Nehemiah 11:1-12:26
(Don’t
forget the charts.)
Nehemiah
11
There are
a couple of things happening in this chapter. First, there is the selection of
people to live in Jerusalem. Second, we are given the location of people who
lived in the surrounding towns. The real issue here was the establishment of
worship at the temple and the security of God's nation. Everything that was strong
in Israel was to emanate from the personal devotion of its people to the Lord.
The cultivating of that kind of personal devotion came through the regular
sacrifices and in the feasts three times a year. The center of that worship was
the temple. Nationalism wasn't a concern on the minds of men like Ezra and
Nehemiah. They were concerned about the people following God.
Vs. 1-2
When we think of a city, we think of life and vitality. Jerusalem, up to now,
was more like a ghost town, dangerous and sparsely populated. Also, the way
most common people lived was from what they grew. It was a sacrifice to move
into Jerusalem, especially knowing that so much animosity and violence had been
aimed at rebuilding the walls. What we need to remember is that Nehemiah would
be the governor of Judah for twelve years. This was within his first year.
Since Nehemiah governed out of Jerusalem, it would have been a very good place
to live.
Vs. 3-6
These are the chief rulers and the head men of the tribe of Judah, the leading
tribe.
Vs. 7-9
Benjamin also has a place of honor, not only because they were the tribe of the
first king and they represented Joseph; but also because when the kingdom divided,
they remained with Judah.
Vs. 10-14
Now we have the real focus here. In order for the worship to grow and nurture
the people, the priests and the Levites had to be near the temple and be
provided for. These are the priests.
Vs. 15-18
The Levites taught and assisted the priests in their sacrificial duties,
serving the people and the Lord.
Vs. 19-21
We have already seen that the gatekeepers were important and may have had a
function in organizing the people who came to Jerusalem to worship. Notice that
those who didn't live in the city lived in the surrounding towns.
Vs. 22-24
Notice that the singers were given a special provision. Because these Levites
worked full time in the temple leading worship, they were given a special
provision. I'm not sure how often there was music played, but they practiced,
performed and trained other musicians. Apparently, music accompanied the
sacrifices every day.
Vs. 25-36
This is the disbursement of the people in the surrounding towns. Most of these
were less than a day's journey.
Nehemiah
12:1-26
This is
another accounting of the priests and Levites. This is a lot of detail, but if
you understand the heart of it, in terms of the nation's health and survival,
the organization of worship around the temple was critical. There was to be a
constant cultivation of the hearts of Israel's people. And too, since they had
come out of exile they wanted to get all of the written records compiled and
sorted out. In Samaria anyone could be a priest or serve at their temples. In
Israel that was not the case.
Vs. 1-7 Of
note here is Jeshua. Everything will be measured from him. Apparently he was
the first high priest after the exile. Notice too, Iddo. He had a famous son.
Vs. 8-11
Here we have some singers, but more importantly we have Jeshua's son, Joiakim,
who apparently fathered the line of high priests.
Vs. 12-21
These are the days of Joiakim. Notice that Iddo's son is Zechariah. Zechariah
is one of the two prophets used to inspire the rebuilding of the temple, and
Zechariah wrote the book of Zechariah. When we read his book at the end of the
year, parts of it will sound just like Revelation.
Vs. 22-26
These are the days of Eliashib the son of Joiakim. Jeshua was already gone when
Ezra arrived, but Eliashib and Joiakim were probably both alive when Ezra and
Nehemiah were in Jerusalem.
For us as
disciples, our lineage only has to go back to our Lord. Our qualification for
service begins with our salvation, the Great Commission and Acts 1:8. If those
are actively being honored, the church becomes a community in the harvest.
Disciples are harvesting and coming together weekly for encouragement,
strengthening, and refocusing on the love of Christ. Their devotion and love
for Christ is nurtured, and they are being blessed for their work in the
harvest. This is all that a house church in China has, but it is essential
church. These churches have to make disciples and they reach out under
threatening circumstances. This is all our Savior is asking of His followers.
If this isn't essential church to His disciples, then, like Israel, it is easy
to quickly lose focus.
1 Corinthians 10:14-11:2
1
Corinthians 10:14-33
Vs. 14-22
This is revisiting chapter 8. In their "knowledge" and
"freedom," some of the believers were participating in pagan gatherings
thinking they were immune to the worship going on because these weren't
"really" gods. Paul is saying that there are still spiritual entities
behind pagan worship. These believers were actually participating in idolatry,
worshiping demons. Later, Paul will say to these people, Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but
in your thinking be mature. In chapter 8, Paul mentioned them eating in
pagan temples. Here, Paul showed them that their knowledge had led them into a
snare.
Our
challenge is to walk alertly through this life and avoid things that put us
under spiritual influence. Most of us are "smart" enough to stay away
from tarot cards, palm readers, Ouija boards, TM, yoga and the like; but there
are other things that can bring us under spiritual domination if we let them.
Notice
that in this section there is a lot of positive teaching, too, regarding the
Lord's Supper.
Vs. 23-24
Paul is repeating their words from chapter 6. In Romans 14 Paul answers the
question as to what is "right" to do regarding a weaker brother. He
says, It is good not to eat meat or drink
wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. Romans 15 and the
words here both point to our responsibility as disciples to strengthen and
edify others. That prepares and assists others in growing in Christ. Flaunting
our knowledge and preferences says more about us than we'd like. It shows
immaturity and a lack of understanding of our work following Christ in the
harvest on this dying planet.
Vs. 25-30
Some meat that was offered in sacrifice to idols was sold in the meat market.
Obviously, when they were following Judaism they only bought kosher. Now as
believers, they could buy everywhere, but how could they know if the meat came
from a sacrificed animal. Paul is giving them advice, and really, he is saying
that the meat is OK. Their conscience would be the only factor.
In the
case of the dinner situation, it seems like a weaker believer was sitting with
them and had found out that the meat came from a sacrifice, in which case, for
that weaker brother, they should decline to eat.
Vs. 29-30
are a rationale for eating without questioning. Again, it is usually the
weaker, ardent in their beliefs, who pass judgment on those who have liberty in
a spiritual way. We saw this in Romans 14. Paul is saying that out of concern
for the weak, he would abstain in a particular situation. But as a general rule
he would not allow his liberty to be determined by the weak consciences of the
judgmental. A passage to look at in this connection is:
Now the Spirit expressly says that in
later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful
spirits and teachings of demons, 2through
the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3who
forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be
received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For
everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is
received with thanksgiving, 5for it
is made holy by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5)
Vs. 31-33
These verses should be understandable in terms of 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Our
job is not to show how smart we are. It is to make disciples across the board,
following our Lord through any and all cultural challenges He leads us through.
1
Corinthians 11:1-2
This is
sort of an unfortunate choice of verses. Verse 1 goes with today and tomorrow,
but v. 2 only belongs to tomorrow and the traditions mentioned in chapter 11.
Yet, v. 1
is a command to them and to us. One interesting thing about Jesus' call to us
as disciples is that we are to make disciples. We are to lead and model what it
means to be imitators of Christ. Each of us needs to be spiritually comfortable
as makers of disciples to say what Paul says here. This confidence comes
naturally with following Christ in the harvest over many years. Experienced
soldiers naturally help and teach younger soldiers. Experienced harvesters
naturally help and teach younger harvesters. Experienced disciples naturally help
and teach younger disciples. It's natural. Paul's authority came from deep
humility, many persecutions, years of service, and all of this from having
followed Christ in the harvest.
Psalm 34:11-22
This is
continued from yesterday.
V. 11 is
David teaching from his long, grueling experience in trusting and following the
Lord. In a way, David is saying that those listening should follow his example.
As I read these verses I can sense some of his loneliness, brokenheartedness,
longing, waiting and crying out. But what I also feel is the love of the Lord
for those who seek Him and follow. Look at all the deliverance mentioned in
these verses. Look at what David says the Lord does beginning in v. 15. That is
quite a list. But as we've seen before, you can't know the deliverances without
knowing the trials in the harvest.
Vs. 12-14
The answer to v. 12 is seen by the behaviors of vs. 13-14.
Vs. 15-18
Notice the emphasis on the Lord watching and being near. These are the things
we forget when we get in a jam or an emotional panic. It should steady us to
know this truth.
Vs. 19-22
This is a promise. There will be affliction. There will be deliverance. The
wicked will experience the same things and be judged and condemned. The Lord
will redeem and will not condemn.
V. 20 is
prophetic having to do with Jesus.
So what
would you say a disciple is to do in all of this? A phrase in v. 12 grabbed me
as I read over it, desires life. What
do we learn to seek and desire in life?
Proverbs 21:14-16
V. 14 can't
be an encouragement to giving bribes, so it must just state a fact. It almost
sounds like Jesus telling His disciples to make peace quickly with an offended
brother. Since the issue here is anger
and wrath and not averting justice, this might be closer to the
meaning of this proverb.
However,
v. 14 could also be in contrast to the next two verses on justice. Where a
bribe might give the look of justice or relief, only true justice brings joy;
and those who wander from good sense and try to live by bribes and
circumventing justice eventually find themselves in a (the?) bad place. God
loves justice and has built it into mankind. Even the worst person loves
justice for himself, which actually is a judgment to his own injustice toward
others. So anyway, if people really don't enjoy justice, they're not going to
like God. So, the bad place would really be better for them. Right?
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible,
click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't
work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/
and click on “Every
Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are
following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple,
following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship
culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging
each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make
disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our
growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here
or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some
explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My
comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on
Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups
will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with
and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the
harvest.
If you would like a complete description of this model
of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is
still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's
keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you
what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in
fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is
encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the
comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding,
that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but
only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month
of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download
these to use on your computer or to print.
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