Lists of names in the Bible can be challenging to read, and even more challenging to preach. However, the presence of these names reveals something about God’s heart to us. He cares about his promises, and he cares about his people. However, this list represents more than just a census; this is a list of people who are part of God’s covenant community that exists, not for itself, but to reflect God’s character to a spiritually darkened world.

Let’s turn our attention to this week’s sermon entitled, “We the People” from Ezra chapter 2, verses one through seventy, and the matching text contained in Nehemiah, chapter 7.