Builders of the Kingdom: Restoring God's City Nehemiah 11-12 Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Text - Nehemiah 11-12
Subject - The city
Theme - Restoring the city
Thesis - Repopulating the city was necessary for the spiritual and social revitalization of the Jewish people.
Principle - Christian, your participation is part of God’s plan in building His kingdom.
Intro
Intro
Last week we began looking at these two chapters in the book of Nehemiah.
We focused primarily on the first few verses about what was happening, how it was determined who would live in the city.
I touched a little bit on the importance and need for the city to be populated.
People were needed for the city to be protected.
They were as well needed to support the functions of the temple.
From the maintenance of the building to the acts of taking the offerings, making the sacrifices.
The leaders of the people led by example and lived in the city, some people volunteered, and others submitted to God’s will through the casting of lots to live and work in the city.
To live in the holy city was a privilege but it was also a challenging responsibility.
Living in a holy context did not automatically make the people living their holy.
A puritan pastor - Richard Baxter reminded his minister friends that ‘a holy calling will not save an unholy man’.
On that note, simply coming to church will not save an unholy person.
Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can save you.
A relationship that begins when you realize your sin and your need for a savior.
When you accept His call to follow Him by believing in the work He has done, making the payment though His sacrifice on the cross.
As we look at this list of names, there is a variety of work that was done.
The leaders of the people, the chiefs of the province.
The Message of Nehemiah: God’s Servant in a Time of Change 4. The Variety of Ministry
It is not enough to tell people what they must do; the leader must become a visible model of obedience, holiness and love. For that reason leaders need to cultivate their own spiritual lives so that they do not contradict their message
The Message of Nehemiah: God’s Servant in a Time of Change 4. The Variety of Ministry
Two of the heads of the Levites had charge of the outside work of the house of God (16).
Others were responsible for the temple’s worship.
The Message of Nehemiah: God’s Servant in a Time of Change 5. The Priority of Worship
Their spiritual ministry was supplemented by people with evident musical gifts. Mattaniah was the Levite assigned to the work of the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer (17).
These lists of names testify to the spiritual commitment of many hundreds of Jerusalem’s citizens.
Besides the leaders and prominent people such as priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants (11:3), there were many others,
whose different qualities, skills, abilities and expertise had been willingly and gratefully offered to God.
The builder’s hammer was no less expressive of sincere devotion than the singer’s voice.
As a Christian, remember, you participation is part of God’s plan in building His kingdom.
I want to take us on a short rabbit trail.
Music has played an important part in the worship of the Lord’s temple and continues today.
I was listening to a podcast this week and learned an interesting bit of information.
When it comes to public corporate gatherings, Muslims don’t sing, Hindu’s don’t sing.
As far as major religions go, it is primarily Christians who sing.
Even in public, singing does not often occur.
In our American culture, most often it happens in relation to sporting events.
National anthem, etc.
People that enjoy music and that want to sing will seek out concerts.
In history and specifically in cultures with Christian influence, music has consistently been associated with Christianity.
If you look at old church buildings, what do they all have?
Church bells.
Bells were associated with Christianity.
Signing used to be especially associated with Christianity.
It was associated with a hope in Jesus.
This past Christmas if you remember the song we sang a number of times - Ring the bells.
Chorus
Ring the bells, ring the bells,
Let the whole world know
Christ the Savior lives today
As He did so long ago!
I have said it before and will say it again, it matters what we sing!
And it also matters that we sing.
Whether you think you have a good voice or not.
Use it for the glory of God.
I remember growing up, a gentleman in our church, his name was Pete, he couldn’t sing a lick, but he used his voice to praise the Lord!
But what really stood out was his love for the Lord.
You could see it on his face as he sang.
This rabbit trail kind of leads us back to the next section of the text.
Chapter 11 ends speaking about the villages surrounding Jerusalem that directly supported the city, and chapter 12 begins with more names.
The beginning of the list records some of the priests and Levites who came back to rebuild the temple a few generations earlier (1-9).
The end of the list records the priest and Levites who were born after that first group, all the way to Nehemiah's day (10-26).
This list of names connects what was happening currently in their time, to the generation that originally came back from captivity.
That first group of people back had a goal of rebuilding and reinstating Israel's temple (see Ezra 1-4).
Nehemiah felt the work he'd done on the walls was an extension of their mission—no walls, no temple worship—
so Nehemiah recorded their names all the way up to his modern time.
The list shows that they were continuing a larger and historical work God had begun ages earlier.
The same is true for us as a church today.
We are not here drifting blindly in.
We are here continuing a work that began in this place almost 60 years ago.
bot more than that, we are continuing a task that was given some 2000 years ago.
And we should praise God when we get to be even a small part of his long and historical work here on earth.
Luke 15 speaks of lost things being found.
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
God is working through His church to make lost people found for His glory!
Musical Praise (27-43)
Musical Praise (27-43)
The musical connection comes in verses 27-43.
Let’s read that section together.
And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.
And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites;
also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem.
And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.
Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate.
And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah,
and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,
Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
and certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph;
and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them.
At the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate on the east.
The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall,
and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Gate of Yeshanah, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard.
So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me;
and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader.
And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.
The text mentions singing, choirs, cymbals, harps, and lyres (a small, harp-like instrument, 27).
Pictures
Instruments were used to praise and worship God.
Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Music is a way for us to enjoy creation and our creator.
It is also a way that we can help lead others to worship.
Some of us God has gifted with musical ability, if that is you, come join us to help lead others in worshipping the lord together.
Music often adds emotion to our words.
I love watching and hearing our church sing to the Lord!
Last Sunday for instance, I think that was the loudest we praised the Lord together since I have been here.
It is not just about volume though, it is about passion.
Every time we gather we have the opportunity to make a joyful noise to the Lord.
Every time we gather we have the opportunity to passionately praise our Savior, our Lord, our King.
Let's continue dedicating our praise to him in music!
Which is what the Israelites are doing in this section.
They are praising God and dedicating the wall.
I wonder if perhaps they sang Psalm 122 as the proceeded around the walls.
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together,
to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!
Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”
For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
Psalms 120-134 are the songs of ascents, songs that were song as the people traveled to Jerusalem.
Nehemiah organized two choirs—one led by Ezra, the other by himself.
These choirs then climbed on top of the wall they had just rebuilt.
Ezra's went one direction, while Nehemiah's went the other, and they sang while they walked on the wall.
This is an awesome testimony to God’s work through these people.
Remember what Tobiah had jeered earlier in the book.
Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”
And now, these large groups, two great choirs are walking and singing their way towards the temple.
Whatever they sang, the joy and praise of that day was intense, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced.
And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away (43).
Like a roaring crowd at a sporting event or concert, the Israelites roared with joy over what God had done for them.
This testimonial part of praise is important.
When God does a work in our lives, when a goal is accomplished, when a desire of the heart is fulfilled, it is good to pause and praise him.
There is always more to be done, but God is pleased when we stop to thank him.
Reading and studying this passage got me thinking of our own church here.
I had read some of the old minutes before but not very thoroughly.
The first mention of breaking ground for the building occured in December of 1966.
But there is no mention of when that actually took place.
There is also no mention in the minutes of when the church actually began meeting in the building.
It seems to have been sometime before the church called its second pastor, as in their letter to him they mentioned that he and his family could live in the parsonage downstairs but it was not yet completed.
Going through the minutes where I have been up through thus far, it appears that the building has often been a point of difficulty, strife, and even some contention.
There was one point where there were considerations for adding on to the building as well.
Studying this book and relating to our current situation has brought some thoughts to my mind that I want to pass on to you as well.
Linking back to the beginning of Nehemiah, remember the restoration of the walls was meant to serve a grater purpose, the restoration of the people.
We have seen multiple lists of names in this book as well, reminding of the value God places upon individuals.
We must always keep in mind, that the true value that is found in any church is not in its building, but in the people.
We want to be good stewards of the physical things that God has given us, and as a church, it is this building and property.
All of that pales in comparison though to the real and most valuable thing in this church, and that is you, in the seats.
If we do all of this work on our building, but fail to see lives restored, grown and changed, we have missed the point.
In the dedication ceremony for the walls, the two groups traveled around the city.
They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced.
And that joy was heard far away!
They rejoiced because they remembered the purpose for which the city was built in the first place, to honor and glorify God.
The connection for us today is simple and clear as well.
This building needs to be more than just a warm space to gather.
It needs to be a place that is dedicated to honor and glorify God in this valley.
Going through the minutes I don’t anything listed that says that the building was ever dedicated.
Add info from Rick.
We look at it and see it a church and assume that the building is for the Lord’s work,
but I think there is something to the people of the church actually standing up and stating that this building will be used for the purpose of building God’s Kingdom.
We might say as Solomon did as he dedicated the temple.
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
God responded to this act
And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.
We know that God does not dwell in a physical building, but rather the temple today is believers.
The Holy Spirit resides inside each of us.
But these buildings that the Lord Gives us are significant symbols of His kingdom on earth to the world around us.
This act in Nehemiah is really a rededication.
God had done what he had said in the verses that followed the dedication of the temple in 1 kg.
But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them,
then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’
Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the Lord has brought all this disaster on them.’ ”
This is a return of the people to God’s intended plan and purpose for the city.
To be a light to the nations.
As I studied and prepared, I have pondered the idea if this is something we might do as a church.
To rededicate our building to the Lord and His work here in this valley.
Not knowing the exact date meetings began being held in the building, we are near 55 years, and closing in on 60 years as church.
There is significance in us as a congregation stating that this building will be used for God’s glory because it directs our hearts and directs our attention.
It helps to remind us that our participation is part of God’s plan in building His kingdom.
As we close today, last week we discussed a benevolence request we currently have for the church and decided to take a special offering to help a local family.
As we close today, (person) will be in the back to collect that special offering.