vs 17. It seems ludicrous but this feast it says had not been celebrated since the days of Joshua (Jeshua) the son of Nun who was the first Judge when Israel entered Canaan 900 years before. We do know however that Solomon celebrated it in 1Kings 8:65. But this was a regular reintroduction of the festival. Jesus attended the Feast of Booths in John 7:1-24. This feast has prophetic significance when He returns and established his Millennial kingdom.
Vision Point for cell groups – Cell groups on break over the school holidays
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups on break over School holidays
Prayer Points
1. Pray for those away over the Easter break.
2. Pray for peace to cover Ukraine and for Russia to retreat. Pray the gospel reigns in this situation.
3. Pray the Lord blesses the money sent to Polish Baptist Church in Chelm efforts to support Ukrainian refugees. This is the church we will be supporting.
4. Upcoming Australian elections
5. Continue to pray for the flood clean-up as well as the money donated to help.
6. Folk sick with Covid – relief and healing.
7. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
8. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Priase the Lord for visitors over the Easter period.
2. Pray Kremlin are held accountable for war crimes.
3. Visitors to CBC over Easter weekend – new folk added to the church.
4. God’s word affecting people for Christ
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
6. Flood cleanup is restoring communities around Ipswich and Brisbane.
