They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
– Nehemiah 8:8 ESV

HEBREW
מְפֹרָ֑שׁ/ mə·p̄ō·rāš: distinctly, with clarity

CONSIDER
Nehemiah 8 provides a definite transition in the narrative from building the physical structures of the city to building the spiritual structures of a nation. The people heard the scriptures read aloud – some for the first time – and it led them to respond in different ways. At times, they lifted up their hands in joyful worship, while at others they wept in sorrowful repentance. While the scriptures were being read, the people understood the reading because Ezra and the Levites read from the Law of God mə·p̄ō·rāš (distinctly, with clarity). This implies that the religious leaders expounded on more than the literal words of the text; they made the central message of the text plain, apparent, and distinct. We can infer from this that Ezra was less interested in the people doing something than he was in them being something. How do we know? Because if the point was to adhere to a “to-do list,” the law wouldn’t need much clarifying! Scripture would only need to be explained if the point was for it to accomplish and develop something in them. Are there areas of our spiritual lives in which we’re more concerned with checking off the right box rather than allowing God to use those areas to shape us into the right person? As we begin our journey in this new series, we would also do well to resist approaching the text as a list of things to do, and instead look with mə·p̄ō·rāš for who it challenges us to be.

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How will I walk in the joy of the Lord?

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
– Nehemiah 8:10 ESV

HEBREW
תֵּ֣עָצֵ֔בוּ/ tê·‘ā·ṣê·ḇū: be upset, be pained

CONSIDER
It’s been said that those we love the most are capable of inflicting the most pain. For example, a stranger who tells you they don’t like you, and a family member who says the same, will likely elicit a completely different response. So when Joseph’s eleven brothers threw him into a pit and sold him to foreign slave traders, we might think he would have every right to hold a grudge and be forever embittered. But in Genesis 45 we see that not only did he forgive his brothers, but he went beyond that to encourage them in their most sorrowful moment. Verse 5 says Joseph told them that God used their evil act to in fact save many lives, because as a famine ravaged his homeland, Joseph rose to such a lofty political position in Egypt that he made decisions on national food supplies and international aid. In his speech, Joseph encouraged his brothers not to tê·‘ā·ṣê·ḇū (be upset, be pained) because God had a bigger plan.
This same Hebrew word is used by Nehemiah in today’s verse. The people were terribly upset when they heard the law read to them because they recognized their guilt and how egregious their sin was. But rather than working to make them feel even more pained by their sin, Nehemiah, like Joseph, encouraged the guilty to “not tê·‘ā·ṣê·ḇū for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” The law of Moses clearly indicted the people and rendered a guilty verdict for them, but Nehemiah wanted the exiles to respond to the joy of the Lord instead of the pain of their disobedience. See, the law proclaimed their guilt but it also declared the remedy. In just over a week from that day, Israel would celebrate the Day of Atonement, when a scapegoat would symbolically take on the sins of the nation and be led away into the wilderness. God’s forgiveness could then be experienced and things would be made new for them. But the problem with the Day of Atonement is that another scapegoat would be needed the following year, and every year for the rest of their lives. Thankfully, this ceremony actually pointed to a day when Jesus, the perfect “scapegoat,” would willingly take on himself the sin of all humanity. He would leave Heaven, endure the wilderness of this earth, and once and for all provide the atonement that each of us needs through his death and resurrection. When we recognize the bad news our sin brings about, the good news of the gospel of Jesus provides joy that is strong enough to endure whatever pain may come.

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How will I walk in the joy of the Lord?

And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing.
– Nehemiah 8:17 ESV

HEBREW
שִׂמְחָ֖ה/ śim·ḥāh: joy, celebrating

CONSIDER
A snow day in elementary school. Finding money in the pocket of your old jeans. Discovering that the restaurant threw in extra onion rings. We all know the feeling of an unexpected surprise, when delight seems to come out of left field. But how many of us can say we would be taken aback by the elation of sleeping in a homemade tent in the wilderness for a week? That’s the unique situation we read about in Nehemiah 8. When the Israelites heard the law read, they were gutted by the reality of their sin. So in response, they recognized the importance of obedience to God’s command and celebrated the Feast of Booths in the specific way the law marked out. Verse 17 suggests that this Festival had never been so accurately celebrated. And as a result, there was very great śim·ḥāh (joy, celebrating). At first, it certainly doesn’t seem like erecting your own shelter would evoke the same emotions as a surprise bonus. But the noun śim·ḥāh carries the idea of a prolonged state of being. So this wasn’t a quick shot of adrenaline that gave them temporary happiness; following God brought on a complete and joy-filled change internally! This inward change caused such an outward reaction that it became synonymous with worship. So walking in the joy of the Lord with longevity doesn’t come from things perfectly falling into place, but from faithfully taking God at his word no matter what comes our way.

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How will I walk in the joy of the Lord?

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.
– Nehemiah 9:25 ESV

HEBREW
וַיִּֽתְעַדְּנ֖וּ/ way·yiṯ·‘ad·də·nū: luxuriated, indulged

CONSIDER
San Diego, California is synonymous with perfect weather. Rochester, New York is not. San Diego’s climate remains consistently pleasant throughout the year, since it’s nestled between mountains and the ocean, just 17 miles from Mexico. The National Weather Service reports that “Spring comes slowly” and “Autumn is brief” in Rochester due to its proximity to Lake Ontario and Canada. And while it’s obvious which city has more 75 degree days, what might not be apparent is the joy that each of these days elicits in Rochesterians. Because we’ve experienced the bitterness of sub-freezing temperatures, we can better appreciate the moments when the sun shines and the air is warm.
In a spiritual sense, Nehemiah made a similar point in today’s verse. As the Levites recounted how their ancestors failed to obey God’s law, they conveyed how he nevertheless showed steadfast love to these undeserving people. They should have been annihilated and yet the Lord led them to cities they didn’t build and crops they didn’t plant. Nehemiah says that they way·yiṯ·‘ad·də·nū (luxuriated, indulged) in your great goodness. This Hebrew verb is derived from the word Eden – the name of the perfect garden God created for Adam and Eve in which to commune with him. The Israelites knew both the sorrow of sin and the joy of grace, and this fact led to indulging in God’s goodness as if they lived in Eden. When we know what we deserve and yet experience the grandeur of God’s character, it profoundly shapes us into people who desire proximity to him above all else.

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How will knowing God’s character shape my identity?

Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
– Nehemiah 9:31 ESV

HEBREW
לֹֽא־ עֲשִׂיתָ֥ם/ lō- ‘ă·śî·ṯām: did not un-create them

CONSIDER
You don’t need to read too far in the Bible before encountering the majesty and creativity of God. Genesis 1:7 says that God created the land. Genesis 1:16 teaches that God created the sun, moon, and stars. And Genesis 1:26 expresses God’s desire to create humans in his own image. In each of these verses, the same Hebrew verb for creation is used in two different forms. This word speaks to the power and glory of God because it is rightly understood to mean an act of bringing something to life from nothing. God didn’t just repurpose something that was already in existence; our Creator God brought things to life simply by willing it to happen!
This truth is crucial to understanding how profound today’s verse is. In it, God’s people are recounting and confessing the sins of their ancestors, and as they do, they glorify him because “in your great mercies you lō- ‘ă·śî·ṯām (did not un-create them) or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.” Nehemiah uses the negative of the same word found in Genesis to express how much grace their forefathers were given. Nehemiah implies that their sin demanded punishment and that God would be right to will that they would literally be uncreated, or destroyed without any remnant or existence. But not only does the text point back to God not treating them according to how their sin deserved, but throughout it also points forward to God’s redemptive plan to rescue his people despite their sin! We all deserve to be “uncreated” because of our sin, but God sent his son Jesus to take this annihilation upon himself. As a result of this extravagant mercy, we never have to worry about whether God will treat us the way our sins deserve. May this reality profoundly shape our identity this week.

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How will knowing God’s character shape my identity?

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.
– Nehemiah 9:35 ESV

HEBREW
וְהַשְּׁמֵנָ֛ה/wə·haš·šə·mê·nāh: robust, bountiful

CONSIDER
Here is a persistent lie that those of us in the 21st Century are apt to believe without much consideration: The more God gives us, the more we will respond in thanks and worship toward him. Of course, it’s likely we would never actually declare this out loud or tell someone that we think this way, but it can subtly creep into our theology if we aren’t actively guarding against it. Our modern culture sees comfort and convenience as a God-given right, so if we are uncomfortable or inconvenienced, we can wrongly imply we are being spiritually attacked and therefore less likely to worship. But the Bible repeatedly references the fact that God is more concerned about the posture of our heart than the ease of our situation. Nehemiah 9 is one of those references.
In this week’s text, as the people of God repent, they confess that their ancestors acted sinfully as well. One of the themes of their sin is that they acted wickedly despite the fact they were surrounded by the goodness of God, who set before them a large and wə·haš·šə·mê·nāh (robust, bountiful) land. This Hebrew adjective describes the ability of someone or something to cover every need in abundance. So even though God provided a bountiful land that would supply robust resources to his people, they still chose to turn away from him and toward wickedness. When our worship is predicated on our comfort level, we must honestly assess our motivation to glorify the Lord in the first place. It’s God’s character – his very nature and essence rightly understood – that will drive us to authentic praise. Thank God that the wə·haš·šə·mê·nāhmercy of Jesus provided everything we need to see that character in perfect clarity.

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How will knowing God’s character shape my identity?

Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.
– Nehemiah 9:33 ESV

HEBREW
הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ/hir·šā·‘ə·nū: have committed ourselves to make trouble

CONSIDER
The largest unsolved art theft in the world occurred on March 18th, 1990. Two men entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, tied up the guards and 81 minutes later were in possession of $200 million in paintings from Rembrandt, Degas, and others. The time it took to complete the job may seem short, but considering the average art theft takes less than 10 minutes, this heist was methodical, researched, and very meticulously executed. The thieves had every detail planned out down to orchestrating the perfect cuts to remove the paintings from their frames. The act may have lasted 81 minutes but experts believe a crime ring spent months or even years preparing for this singular event.
This sentiment is also expressed by the confessing Levites in Nehemiah 9. Here, the people declare that God has dealt mercifully with them because he has “dealt faithfully and we hir·šā·‘ə·nū (have committed ourselves to make trouble).” God’s people weren’t simply repentant because of a momentary slip-up or singular act; they rightly understood their sin to be premeditated, thought out, and intentional. They worked hard at making trouble, and in so doing deserved a severe punishment. But the good news is that God did not treat his people the way their sins deserved (see Psalm 103). Despite their sin being calculated and designed, God dealt faithfully with them by providing a system of forgiveness through the offering of sacrifices at the temple. This system served to point to a greater sacrifice, one that would be offered once for all. When Jesus agreed to fulfill his Father’s plan, all of us who hir·šā·‘ə·nū were given the opportunity to be free from the pain of our regretful choices. Thank God that we have a Savior who himself bore the punishment that our sins deserve so that we could receive the freedom that his perfection earned! ​

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What choices require my repentance?

Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
– Nehemiah 9:31 ESV

HEBREW
לֹֽא־ עֲשִׂיתָ֥ם/ lō- ‘ă·śî·ṯām: did not un-create them

CONSIDER
We’ve grown accustomed to apparent contradictions, haven’t we? Things like “constantly changing,” “awfully good,” and “controlled chaos” are said without much thought. But in life, contradictions can lead to significant issues. St. Francis of Assisi prioritized poverty in his monastic order, believing that possessions would lead to pride. So when he died and donations to the Franciscans came pouring in, it seemed strange that they were used to build the largest and most ornate church in Italy. This decision divided and weakened the order, putting a damper on the momentum they had gained with Francis at the helm.
A spiritual contradiction that many of us can relate to is our propensity to sin despite knowing the goodness of God. As the Levites confessed their wrongdoing on behalf of the people, they recognized that the Lord had provided a land full of ṭū·ḇāh (good things, goodness). But for all of his provisions, their response was to turn away from God and live life on their terms. Imagine how it would feel if the people you loved most in this world repaid your ṭū·ḇāh with a cold shoulder! It would be natural to want to reverse course, retaliate, and remove those good things you had given. Thankfully, God’s ways are so much higher than ours, and when the people turned from him, he pursued them! Although they experienced the consequences of their disobedience, God provided a way for them to again turn toward him. This seeming contradiction in how our Heavenly Father could have responded is one reason we can boldly assume a posture of repentance, knowing that in Jesus we have a picture of just how extravagant his love for us truly is.

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What choices require my repentance?

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.
– Nehemiah 9:37 ESV

HEBREW
וּבְצָרָ֥ה/ū·ḇə·ṣā·rāh: anguish, trouble

CONSIDER
If you’ve ever had a child – or have been one yourself – you’re likely familiar with the difference between being sorry for the thing you’ve done and being sorry that you got caught doing that thing. In one scenario the child feels remorse because they’ve broken the rules, and in the other scenario they feel remorse because their breaking the rules got them grounded. Even at a young age, many of us intrinsically understand the difference between the two. So when we ask ourselves the question: What choices require my repentance? we are in fact forcing ourselves to honestly assess our motivation for repenting. Are we simply coming up with a list of things that get us upset because they have gotten us in trouble, or are we genuinely repentant for choices we have made that run contrary to the heart of God? At first glance, it might seem as if the exiles chose to enter a covenant with God simply because they disliked where their poor choices led them. Their enemies had captured them twice, and even the return to their land hadn’t actually led to freedom. They cried out to God because they were in great ū·ḇə·ṣā·rāh (anguish, trouble). But it wasn’t just because of this immediate bondage that they entered a covenant with the Lord. The crux of this pericope can be found in verse 33, when the people admit that God has acted faithfully even though they had acted wickedly. While it’s true that they hated the oppression they faced daily, it was also the recognition that acting contrary to God’s will was itself troubling and anguish-inducing. In other words, they weren’t grieving because they got in trouble for their sin; they were in great ū·ḇə·ṣā·rāh because they recognized how guilty they were in light of the perfection of his character. So rather than being afraid to repent of our brokenness to a holy God, when we genuinely recognize the Lord’s faithful character we will be able to more clearly see how our repentance can lead us to a place of healing.

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What choices require my repentance?

“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,
– Nehemiah 10:28 ESV

HEBREW
הַנִּבְדָּ֞ל/han·niḇ·dāl: those who have set themselves apart

CONSIDER
As strange as it sounds, the creation narrative in Genesis 1 is a great place to turn for anyone who wants to understand Nehemiah 10 more fully. In the beginning, God created the various elements of our world by separating what he called into existence. In verse 4, God separated light from darkness. In verses 6 and 7, God separated space from the atmosphere. And in verse 14, God separated the days – day from night. It seems that a significant part of creating is separating. If there was no separation of these elements from each other, life could not exist as it does. God chose to completely set one element apart from the other.
When Nehemiah made a record of the people who chose to enter into a covenant with God, he specifically included “all han·niḇ·dāl (those who have set themselves apart) from the peoples of the lands.” The people who inhabited the Promised Land before the Israelites did were not totally driven out, and it even seems that some groups were strengthened while the Israelites were in captivity. These pagan nations prioritized a host of lesser things instead of worshiping the one true God. Still, there were some non-Israelites who refused to follow the traditions of their ancestors and instead chose to set themselves apart for the Lord. This Hebrew verb denotes both action and intensity and stems from the word for separation used in Genesis 1. In other words, these people were as set apart from their pagan relatives as light is from darkness. Whatever the reason, they rightly understood that submission to the Creator was worth everything they could possibly surrender in the process. May we experience that same truth in separating ourselves for the glory of God!

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What have I neglected that God is asking me to address?

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.
– Nehemiah 10:29 ESV

HEBREW
לָלֶ֙כֶת֙/lā·le·ḵeṯ: move purposely in stride, move in lock-step [with]

CONSIDER
Ayse and Darren are, in many ways, living a typical 21st century life. They met and fell in love during the pandemic and bonded over their favorite take-out places and love of social media. But for all the typical boxes their relationship checks, one thing stands out about this couple: they married without ever meeting each other in person. Ayse lived in England and found a penpal in the United States who could ease her boredom during the lockdown in her area. This penpal introduced Ayse to her son, Darren, and 10 months later they were engaged, having only seen each other through Zoom calls. Their wedding was held via Zoom 13 months after being introduced, and because of travel restrictions there were several friends and family in virtual attendance. When people lament about how technology has made life so different, Ayse and Darren’s unique story could very well be exhibit A!
And yet, when it comes to knowing God’s Law, how many of us might be guilty of having a similar story? We could claim to know, honor, and even love God’s law, but have we settled for experiencing it at a lengthy distance? When the people committed to enter a covenant with God, they did so promising to lā·le·ḵeṯ (move purposely in stride, move in lock-step [with]) in God’s Law that was given by Moses the servant of God. Denoting familiarity and even intimacy, this Hebrew verb is used to express a relationship that goes far beyond information. In other words, this covenant was different from simply promising to memorize laws. The people entered a covenant to be intimately aware of God’s plan as they journeyed in lock-step wherever the Law led them. This measure of trust is only attained as we become more aware of the heart of God and his reason for providing the Law in the first place. So don’t settle for a distant relationship – let this reality draw you closer to Jesus, who both perfectly embodies the radiance of God’s glory and came to fulfill the Law through his life, death, and resurrection.

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What have I neglected that God is asking me to address?

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.”
– Nehemiah 10:39 ESV

HEBREW
נַעֲזֹ֖ב/na·‘ă·zōḇ: fail to follow the lead of

CONSIDER
The concept of “following” someone has morphed dramatically in the digital age. A generation ago, anyone who claimed to follow celebrities and could tell you the smallest detail of their most recent meal would have been reported to the authorities! Now, we can easily follow friends, enemies, strangers, acquaintances, those we agree with, and those we don’t. It stands to reason that there are very few people we are following that we would actually choose to follow!
What have I neglected that God is asking me to address? For most of us, the answer to this question hinges on where we are willing to follow God as he leads. Nehemiah records the commitment of God’s people to “not na·‘ă·zōḇ(fail to follow the lead of) the house of our God.” In English, we may be tempted to think that this phrase means that they committed to keep the temple tidy or clean up after the sacrifices were finished. But na·‘ă·zōḇ is linked to the concept of following someone as they blaze a path out of danger or the wilderness. So the people were actually committing to follow God through adherence to the functions and processes of the house of God. This obedience would showcase to the world that these people were set apart for the One who would supernaturally care for them. This same life-changing obedience can still be on display today by addressing what we have chosen to na·‘ă·zōḇ in our lives.

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What have I neglected that God is asking me to address?

And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.
– Nehemiah 11:2 ESV

HEBREW
הַמִּֽתְנַדְּבִ֔ים/ham·miṯ·nad·də·ḇîm: freely volunteered themselves

CONSIDER
The Civil War was the deadliest period in all of American history. Millions of men and women fought for an ideology they truly believed in. In fact, in the Union army alone, more than 2 million people enlisted over the course of the war. In a country with a population of only 31 million people, this number represented a huge contingency of brave and resolute civilians. Despite countless stories of terror, desperation, and sacrifice, Americans wholeheartedly agreed to enter the fray to take a stand.
Sacrificing in an environment like this certainly required bravery. However, those who agreed to enlist did so for a specific time and were promised land, provisions, and finances. Now imagine volunteering for something requiring just as much bravery without any promise of personal gain. This is where God’s people find themselves in Nehemiah 11. Jerusalem was the epicenter of the rebuilding work that the Lord wanted to do in the entire nation, and as part of this work, the political leadership looked to repopulate the city. As they conscripted a group of people to leave the stability and comfort of their own property, there were still those who ham·miṯ·nad·də·ḇîm (freely volunteered themselves) to live in Jerusalem. It wasn’t social fame or savvy investment opportunities that motivated these people; they willingly chose to live on mission, submit to the Lord’s will, and seek God’s glory above all else. Theirs was a story of sacrifice for a purpose greater than themselves. A sacrifice that on a smaller scale points to the selfless act of obedience Jesus accomplished on our behalf!

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Who is God asking me to share my story with?

All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men.
– Nehemiah 11:6 ESV

HEBREW
חָֽיִל/ḥā·yil: strong, mighty, wealthy

CONSIDER
In the book of Judges, the Midianite army spent seven years oppressing the Israelites. They raided their towns, destroyed their crops, and did all they could to impoverish God’s people. As the Israelites cried out to the Lord, he sent an angel to Gideon, who he found at the bottom of a winepress to hide from the Midianites. Although there didn’t seem to be much bravery in him, the angel declared that he was a he·ḥā·yil – mighty – warrior. God then used Gideon to help rescue the Israelites and preserve his generation. This same Hebrew word could easily be overlooked in Nehemiah 11, but it is flush with significance. Verse 6 tells us that “All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 ḥā·yil (strong, mighty, wealthy) men.” Nearly 500 men described by the Word of God in the same way as Gideon was, had committed themselves to move into a city in need of much repair. This momentous change in their life wasn’t for career advancement or to stake out their building lot for real estate speculation. These ḥā·yil men willingly chose to be on mission, roll up their sleeves, and execute the plan of God! They likely had options for their life that afforded them greater prestige, comfort, and stability, and yet they sought to leverage their considerable resources for something larger than themselves. Fast forward a few hundred years, when a Rabbi would enter this same city who was prophesied in Isaiah to be the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The sacrifice of these ḥā·yil men contributed to the rebuilding of the city in which Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity would take place. Regardless of our place in life, God can use any sacrifice we’ve been called to make to reflect Jesus and showcase his heart for redemption.

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Who is God asking me to share my story with?

Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.
– Nehemiah 11:9 ESV

HEBREW
פָּקִ֣יד/pā·qîḏ: commissioner, deputy

CONSIDER
It’s been said that leadership is not about being in charge, it’s about taking care of those in your charge. Reading Nehemiah 11 in light of Jerusalem’s rebuilding efforts, the concept of servant leadership shines through. In verses 1 and 3, we see Jerusalem’s leaders and Judah’s provincial leaders both choosing to move into the city. Now, we see a man named Joel was a pā·qîḏ (commissioner, deputy) while Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city. These roles were local government positions, with these two men serving in the new quarter of the city. The point? All levels of leadership refrained from using their position for their own gain. They were able to be in close proximity to the physical labor being done, as well as to the people in their care. These selfless leaders volunteered to uproot their lives, not to climb a social ladder but to position themselves on the front lines of the Lord’s work. Jesus, too, had a position that would have been beneficial to cling to. But although he was seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven (Hebrews 10:12), Jesus willingly stepped into time and became the perfect sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world. No matter our title, it’s refreshing to know that when we offer our positions to God they can be leveraged for something far greater than ourselves!

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Who is God asking me to share my story with?

And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his brothers was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving.
– Nehemiah 12:8 ESV

HEBREW
הֻיְּד֖וֹת/h·yə·ḏō·wṯ: songs of intentional praise and thanks

CONSIDER
Luke chapter 5 is an incredible account of Jesus calling his first disciples. After getting into a fishing boat to teach the growing crowds of people that came to see him, Jesus told Peter and the other fishermen with him to cast their net into water. They hesitated, mainly because they had been casting that same net into those same waters all night (a far better time to catch fish) and still had nothing to show for it. But Peter agreed after some mild protest, and immediately their net was filled to overflowing! Despite the improbability, their obedience to cast where Jesus instructed them to had paid off. Peter and his friends then left their fishing equipment and followed Jesus the moment they arrived at shore.
Surprisingly, Luke chapter 5 and Nehemiah chapter 12 have more in common than we may realize. In today’s verse, we also see men who heeded the call to be set apart for the glory of God. Like Peter and the other disciples, the Levites in Nehemiah 12 were required to roll up their sleeves and work tirelessly as they leveraged that call to capacity. And in Nehemiah 12:8, the Levites listed were in charge of the h·yə·ḏō·wṯ (songs of intentional praise and thanks). Although this unique word is only used here in the entire Bible, it stems from the Hebrew word “yadah” – to cast. In other words, these Levites were in charge of leading the people in casting praise to the Lord. Our lives are designed to yadah praise – we are constantly casting our proverbial nets of worship at things and people all the time. But because we are designed by our Creator to cast that praise toward him, anywhere else will leave our nets empty and lacking in what we hope for. These men had the important task of reminding the people that singing h·yə·ḏō·wṯ in obedience to the Lord was the only place true fulfillment could be found. No matter what role God may be calling you to fulfill, the task of redirecting your intentional praise and pointing others in the right direction is crucial to fulfilling it.

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What role is God calling me to fulfill?

And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his brothers was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving.
– Nehemiah 12:8 ESV

HEBREW
וְאֶחָֽיו/wə·’e·ḥāw: along with his kinsmen; with his countrymen

CONSIDER
Nancy Stouffer writes children’s books for a living, and her most popular work has a not-so-unique title. Despite being an author for decades, Stouffer became famous for filing a lawsuit against J.K. Rowling, creator of the Harry Potter series, claiming that Rowling had stolen several ideas from a book of hers. Which book? Larry Potter and His Best Friend Lilly! But rather than finding Rowling guilty of plagiarism, the courts determined that Stouffer had actually inserted the ideas in question into her book years later than she claimed. Stouffer was awarded nothing for her accusation and was even fined for wrongly filing a suit.
As much as we hate to admit it, we sometimes have plenty in common with Nancy Stouffer. Because we are designed to be worshiping beings, it’s natural for us to ascribe glory to things. But because we all have a sin nature, that glory is often stolen from One who rightly deserves our worship. That’s what makes today’s verse so unique. Although they held positions of leadership, scripture only names “Mattaniah, who wə·’e·ḥāw (along with his kinsmen; with his countrymen) was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving.” Being in charge of the songs of thanksgiving was an incredibly important task, and yet most of those in leadership here were unnamed by Nehemiah. If their primary objective was to have their name enshrined in the list of Temple leaders, they would have been seriously disappointed! The Hebrew word wə·’e·ḥāw could either be translated as “brothers” or “kinsmen,” so besides being Levites, it isn’t even clear whose family these leaders belong to. The anonymity of this role meant that those who filled it were concerned far more for God’s glory than their own. When our worship is properly placed in the Lord, it brings a perspective to our lives that allows us to step out of the spotlight so he can be more clearly seen.

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What role is God calling me to fulfill?

And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers who stood opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch by watch.
– Nehemiah 12:8 ESV

HEBREW
וְאֶחָֽיו/miš·mār lə·‘um·maṯ: miš·mār: group methodically alternating with group

CONSIDER

Nothing can for sin atone:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
– Robert Lowry

It’s been said that the only thing we contribute to our salvation is the sin that makes it necessary. The hymnist Robert Lowry would agree with that statement. His work “Nothing But the Blood” is a testament to the atonement of Jesus on behalf of sinners who could never pay him back. Lowry was rightly humbled by this reality, and penned the music and lyrics to over 500 hymns, many of which have mankind’s humility in light of Christ’s work for their theme. He recognized that nothing we could place our worth or identity in could make us right with God. The unique reality of Nehemiah 12 is that the Levites just might have been tempted to find their worth or identity in their role as worship leaders. They led the songs of thanksgiving, and oversaw the sacrificial system at the temple. But while the work of ministry was consistently happening, it wasn’t done by the same group of people at all times. Each day saw the work accomplished miš·mār lə·‘um·maṯ: miš·mār (group methodically alternating with group). If you were tempted to believe that you were able to approach God because of how great a singer or priest you were, this break for a time could leave you feeling empty at best and worthless at worst. And this is a great illustration of our own lives; whatever gives us worth apart from the blood of Jesus will fade and disappoint. Thankfully, Jesus’ empty tomb reminds us that no role we fulfill will ever be required to atone for our sin.

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What role is God calling me to fulfill?

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.
– Nehemiah 12:27 ESV

HEBREW
וְשִׂמְחָה֙/wə·śim·ḥāh: with joy that flows out of the heart

CONSIDER
One of our Because and Therefore statements says, Because of what Jesus has done we value CELEBRATION therefore we talk about Jesus a lot, rejoice over life-change, readily encourage and honor one another, and uplift our local communities. Our reason to celebrate isn’t contingent on the ups and downs of what we’re currently experiencing, but on what Christ has already done. As a result, our joy is far from hypocritical or fake, even when our circumstances are not ideal.
The completion of the wall in Jerusalem was clearly an event to celebrate. It represented painstaking work and overcoming much opposition with the Lord’s help. So Levites were called in from across the region to celebrate the dedication wə·śim·ḥāh (with joy that flows out of the heart). This Hebrew noun is a word that speaks to the internal response of the heart, not the external realities of the moment. Although there was much to be glad about in this particular season, these Levites expressed a joy that originated internally. And as a result, their thanksgiving and singing came from a source that could never be altered by the outside world. When the source of our celebration is found in what the Lord has already done in us and for us, it frees us to authentically worship in any season.

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What next step will I take?

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 12:43 ESV

HEBREW
שִׂמְּחָם֙/śim·mə·ḥām: Had caused joy to well up inside them

CONSIDER
In Psalm 16, David creates a list of ways that the Lord has been faithful to him. God was his steady rock, his counselor, and his refuge, just to name a few. After reflecting on the Lord’s goodness, he declares in verse 9 that “Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices.” David’s heart – and entire being – had a reason to well up with joy as he took inventory of God’s provision.
Nehemiah articulates that something very similar took place at the dedication of the wall in Jerusalem. The leaders, Levites, and the rest of the people were able to reflect on how far God has brought them since their exile. Rebuilding the wall was a tangible reminder of the miracles God had worked in and through the people upon their return. This led Nehemiah to use the same Hebrew word David did in Psalm 19 to declare that the worship and rejoicing that day had been because God śim·mə·ḥām (had caused joy to well up inside them) with great joy. There was nothing forced or fake about their worship; it was authentic because God’s people took time to remember his blessing in their lives. As we consider what next step to take this week, spending time reminding ourselves of how good the Lord has been to us can be an important part of the process!

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What next step will I take?

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.
– Nehemiah 12:44 ESV

HEBREW
לָרֵאשִׁ֣ית/lā·rê·šîṯ: the beginning, best, or choicest part of a harvest

CONSIDER
What next step will I take? Asking this question may just be an exercise in generosity. At Centerway, we like to say that we are merely stewards of our time, talent, and treasure, so any clear next step will require us to leverage these in a specific way. It might not be obvious at first, but the exiles who had returned to Jerusalem used their joy to take a unique next step in today’s verse.
Since its inception, Mosaic law had called for the people to provide food for the priests who made sacrifices on behalf of the people. The priests could then focus intently on the work of ministry without needing to take time out to harvest. But as the people began joyously celebrating all that God was doing in their city, that joy stirred them to provide both for the priests and the Levites as well! Nehemiah records that as they rejoiced over the work of the ministry being done, the people brought lā·rê·šîṯ (the beginning, best, or choicest part of a harvest) for the priests and Levites who ministered. What this demonstrated was a devotion to the Lord that went beyond what was legally expected as they generously stewarded the choicest resources available to them. Notice that this step of faith wasn’t taken under compulsion or presumption, but out of a heart to worship through blessing. When we live with the perspective that all we have belongs to the Lord, a lifestyle of generosity is soon evident for all to see.

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What next step will I take?

for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. – Nehemiah 13:2 ESV

HEBREW
וַיַּהֲפֹ֧ךְ/way·ya·hă·p̄ōḵ: changed, transformed

CONSIDER
As we approach the end of our journey through Nehemiah, it seems appropriate to reflect on and celebrate all God has done for his people. Nehemiah and company had risked their lives in returning to Jerusalem, rebuilding the wall, avoiding the lies of their enemies, and rebuilding the Temple. And now as their community enters a new stage of stability, Nehemiah enacts reforms that are designed to keep the Lord as their top priority. He reminds the people not to allow the neighboring nations to infiltrate their own culture, for that would serve to sway their hearts away from the living God. These nations of Ammon and Moab were unwilling to provide aid to the Israelites as they passed through their territory in search of the Promised Land. They even hired a false prophet named Baalam to curse Israel, but Nehemiah points out that our God way·ya·hă·p̄ōḵ (changed, transformed) the curse into a blessing. This Hebrew verb comes from the same word Moses uses to describe how his staff was turned into a snake in Exodus 7 by the hand of God. The snake wasn’t separate from or in addition to the staff – it was changed from one thing into another! The same with Balaam’s curse; God transformed it into something completely different and even the opposite of what it was intended to be. This matters to us today, because God is still in the way·ya·hă·p̄ōḵbusiness. The very things we ask God to remove from our lives are oftentimes the raw material he uses to transform into the beautiful and grace-filled situations our hearts long for. The Gospel is far more than good advice that we can add to the mix of our lives, it’s the Good News that Jesus makes all things new!

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Where do I need to realign my life with the Gospel?

And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber.
– Nehemiah 13:8 ESV

HEBREW
וַיַּהֲפֹ֧ךְ/way·yê·ra lîb mə·’ōḏ: I was gutted; I was crushed by the pain of evil

CONSIDER
George Romney was a man with a unique perspective on the decline of General Motors. Not only did he serve as President of American Motors Corporation in the 1950’s, but he was also elected Governor of Michigan in the 1960’s. When he was interviewed about what went wrong at GM, he reflected and said, “There is nothing more vulnerable than entrenched success.” By this he meant that flourishing organizations tend to not take threats very seriously, because they believe they are too big or fruitful to fail. In Romney’s estimation, General Motors wasn’t moved to action when outside influences threatened their health, and it ultimately became their downfall.
A similar principle is at work in this week’s passage. For some, including Eliashib the priest, allowing Tobiah to procure space in the Temple was not a big deal. But allowing a foreign enemy to have a room in the Temple was not only ritually unclean, it was politically and spiritually compromising. When he found out, Nehemiah said, “And way·yê·ra lîb mə·’ōḏ (I was gutted; I was crushed by the pain of evil) and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber.” This Hebrew phrase specifically references the type of anger that simultaneously is aroused by evil threats and stirs strong emotion in a person. Nehemiah didn’t sweep the threat of pagan influence under the rug; instead he was stirred to action in order to safeguard the holiness of God’s people. No matter how well things are currently going in our lives, may we never settle for a misaligned life that comes from compromising on evil.

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Where do I need to realign my life with the Gospel?

Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
– Nehemiah 13:9 ESV

HEBREW
וַֽיְטַהֲר֖וּ/ way·ṭa·hă·rū: they purified and properly organized

CONSIDER
Where do I need to realign my life with the Gospel? Daring to respond to this question will inevitably cause a person to take action. Maybe the action will be to remove something from one’s life; perhaps it will mean addressing a relationship issue before it’s too late. Whatever the response, subjecting oneself to the transformation of the Gospel is always worth it. But the transformation doesn’t come from being sufficiently active, it flows from being sufficiently aligned.
One of the clearest examples of this principle is found in the last chapter of Nehemiah. Here, Tobiah, a pagan follower of a foreign god was allowed to take up residence in the Temple. Although this was a clear violation of God’s law, the priests and Levites refused to take action on it because of Tobiah’s connection with a priest named Eliashib. Apparently, despite everything that was required of them in connection with the worship of God, aligning their life to his law was not worth the effort. In contrast, when Nehemiah found out about it, he both threw the man out of the temple and gave orders to the priests and way·ṭa·hă·rū (they purified and properly organized) the chambers. This Hebrew verb is robust with meaning. It indicates that Nehemiah compelled the temple workers to ceremonially cleanse the area Tobiah used, but it also implies that an orderly and precise space was critical to that purification. Restoring the impure area to a place of proper usefulness was a natural effect of being aligned with the will of God! When we are more concerned with the posture of our heart than the activity of our hands, we can trust God to leverage our work for his glory and our joy.

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Where do I need to realign my life with the Gospel?

So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
– Nehemiah 13:11 ESV

HEBREW
וָאָ רִ֙יבָה֙ אֶת/ wā·’ā·rî·ḇāh ’eṯ: I contended with, I did battle with

CONSIDER
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul lays out the pieces of the armor of God that those who follow Jesus have access to. Ephesians 6:12 says that our battle is not waged against people, but against spiritual forces. It seems counterintuitive, then, to see shoes of the readiness of the gospel of peace among the list of armor items. Wouldn’t making peace with the enemy be a bad thing? But Paul here is saying that the gospel invariably offers peace for each situation we encounter in our everyday lives – both for us and others. Sometimes the best way to experience peace is to adequately prepare for a battle.
The last chapter of Nehemiah presents a scenario both similar to and different from Ephesians 6. We have seen Nehemiah get upset at the evil being allowed in the Temple, and now as the tithe was not being given to the Levites, he tells us “wā·’ā·rî·ḇāh ’eṯ (I contended with, I did battle with) the officials and said, ‘Why is the house of God forsaken?’” This is another counterintuitive situation, making us question why engaging in a battle would be the answer to convincing people to give. But this issue was actually a matter of worship and obedience, not preference or volition. The command Moses relayed from God to provide a tithe of their resources as an act of worship (see Deuteronomy 14) was recommitted to by the returning exiles. Therefore, God’s people were really communicating their inability to trust God with their whole being, which led to a brokenness that could have easily been avoided. Nehemiah recognized this and responded in a way that ensured swift action. Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is confront those we love with the truth that will bring healing to their lives.

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What broken area of my life will I allow God’s love to heal?

Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.
– Nehemiah 13:22 ESV

HEBREW
כְּרֹ֥ב/ kə·rōḇ: in connection with the incomprehensible size and scope

CONSIDER
Trying to explain how big the universe is can often feel like an exercise in futility. The human mind struggles to quantify the size of our own galaxy (100,000 light-years across), but when one considers there are roughly 2 billion galaxies in the observable universe, even the brightest among us can quickly move on to thinking about other things. But Psalm 103:11 says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.” God’s love for us is so large that it’s more apt to be measured in light years than in miles!
Nehemiah’s experiences with and knowledge of the character of God led him to lean totally on the enormity of this compassion. An important point to this end can be seen in the prayer at the end of this book, where Nehemiah asks God to spare him “kə·rōḇ (in connection with the incomprehensible size and scope) of your steadfast love.” This leader’s appeal for mercy is not rooted in his own righteousness or sense of entitlement. Rather, Nehemiah appeals to the grandeur in both scope and scale of God’s love for his people. For all of his accomplishments and effectiveness, Nehemiah still recognized the brokenness inside of himself. There is no area of our lives in need of healing so desperately that the steadfast love of the Lord can’t envelop in its immensity.

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What broken area of my life will I allow God’s love to heal?

And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me.
– Nehemiah 13:28 ESV

HEBREW
וָאַבְרִיחֵ֖הוּ מֵעָלָֽי/ wā·’aḇ·rî·ḥê·hū mê·‘ā·lāy: As a result, I forced significant space between him and me

CONSIDER
What a journey Nehemiah has taken us on! What began as a dream for the Israelites to one day return to their decimated home from a distant land now concludes with a working city and God-honoring systems. For all the various events that Nehemiah had to navigate, one theme remained constant: a refusal to compromise on what mattered to God. This leader risked death to approach the king for a leave of absence to survey Jerusalem, risked a battle with larger armies and fierce foes, and even risked alienation from his own people by daring to take a stand for God’s law. So as we reach the end of this book, it’s fitting that we see Nehemiah refusing to compromise one final time.
God’s people had faced opposition in returning to Jerusalem from local pagan leaders ever since their initial return in chapter 2. The leader of this opposition was Sanballat the Horonite. The people successfully navigated this opposition despite Sanballat’s best efforts, and now we see his son-in-law attempting to maneuver into a position of influence. This man was the son of the high priest, which meant those in spiritual authority were open to blatant compromise. Seeing this, Nehemiah doesn’t hesitate to take action. “wā·’aḇ·rî·ḥê·hū mê·‘ā·lāy (As a result, I forced significant space between him and me)” he declared in verse 28. In Hebrew, this phrase implies intentional and swift action. It’s as if Nehemiah recognizes that waiting for any reason to deal with this issue would lead to serious consequences. Nehemiah’s quickness to act when he noticed areas that would lead to destruction point forward to Jesus, who saw our brokenness and agreed to give up his life for our healing. It’s a great reminder that being whole won’t always require adding to your life; sometimes the best way to heal is by significantly distancing yourself from the thing that brings sickness as swiftly as possible. Because Jesus revealed God’s love to us in all its fullness, that gift of healing is free for the taking as we fix our eyes on him!

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What broken area of my life will I allow God’s love to heal?