Neh 12:44-47 ESV

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.

A GREAT JOYFUL GIVING

It’s quite notable that the book ends with a high note. From being miserable to become a merry people. From wanting to having wealth. Their joy in the Lord results to generosity. It is one thing to give and it’s another thing to give out of joy. On that dedication 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.”

A vibrant life is attractive. Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. Nobody would come near to a pouting person. But, everyone loves to be with a buoyant personality. At first they were grieved because of their sins. But, at the end of the day, they were joyful because of God’s goodness and grace.

Rejoicing in worship doesn’t mean no restraint, is it? 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. Joy and holiness aren’t mutually exclusive, are they? We rejoice in being consecrated or being set apart unto God and is grieved when we sinned against Him. As John Piper says, “God is most glorified in us if we are the most satisfied in Him.”

As a result, the daily portions were provided for the singers and the gatekeepers; and that which was for the Levites; and that which was for the sons of Aaron. There was no lack for those who are working in the temple for everyone has the joy to give. Is your giving unto the Lord joyful? As Paul said, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”[2 Cor 9:6,7]

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Neh 12:40-43 ESV

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.

A GREAT JOY

The walls were completed. The temple worship has been restored. All the people led by the Levites and choir singers sang praises and worshipped God. God made them to rejoice with great joy. That is, they were overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving, considering all that God had done. Choirs were assembled as the people spread all around.

The women and the children also rejoiced: This momentous experience of worship was for everyone. Nobody was restricted but everyone was able to worship. As a result, the joy at Jerusalem was heard afar off. What a testimony it was to others, wasn’t it? Notedly, it was not so much about the singing itself. It was the joy they had. We often are concerned about how others hear our singing in churches, don’t we? But, what God wants is not so much about your singing, but our joy. As the psalmist says,”make a joyful noise unto the Lord.”[Psa 100:1]

Our joy is expressedin worship. And it’s not dependent on circumstances. Take for example, inside the prison cell at about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. [Acts 16:25] God caused an earthquake that led them not only unto freedom but the salvation of the jailer. In Paul and Silas case, they worshipped because of their unwavering faith despite of the situation. They trusted that God knew what He was doing.[Isa 46:10] They knew for certain that God would do something beyond their expectations.[Eph 3:20]

Nothing can beat a joyful heart. Earlier Nehemiah reminded the people that ‘the joy of the Lord is their strength.’ Should the Lord manifests Himself in unnatural ways, we can’’t help but worship Him with joy in our hearts as the fruit of the Spirit [Gal 5:22].

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-Neh 11:27-30 ESV

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.

THE DEDICATION OF THE WALL

One of the most important jobs of the Levites was to lead the people in songs of worship and praise to God. They were specially appointed to use musical instruments to lead the people in worshipping God through singing. In the bible there are at least twenty-two different musical instruments mentioned, including the harp, the lyre (an ancient guitar), horns, trumpets, flutes, tambourines, drums, cymbals, and bells.

The mention of ‘sons of singers’ suggests that they were trained to be good singers like our choirs today. But more importantly, they had to be people of worship themselves. Let us not forget the huge difference between being a great singer and being a great leader of songs of worship to God. Definitely, worship should be excellent, but it isn't entertainment. The goal isn't to give the people a good feeling (though that may happen inevitably), but primarily it is to give glory and honor to God. Thus, they also brought cleansing to the people the way the God said so, knowing that only a purified people could really worship and praise God.

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”[John 4:24] Let’s not be presumptuous that worship is acceptable before God when we’re personal impure. We might be be carried away by the emotions through a beautiful acts and forms of praise and worship to God, yet living in sin outside the church walls.

Definitely this impurity won’t please God. As David writes;

“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to what is false

and does not swear deceitfully.”[Psa 24:3,4]

Right now, we can be made pure and clean before God through sincere and honest confession. As John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

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Neh 11:3-6 ESV

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. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite. 6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men.

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3 Ang mga ito ang mga puno sa lalawigan na nanirahan sa Jerusalem; ngunit sa bayan ng Juda ay nanirahan ang bawat isa sa kanya-kanyang ari-arian sa kanilang mga bayan: ang Israel, mga pari, mga Levita, mga lingkod sa templo, at ang mga anak ng mga lingkod ni Solomon. 4 Sa Jerusalem ay nanirahan ang ilan sa mga anak ni Juda at sa mga anak ni Benjamin. Sa mga anak ni Juda: si Ataias na anak ni Uzias, na anak ni Zacarias, na anak ni Amarias, na anak ni Shefatias na anak ni Mahalalel, sa mga anak ni Perez; 5 at si Maasias na anak ni Baruc, na anak ni Colhoze, na anak ni Hazaias, na anak ni Adaya, na anak ni Joiarib, na anak ni Zacarias, na anak ng Shilonita.6 Ang lahat ng mga anak ni Perez na nanirahan sa Jerusalem ay apatnaraan at animnapu't walong matatapang na mandirigma.

LIVING IN JERUSALEM

Think of the challenges in living in Jerusalem. It entails one had to re-order his view of material things. Giving up one’s land in his previous region in order to take up some kind of new business in Jerusalem was a tough decision. Perhaps, one may ask,”Would my family survive in this city?”

Their social relationships could be affected too. Definitely, leaving some friends and family behind in your old village should be emotionally challenging. And what about the potential problems in the city. It had been a ghost city for 70 years. Although at this time, it was basically a slightly rebuilt, yet it didn't look all that glorious and it still needed much work.

Furthermore, the city was a target for the enemy since it is the center of commerce and governance. Although, there were strong walls to protect them but it became the number one target of the enemy for attack from its whole army. The countryside are threatened by bands of robbers but not in much danger from great armies.

How should we reflect these observations today? While many didn't want to be citizens of Jerusalem during Nehemiah’s time, we should be excited for the coming of the new Jerusalem, shouldn’t we? The Bible tells us there is a city coming down from heaven to earth, when God is done with this earth as we know it, and it calls that city New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2).

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Neh 11:1-2 ESV

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.

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Ang mga pinuno ng bayan ay nanirahan sa Jerusalem; at ang iba naman sa taong-bayan ay nagpalabunutan upang kunin ang isa sa bawat sampu na maninirahan sa Jerusalem, na lunsod na banal, habang ang siyam na bahagi ay nanatili sa ibang mga bayan. 2 Binasbasan ng taong-bayan ang lahat ng mga lalaki na nagkusang tumira sa Jerusalem.

JERUSALEM AND ITS PEOPLE

For a city to prosper and be great, it must be populated. And for more than seventy years, Jerusalem had been nothing but a ghost town. Now, over the last eighty or so years, it has been repopulated, with a new temple built (under Ezra) and the walls rebuilt (under Nehemiah). But the city still needed more people.

Nehemiah also knew the bigger the population of Jerusalem, the greater the resources for defense and strength in battle. He didn't rebuild the walls just to see some conquering army come and break them down again!

The leaders of the people deciding to live Jerusalem had set a good example, had they not? Leaders are expected to set the pattern by their lives. They had no right to expect the people to live in Jerusalem if they themselves were not living there.

Understandably, the rest of the people submitted themselves to cast their lot, where one out of ten would be selected to move in from the surrounding regions into the city of Jerusalem. So, at the end of the day, ten percent of Judah's population would live in Jerusalem.

And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. Aside from the leaders (have) and those selected in the lottery (who were also obligated), there were all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

These men who volunteered had a special blessing, for having a unique pioneer spirit. Had they not the ability to endure some measure of hardship or discomfort to accomplish a greater work for God's kingdom? It was in these days in the rebuilding of Jerusalem that God asked and important question through the prophet Zechariah: For who has despised the day of small things? (Zechariah 4:10). The answer is, "Many of us have!" But these who offered themselves to willingly live at Jerusalem, so as to take what is small and build it up before the Lord, have decided to not despise the day of small things.

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Neh 10:32-39 ESV

32 “We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. 34 We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have likewise cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law. 35 We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the LORD; 36 also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks; 37 and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor. 38 And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. 39 For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.”

WE WILL NOT NEGLECT THE HOUSE OF OUR GOD

They, resolve to not only to discontinue their compromises but also to fulfill the laws regarding the temple worship and its upkeep. Likewise, Christianity should not be characterized by what one has stop doing but what productive work he is engaged with. The ‘what we do’ is more important than ‘what we don’t do’

Firstly, they agreed to give as God had commanded in the law of Moses, that are, the firstborn, firstfruits, and the tithe. Secondly, they agreed to give to the special need required, that is, the one-third of a shekel tax and the wood.

Solomon said that such giving from the heart a corresponding promise, saying,”Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”[Prov 3:9,10].

Interestingly, they covenanted earlier to make money only in ways that would please and glorify God. Moreover, they covenanted to spend their money and resources in ways that glorify God. And, they expressed it with giving unto the Lord, first and foremost. Let’s not forget that Jesus has emphasized this, saying, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.”[Mark 8:36]

We don’t have a temple to keep today. But the imagery is our bodies become the temple of the Spirit.[1 Cor 6:19,20] This implies the upkeep of our relationship with God must be prioritized. We must not neglect to do that which promote our relationship with God.

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Neh 10:1-31 ESV

28 “The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, 29 join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his rules and his statutes. 30 We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. 31 And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.

A RESOLVE TO STOP COMPROMISES

Collectively, the nation was resolved to enter into a covenant with God in writing. Stamped upon the seals are some 84 names of leaders and priests, including Nehemiah. Literally, the practice is to "cut a covenant". In the ancient world, an animal was cut in half as a sacrifice, as part of the covenant. Thus, it always costs something, That is, it implies that it will affect our self-life, comfort, ease, for one is willing to count the cost to fulfill it. Thus, in one spirit and conviction, they were committed to obey the law of Moses at all cost. With it, they were willing to suffer the ‘curse’ of it when they would disobey it. They made this covenant publicly. Although its most significant meaning was between the individual and God, it was also important that other people be witness as a show of accountability.

Firstly, they resolved what not to do. Serious decisions for God do include saying ‘No’ to a few things. In their case, they resolve to stop the practice of ‘inter-marriage’ with the heathen. Did not Paul warn us strongly about this. He writes, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God.”[2 Cor 6:14-16]

Secondly, they would stop their trading business during the Sabbath day and exacting debt-payments on Sabbath year. The motive for breaking this was clear, that was, to make more money by selling on seven days of the week instead of six days only. Today, we need to have the same heart before God to only make money in ways that are obedient and glorifying to Him. Yes, we have bills to pay and families to feed. Yet, we must heed to what Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”[Matt 6:33] Should to please God is our utmost concern, we are not to circumvent the biblical principles in order to enrich ourselves, are we?

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-Neh 9:32-38 ESV

32 “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33 Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. 35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.

38 “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.

THE COVENANT

Although they had completed the temple and wall, they were still under the Persian rule. Thus, the humbly said, “Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.”

Ironically, they were slaves living ‘in the land that God gave to theirr fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts.’ They still felt the pain of being vassal, that is, under the Persian Empire. Living with unconfessed sins is as locking ourselves inside bars and throwing the keys away. There is no way out except confessing it before God and repenting away the same. As Solomon says,

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”[Prov 28:13]

True revival involves a resolve. They ended their prayer with a decision saying, “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.”[v.38] Like Israel, we also need to come to this place, where in, upon knowing who God is, and knowing who we are, we come and make a covenant with God. God's working in us often must come to a point of decision, wherein, He desires us to make a firm and unequivocable stand for Him. As Peter expressed to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”[John 6:68,69]

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Neh 9:26-31 ESV

26 “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. 27 Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. 29 And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. 30 Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. 31 Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

CHASTISEMENT

It’s tragic that during the time of comfort and abundance, Gods' people turn against Him. Man is more vulnerable in times of abundance than in times of lack, isn’t it? Thus, for their rebellion and blasphemies, God gave them over to their enemies, who made them to suffer. Simply said, their suffering was a chastisement from God.

Certainly, this was a consequence to their sins. The writer of Hebrews says;

“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?[Heb 12:7-9]

God’s love isn’t pampering but purifying love. His love doesn’t rejoice in evil. God brings chastisement as a "wake-up call" to His people. As a result, God's people then turn back to Him. Having been forgiven, blessed and satisfied by God, they again turn from Him, and the cycle continued. This ‘blessing -rebellion – chastisement-repentance -blessing’ cycle seemed endless. Yet, in these cycles, God doesn’t change.

Are we different than these feeble Jews? Do we feel as if God has gotten tired of us? That we couldn't ask him to forgive us anymore for a sin that beset us? But, God never gets tired of us, and never turns away the repentant heart. Thankfully, His patience never runs out. After all, He knows our frame that we are made of dust.

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Neh 9:22-25 ESV

22 “And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23 You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess. 24 So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. 25 And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

WHAT GOD GAVE, THEY CAPTURED

All that they possessed were gifts from God. Nothing whatsoever could they claim as out of their abilities and power. It was God who drove the tribes out of the Promised Land, with their obedience to step and

claim the lots allotted to them.

Two key phrases that provide a balanced view of blessings, that are; “God gave” and “they captured” They captured the places God has given. God’s promise can only be experienced by obedience. Blessings are not designed to drop at our laps but to capture it by our courage. Clearly, the basis of obedience is the promise of God. Victory is assured but we must hold unto our swords and thrust forward in faith.

Similarly, God has offered to us His salvation for free. Yet, it isn’t automatic. Those who are sincere have truly repented from their sins and humbly trust Christ would be sure of their salvation.

Because they moved in deeper into the heartlands of Canaan, they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness. As somebody said, “Nothing ventured, nothing happens.” Spiritual fullness are for those who step up and claim God’s promises. As Paul said, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”[Phil2:12,13]

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