Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community
The Dedication
Nehemiah 12:1-47
The Priests & Levites (v. 1-26)
- A list of the priests & Levites:
- Under Zerubbabel (v. 1-11) (c. 538 BC)
- Under Joiakim (v. 12-26) (c. 444 BC)
- During the time of Ezra & Nehemiah (v. 26)
- References the Book of Chronicles as a source (v. 23)
- To show the continuity of the family lines for proper worship
The Dedication of the Wall (v. 27-43)
- Shortly after its completion, all of Israel dedicated the wall
- They saw it as God’s work
- And they made no distinction between the “sacred” and the “secular”
- The people marched around the city on top of the wall, which was 9 feet wide
- Half went clockwise, half went counter-clockwise starting at the Valley Gate
- They sang praises as they went
- They met in the Temple
- Where they offered sacrifices and more praise
The Temple Service (v. 44-47)
- The people committed to take care of the priests & Levites
- The people dedicated some to serve as professional singers in the Temple
- And committed to taking care of their needs
So What?
- When the work was done, they praised God
- And they promised to continue to praise and serve Him
- Do we see the work of rebuilding our community as God’s work that we get to share in?
- Making no distinction between ‘sacred’ and ‘secular’
- Do we have a commitment to serve Him as a testimony to those around us?
Meditation Verse: Nehemiah 12:43