THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF STUDYING THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH.
[THIS STUDY WE BEGIN AT CHAPTER 11]
Once again Nehemiah's amazing administrative skills shine through as he now orchestrates where all the families of the land will dwell. One-tenth will have the honor of living within the city walls, in the heart of Jerusalem. It was important for people to take ownership of the city and dwell inside the newly erected walls in order to make the city less vulnerable to future attacks as well as to populate the city with those who would staff the areas of the temple, gates, and city services. You can see by the list of who moved into the city, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, singers and so forth; they would have a small commute.
What has intrigued me the most was how the city of Jerusalem was completely re-established from the (spiritual) foundations and build back up. Even so much as that the Persian King Artaxerxes I placed the utmost importance in assisting the tabernacle of David to be restored.
“For the [Persian] king had ordered concerning them that a certain provision be made for the singers, as each day required. AMPC”
Have you been noticing the Jerusalem-Persia connection throughout the book? I keep seeing this weaved into different bits here and there. It is an interesting thought that God would use a neighboring country to be such a blessing to Israel. The Perisans funding the rebuilding of the temple, the city walls, even the government here during this time is under Persian law. That means that Nehemiah's salary now is still being paid by the Persian government. Think about that. That is like the US government paying our pastors. Unheard of! But that is the scenario here. I believe this was supernatural, and because of this, today Persia holds a dear place in the heart of God. Here's a little map of Persia in the time of Nehemiah.
Finally, a deep impression from this chapter, and the verse I sighed above (vs. 22 in the Amplified Classic Version), is that in this time and culture, and even today in most of the Eastern World, life’s priorities and provisions are not individualistic, but collectivist. That means that individuals take responsibly for the whole community and not just themselves. In the East we also see a culture that emphasizes responsibility for the next generation. So whether someone was a Jew or not, with these shared cultural values you can understand why the Persian rulers of the day knew that for the ultimate success of the Jewish people they needed more than just a city to inhabit. They needed the walls, the temple, the roles, the responsibilities and the rituals in place so that every family group would be able to instill this into the next generation. This is why Cyrus, and ultimately Artaxerxes I, funded the singers and musicians.
Just stop and think about that for a minute and ask, “What will it take to ensure the lessons I am putting into my children make it to the next generation?”
prayer
Father, thank You for speaking to us through Your Word. Reveal the secrets of Your kingdom to our hearts and teach us to operate in our eternal calling. Father I desire to be with You where You are and live inside Your holy city, close to Your altar, in Your presence daily in all that I do fully aware of You at the center. Give me a kingdom mindset, to live inside and inhabit fully Your Kingdom, and firmly establish me in Your ways, in Jesus Name, Amen.