Return from Exile: Nehemiah 11 and 12 (6)

Pray Psalm 85.1-3.
LORD, You have been favorable to Your land;
You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.
You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people;
You have covered all their sin.
Selah
You have taken away all Your wrath;
You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.

Sing Psalm 85.1-3.
(Lyons: O Worship the King)
O LORD, You Your favor showed to Your land;
Your people You saved by Your mighty hand.
Their sins You forgave, all Your wrath You withdrew;
You turned back the anger which to them was due.

Read Nehemiah 12.1-47; meditate on verses 44-47.

Prepare
1. How did the people feel about their priests and Levites?

2. What did they do for them?

Meditation
We note that the people “rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered” (v. 44). We have seen, in both Ezra and Nehemiah, that God moved in and among His people in various ways to provoke them to work and worship. This effort was genuine, as far as it went, and it was led by the priests and Levites. They declared the Word of God to the people and led them in glorious worship. And the people, rejoicing to be so fed and led, provided for the needs of those who ministered to them.

The priests and Levites set a proper example, keeping their charge faithfully and maintaining pure lives (v. 45). They also did their work faithfully, as we have seen. The people provided for their daily needs (v. 47) and also brought sacrifices and offerings—“holy things”—which also fed their ministers.

Paul endorsed this approach for supporting those who minister the Word of God: “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches” (Gal. 6.6; cf. also 1 Cor. 9.11-14; Rom. 15.26, 27). Apparently, in Nehemiah’s day, the people needed a little reminding in the matter. Certain officers “were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse…to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law” (v. 44). That Hebrew verb “to gather” is stronger than “to receive” and suggests some may have been appointed to collect the offerings rather than simply wait for folks to bring them.

Were the people reluctant givers? We’ll wait until we get to Malachi to answer that question. For now, we’re keeping an eye on the storerooms, and they are being well supplied and diligently guarded. Well done, people.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
“…for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered” (Neh. 12.44).

To all the families of ministers—the ministers themselves, their wives, and their children—may God richly bless you with congregations that rejoice over you and bless your lives with love and at least enough.

For all the places we have served throughout our ministry years…
“…I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you…And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. But be that as it may, I did not burden you” (2 Cor. 12.14-16). And I dare say, there are many minister’s families who feel the same way.

To be appreciated and rejoiced over? Oh my, what a blessing.
There are many scores of families serving churches all over the world who need your encouragement, prayers, and love.

Let’s be like those people of Judah, who for a time, showed their leaders much care and concern. And you leaders and families: God is always faithful. And even if you are not being appreciated or loved, there is still much to rejoice over. Jesus says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12.9).

And for all believers everywhere, we have His worldview to cling to when others are not kind and we are experiencing this thorn in our flesh: “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12.9, 10).

Let’s just make sure that we are doing everything we can to “rejoice over” the ministers, and their families, who so willingly serve in the Kingdom of God through whatever Church we attend.

Those who minister could use the encouragement.

For reflection
1. What is your approach to encouraging those who minister God’s Word to you?

2. Why is the ministry of the Word which others provide for you important to your walk with and work for the Lord?

3. Pray for those who minister the Word to you. Which of them will you encourage today?

The reason that the people liked the priests, Levites and other ministers of holy things to dwell in Jerusalem is that they rejoiced in the good works of those by whose God-devoted perseverance not only had the people been corrected from their sins but also the city rebuilt and dedicated with great praise and joy. The Venerable Bede (672-735), On Ezra and Nehemiah 3.33

Pray Psalm 85.4-13.
Pray for those who minister the Word of God to you, that they will seek the Lord for revival and be faithful in living and teaching His Word. Pray that God will give what is good to meet their daily needs.

Sing Psalm 85.4-13.
(Lyons: O Worship the King)
Restore us, O God, renew us in peace,
and cause all Your wrath against us to cease.
Will You evermore all Your wrath to us show?
Revive us that we may Your joy again know.

LORD, show us Your love; restore us, we pray!
And help us to hear the words that You say.
Speak peace to Your people; in truth let us stand.
We fear You; let glory and grace fill our land.

In Jesus God’s grace and truth are combined;
both goodness and peace in Him do we find.
Truth springs from the earth as He walks in our midst,
and righteousness flows from the heav’ns as a gift.

The LORD by His grace will give what is good;
our land will produce abundance of food.
And righteousness will go before the LORD’s face,
and make of His footsteps a way in this place.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available free by clicking here.