Nehemiah 11:1 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. 3 These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. 4 And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin.
Nehemiah 12:27 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. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; 29 also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall. 31 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. 32 And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, 33 and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, 35 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; 36 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. 37 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. 38 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, 39 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. 40 So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me; 41 and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader. 43 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.
Nehemiah 12:44 On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. 45 And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.
Parenthesis Concluded
Our past few studies have looked at a parenthesis in Nehemiah's story of rebuilding Jerusalem. In this parenthesis, we watched Nehemiah's generation read the Bible for six hours in Nehemiah 8. They then read it and prayed for six hours in Nehemiah 9. And they made a covenant with God based on what they read in Nehemiah 10. In this parenthesis, God's Spirit was working in the lives of God's people through the truth of God's word.
Before this three chapter movement, Nehemiah and the people had completely repaired the wall surrounding Jerusalem. But Nehemiah said:
Nehemiah 7:4 (ESV) — 4 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.
So even though they'd rebuilt Jerusalem's walls and gates, the city within those walls was still a mess. Hardly anyone lived there, and no homes had been rebuilt. Jerusalem was a shell of its former glory.
To remedy this problem, the people joyfully dedicated themselves to God's mission in Jerusalem, praised him for his help in rebuilding Jerusalem, and prepared themselves for a long future of serving God in Jerusalem. If they had not dedicated themselves in this way, everything they'd done so far would be pointless. Today, let's consider each of these three facets of joyful dedication.
1. Dedication To The Mission (11:1-36)
Background
First, let's consider their joyful dedication to the mission. In Nehemiah 11, we have a long record of the people who moved into Jerusalem and its nearby villages in Nehemiah's day. Nehemiah records that 1,192 of them were priests, 284 were Levites, and many others were temple servants—they moved there to restart the temple worship (3-9). But more than temple workers arrived in Jerusalem. Nehemiah records 3,044 men in all in this chapter. 468 of them were from the tribe of Judah (4-6). 968 of them were from Benjamin (7-9).
And many others moved to the seventeen towns immediately surrounding Jerusalem—meaning they became commuters who would travel to the holy city when their shift for service came (25-36).
Though we didn't take the time to read the entire list aloud today, I don't mean to suggest this list in unimportant. For ancient Israelites, reading these lists would be like visiting a war memorial. Each person on the list was a hero. Throughout the passage, these new inhabitants of Jerusalem were referred to as valiant and great men of honor (6, 14). God thought highly of these citizens because they did what was needed—someone had to live in Jerusalem, and God appreciated these men for their sacrifice!
But I told you these people had joyfully dedicated themselves to God's mission. How so? Simple. God wanted to be known in Jerusalem's temple—that's why they thought of Jerusalem as the holy city (1, 18). It was the place God's temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations. As long as the city was desolate, there'd be no real revival, no real spiritual life on earth. No people, no worship. No worship, no witness. No witness, no salvation. No salvation, no eternal life. So inhabiting Jerusalem was truly a life and death decision. And God's mission was to bring life!
As The Light Of The World
So the people of Nehemiah's day got to it. They joyfully dedicated themselves to God's mission to reach people.
And we must do the same. The church must stay focused on the simple mission Christ left us. We don't have a temple or holy city to occupy. But we are to be the temple of God to the cities and places we live in. In Nehemiah's day, the nations were meant to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem. But in our day, we are meant to make pilgrimage to the nations.
Jesus said:
Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV) — 18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
So we are to embrace Christ's mission of making disciples. We are to go to the world with the hope of the gospel, baptizing and teaching any who believe. We are to be disciples who make more disciples—a slow process that engages people on a personal level.
In another place, Jesus said:
Matthew 5:14 (ESV) — 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
What Jesus means is that true Christianity is not meant to be hidden, but to be on display in the darkness. We thought long and hard about this during last year's study of 1 Peter. There, Peter told us it is wrong to respond to the marginalization of Christianity by running away, becoming angry, or conforming to the culture.
Instead, Peter said, we are to receive God's grace to stand firm (1 Peter 5:12). He even referred to us as aliens and sojourners in our own cities and cultures. We aren't to respond by running, but must instead prioritize God's mission.
Uncomfortable
Frankly, God's mission will be uncomfortable. It was certainly uncomfortable to Nehemiah's generation. Only Jerusalem's walls had been repaired, but everything else was broken—it had been a ghost town for at least seventy years! Jerusalem was not an ideal place to live or raise a family. But these people tithed not just their money, but themselves, and one out of every ten moved to the city (1). And others willingly volunteered to live in Jerusalem (2).
If we are going to dedicate ourselves to God's mission, we must be ready for hardship. I have said this before, but I don't think this is the time to look for the comforts of Christendom. Christendom is a society that is generally governed by Christian morals and laws, even if the people within the society haven't submitted to the gospel. Christendom is more comfortable (in some ways) for true Christians. But life outside a Christendom culture is not going to be comfortable for true believers.
If we are going to dedicate ourselves to God's mission, we must be ready for smallness. Nehemiah's generation sent less than 5,000 people into Jerusalem, a far cry from the glorious days of Solomon's reign. But we must adjust our sights to be glad even when God is working in only a few. European believers have made this adjustment—100 Christians gathered feels like a megachurch there!
And if we are going to dedicate ourselves to God's mission, we must be ready for hostility. Don't expect to be the favored voice or position. You might think I mean we should expect to be the political minority, and that one could remedy that by moving someplace where their political views are in the majority. I don't mean that. True Christianity will be the minority voice in every state and nation it finds itself until the return of Christ.
I love the focus of the people in Nehemiah 11. They were willing to center their lives around God's house and fulfill their responsibility to God's mission. I pray we also could fulfill our mission in God's kingdom.
As Jesus said:
Mark 4:21 (ESV) — 21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?"
Let's stay focused on our mission, brothers and sisters. In our times, there is much that can cause us fear or worry, which can distract us from our task. For instance, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has brought many questions to the surface. Is this the end? Is there a conspiracy at play to reset the world stage? I don't think so. Jesus said not to be alarmed when there are wars and rumors of wars because—though they must take place—the end is not yet (Mark 13:7). But even if it was the end, what would that change for us? Does Jesus' commission to make disciples of all nations suddenly shift in times of calamity? No! If anything, these times make the world more ripe for our mission.
A Word To Young Men And Women
Before I move on to the next point, I want to share a word with the young men and women of the church. I have had the blessing of teaching Nehemiah to Bible College students, and each time I have shared something with the class from this text. Nehemiah mentioned how the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to live in Jerusalem (2). These volunteers were held in high regard because they willingly entered into difficult work.
I believe every career that's compatible with Christianity can be a calling. After Easter, I am even going to teach you a four-week series on what the Bible says about career. I want all of us to see the dignity and holiness of our jobs. But I encourage all of you younger people to consider gospel work—and specifically for young men to consider the pastorate. The task is difficult. You won't get wealthy. The job won't be finished until Jesus returns. Pains and sorrows are guaranteed. It is emotionally and mentally draining. But it is intensely rewarding work for those called to it. Pray about it—and if it's something you'd like to entertain, talk to me.
2. Dedication Of Praise (12:1-43)
Background
In the second movement of our passage, the people joyfully dedicated their praise to God. Nehemiah's generation gathered everyone to Jerusalem to dedicate the wall they had just repaired. It was a time of intense gladness and thanksgiving to God (27). He had helped them fulfill their mission, and now they would go back to thank him for his help. They joyfully dedicated their praise to God. We should do the same. How so?
Historical Praise (1-29)
First, consider the historical nature of their praise. Bear with me. The chapter begins with another list (that we didn't read out loud). 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).
The reason those priests were recorded in Nehemiah 12 is that Nehemiah wanted to connect what he was about to do to the generation that came back from captivity. They 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. With that record as the pretext, Nehemiah recorded the gathering of God's people to praise God for his work. They felt they were continuing a larger and historical work God had begun ages earlier.
And we should praise God when we get to be even a small part of his long and historical work here on earth. I sometimes think about this on Sunday mornings on my drive to our gatherings. Since we are on the West Coast, we are one of the last time zones to experience Sunday morning. Congregations the world over—in Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, Western Europe, South America, and the rest of North America—have already gathered to praise God. And I rejoice at being one of the final waves of Christian expression on earth each week. So, even though the individual churches are usually small, we are also part of a large, worldwide network, and we should rejoice.
Musical Praise (27-43)
Second, consider the musical nature of their praise. The text mentions singing, choirs, cymbals, harps, and lyres (a small, harp-like instrument, 27). Over twenty instruments are mentioned in the Bible, and many of them were used to worship God. As the psalmist said:
Psalm 150:3–6 (ESV) — 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
To me, music is a significant evidence for a Creator God, something naturalistic evolution cannot explain. When God said to fill the earth, subdue the earth, and have dominion over the earth, I think he meant we should discover math equations and musical notes. He had put them into the cosmos for us to learn, cultivate, and enjoy.
And not only is music a way to enjoy creation, but an excellent vehicle for celebrating, thanking, and praying to God. Sometimes our words aren't enough—they need musical accompaniment to get the emotions through. I love watching and hearing our church sing to Jesus, and I feel we are growing in this ministry to his heart. Let's continue dedicating our praise to him in music!
Testimonial Praise (31-43)
Lastly—and most importantly in their story—consider the testimonial nature of their praise. Nehemiah organized two choirs—one led by Ezra, the other by Nehemiah. 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.
I call this testimonial praise because the fact they could walk on those walls testified to the strength of those walls. Remember their enemy, Tobiah? He ridiculed their efforts by saying, "What they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!" (Nehemiah 4:3) But now Nehemiah has two great choirs encircling the city on top of the walls. Take that Tobiah!
The book of Nehemiah started with Nehemiah encircling the city alone, scoping out the rubble and ruin in the privacy of nighttime (Nehemiah 2:12-17). Now Nehemiah is joined by many others, encircling the city out in public, praising God for his help in rebuilding the wall.
We don't know what they sang. Perhaps Psalms that highlighted God's blessings in the past. Perhaps the Psalms of Ascents that Israel sang when they went to the temple for the sacrificial feasts (Psalms 120-134). Perhaps Psalm 48:
Psalm 48:12–14 (ESV) — 12 Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, 13 consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation 14 that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.
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.
I pray that—someday—you’ll dance on your walls too, whatever they may be. That the marriage will stand firm, the relationship will stand repaired, or the ministry will stand fruitful. That the career will be built, the house will be paid off, or the children will succeed in adulthood. Taken this way, every promotion and graduation and baptism and birthday and Easter service is a chance to dance a little on a wall God has asked us to build.
3. Of Our Future (12:44-47)
But they didn't stop there. In one last portion of this section, the people committed to keeping it going. They appointed workers to oversee the storerooms, contributions, firstfruits, and tithes for the priests and the Levites (44). In ordaining these men and committing their resources, they were demonstrating a joyful dedication of their future to God. They wanted to go back to the days David and Solomon and Asaph had established many years earlier (45-46). They wanted the temple to flourish, so they planned for it.
I don't have time to say much on this point today, but I would encourage you to do what you can to prepare for a long life serving Jesus. "Lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and run with endurance the race that is set before you" (Hebrews 12:1).
Joyfully dedicate your future to God. Commit to a church. Commit your finances. Commit your body. Commit your friendships. Commit your decisions. Commit them all to God so you can enjoy him for the long run! Commit to keeping it going!
The events of this chapter are a bit like heaven on earth. If you fast-forward to the book of Revelation, you'll find a similar scene. A New Jerusalem inhabited by God's people. A holy temple (God's himself). Elders and leaders and choirs all joining together to worship God. An ongoing devotion to the living God. Many of the components of heaven as described in Revelation were found in Nehemiah's day!
With all the excitement in the passage today, it is sad to think about the existence of Nehemiah 13. As I've already said, it is not a happy chapter. All the commitments they made to live life on earth as it is in heaven dissipated once Nehemiah left town.
But, in one sense, this is how it should be. Only Jesus pursued the mission with perfection. Only Jesus served the Father with perfection. Only Jesus devoted his future to the Father with perfection. But because he did—because he lived perfectly before God in our place—we can one day experience his New Jerusalem complete with unending choirs and unfailing people. One day, because of Jesus, we will be what we were meant to be! And we will dance on the walls of his new Jerusalem, singing and celebrating him for all he's done to rebuild us and our world!
And you can know him. He certainly wants you to know him. He came for you—God's Son became like you, for you. Believe that he lived for you and died for you. Believe that he rose for you. If you do, he will adopt you and bring you into his forever kingdom.