Nehemiah 7:1-73
Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. 3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. 4 Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. 5 And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein, 6 These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; 7 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this; 8 The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two. 9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two. 11 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen. 12 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five. 14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. 15 The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight. 16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight. 17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.
18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven. 19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven. 20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five. 21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 22 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight. 23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four. 24 The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve. 25 The children of Gibeon, ninety and five. 26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight. 27 The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
28 The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two. 29 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three. 30 The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one. 31 The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two. 32 The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three. 33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two. 34 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 35 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. 36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five. 37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one. 38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. 39 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. 40 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. 41 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. 42 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. 43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four. 44 The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight. 45 The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight. 46 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 47 The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, 48 The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai, 49 The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
50 The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah, 52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim, 53 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 54 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah, 56 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 57 The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 58 The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 59 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon. 60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two. 61 And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father’s house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel. 62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two. 63 And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name. 64 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 65 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. 66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, 67 Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women. 68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five: 69 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses. 70 And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments. 71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver. 72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests’ garments. 73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
Despite continual opposition and some inner turmoil, the people of Israel rebuilt the wall surrounding the city of Jerusalem in just 52 days under Nehemiah’s leadership. However, what we find is that the book of Nehemiah is less than halfway through at that point. What is the rest of the book about? It is about God’s primary work, which was not restoring the physical structures of Jerusalem, but about restoring the spiritual well-being of His people. In fact, the rebuilding of the wall was not the ends, nor the primary work of God for Nehemiah, it was a means to the ends, which was the restoring of His people. In Nehemiah 7, we see that work begin to unfold following the completion of the wall. When the wall was complete, Nehemiah begins to appoint gatekeepers, singers, Levites, and leaders who will be instrumental in the restoring of the city. Further, we see the people gathered together in the city and a recording of all of those who are counted as part of the people of God in Jerusalem who had originally come up with Zerubbabel (538 B.C.). What do we learn from this lengthy list of names in Nehemiah 7? How does it apply today? Nehemiah 7 teaches us three things about “Why God’s People Gather” today.
The first purpose for which God’s people gather that can be learned from Nehemiah 7, is that we gather to comply to God’s authority. In the first four verses of Nehemiah 7, there are appointed leaders established for the people. Sheep need shepherds and that is exactly what God provides for His people. Here, there are gatekeepers, entrusted with protecting the people by determining who gets to come in or out of the city; there are singers and Levites who are appointed to lead the people spiritually in the worship of God; and there are two leaders given “charge over Jerusalem.” There last two individuals were marked out as “faithful” and two men who “feared God above many.” Nehemiah identified and marked out two essential qualities of leading God’s people, faithfulness and reverence. While reading through the Bible, it becomes clear that godly leaders are an essential part of God’s work being carried out through His people. It is vitally important that leaders exemplify the qualities that God desires to be evident in His people. The qualifications given for pastors and deacons in the New Testament bear this out in 1 Timothy 3:1-13. Nehemiah stands in a long line of godly leaders that God used to lead, encourage, correct, and serve His people. This same pattern of godly leaders being established is carried throughout the Bible, even into the New Testament. When the Apostles went out and planted churches in different areas, their common practice was to appoint elders (synonymous with pastors) in every place they went (Acts 14:21-23; 20:19-32). God’s leaders are called to lead His people in obedience to Him. Therefore, they have a great responsibility and authority given by God Himself. They lead both by directives and example. This authority is not self-derived, but is in accordance with His Word. That means, when God’s leaders lead His people according to His Word, they are acting with His authority (Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 13:17). These individuals are gifted uniquely by God for the task of leading His people in obedience to His Word. One of the purposes of God’s people gathering is that they might submit to that authority of His Word. In some sense, this cannot be done or accomplished apart from that gathering (Matthew 18:19-20).
The second purpose that God’s people gather is that we are counted with God’s people. The middle portion of Nehemiah 7 is a lengthy section that lists out the names of the people who returned originally with Zerubbabel under Cyrus’s edict in 538 B.C. The list was used to distinguish true Israelites and descendants that belonged in Jerusalem from those who did not. It would become important for determining who dwelt in the city and constituted the people of God and who did not. This list of names may not mean much to us at first glance, but it serves as a reminder of something that is echoed throughout the Bible, and that is that God’s people are always publicly and visibly identified with Him. In the Old Testament that identification came by identifying with the Jewish people. In the New Testament that identity is found in His Church. The pattern of identifying with His Church is defined by certain distinctives. It was by a public profession of faith through water baptism (Acts 2:41); regular gathering with the people of God in a specific local church (Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 2:19); and regular participation in the Lord’s Supper and discipleship through the local church (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 4:11-16). Public identification and regular participation have always been essential to God’s people making His name known in the world. In Nehemiah’s time this list of names provides a list of those who were committed to the work of restoring Jerusalem. Gathering with the people of God is not a secondary or unimportant thing. If we are going to be a part of His work on earth, we must identify and be with His people. That is the way He has chosen to work in the world.
The third purpose that God’s people gather is that we are committed to God’s service. In the final verses of the chapter, we have the record of those who were committed to the work of God through giving. The list of valuables that were contributed were items that were to be used in the service of the temple by the priests and Levites. While the giving of valuables is certainly not the only way a person can contribute to God’s work with God’s people, it is a great indicator of commitment. In Exodus 25, we can read about how the Israelites that came out of Egypt brought their valuables to contribute to the building of the tabernacle to worship the Lord. In Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-37, we find that sacrificial, cheerful giving naturally flowed from the love of the Christian community in providing for one another. Giving is done to further the work of God in the world and care for His people. It is a demonstration of our commitment to those two things. The other way we commit to God’s work is through service. Verse 73 provides a list of called individuals who would serve in different capacities in the work and worship of the temple. This verse sets the stage in preparation for Nehemiah 8 and the gathering of the people to hear the Word of the Lord and surrender themselves in obedience to Him.
Gathering with the people of God is, and has always been, an essential part of the life of His people. While many things are different in the New Testament and the Old Testament, between the Church and Israel, this necessity has remained constant throughout Scripture. God’s people gather. We gather to submit to Christ’s Lordship through called and ordained leaders who lead through His Word. We gather to visibly identify that we are part of His people. We gather to cooperate and commit to work together in serving His kingdom purposes on earth. There has never been a more important time to stand up and be counted with God’s people, the Church. Are you submitted to Christ’s authority in His Church with others who watch over your soul? Are other people able to see and recognize that you identify with Christ through His people? Are you an active part of God’s kingdom work in the world, working alongside His people?