This week we talk about our lineage and identity in Christ. This world and culture constantly tries to get us to identify with Instagram feeds, media-charged opinions, political beliefs, patriotism, religionism, and other “isms.” But, as we quiet our hearts and tune into the Spirit, He prompts and says, “Whose are you? To whom do you belong? I know. Come, follow me.”
1 Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.
Nehemiah's task was officially complete. At this time, he relinquished control to his brother, Hanani (the same one who delivered the news of Jerusalem's walls to him in chapter 1), and another leader of the palace, Hananiah.
Hananiah was a "faithful man and feared God more than many." What a beautiful way to be characterized. He was trustworthy, stable, and righteous, and others could see those qualities shining through him. He respected God and stood in awe of Him! Titus 2 also outlines the qualities which both men and women should promote: "Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God."
3 And I said to them, "Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors; and appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and another in front of his own house."
I love what Matthew Henry says about the guards on the walls: "…dead walls, without living watchmen, are but a poor defense to a city." Even though we have sturdy walls built in our lives, we must still stand guard and look for motions from the enemy!
Isaiah 62:6 says, "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem…" In the Old Testament, ministers were called watchmen. But check this out: in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 6), we are called the ministers of God! Let's be alert and ready!
4 Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few, and the houses were not rebuilt. 5 Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the people, that they might be registered by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up in the first return, and found written in it:
About 42,000 Jews came with Zerubbabel in the first exodus and roughly 2,000 when Ezra came. So, there weren't very many people compared to the size of Jerusalem (Josephus states the circuit was about six miles). There was a great deal of area and yet very few people! This reminded me of Matthew 9:37 when Jesus said, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few." There is much room in God's house, yet few genuinely abide there.
Nehemiah continues to rely on God and focuses on what He is instructing and doing. It reads in verse 5, "Then my God put it into my heart..."
Father, I ask that your Holy Spirit would lead me in what is right and prompt me to act according to Your will.
6 These are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city.
7 Those who came with Zerubbabel were Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth,Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel: 8 the sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two;
9 the sons of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two…60 All the Nethinim, and the sons of Solomon's servants, were three hundred and ninety-two.
The genealogy listing here is very similar to the one found in Ezra 2. While there were some expansions and family changes through the years, it is a close listing. Having a recorded lineage was an essential task until the point of the Messiah, then it became an unnecessary action. Have you ever wondered why genealogies are no longer so imperative post-Messiah? Once Christ died and rose, believers were tied to His lineage and not the world's (see Hebrews 2). Beloved, Christ is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters because He became man, bore the cross and death, and rose again so that we are part of the True Vine. We are told in Romans 8:17 that we are co-heirs with Christ – He is our past, our present, and our future ancestry! Hallelujah!
61 And these were the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not identify their Father's house nor their lineage, whether they were of Israel: 62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two; 63 and of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name.
64 These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled. 65 And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.
66 Altogether the whole assembly was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, 67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred and forty-five men and women singers. 68 Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five, 69 their camels four hundred and thirty-five, and donkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
The Tobiah mentioned in verse 52 isn't the one we've discussed previously. Same name, different guy (fortunately). Notice that in verse 64, there were several who claimed to be of Levitical priesthood, but the genealogy could not be validated. Again, a similar message here as before in terms of our lineage. We are not required to "prove" who we are because we are in Christ, and we are what He is. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Understanding and knowing your identity in Christ Jesus is essential to your walk as a believer. While it's a lifelong process, it's remarkable how you transform as you begin to know and believe Whose you are. False or broken identity is at the root of so many societal and gender issues today. Suppose you're unfamiliar with who you are in Christ. In that case, I encourage you to write out these scriptures on index cards, say them out loud each day, and then watch as the Lord begins to renew your heart.
I fight back the tears as I talk about the subject of identity. This is an area of my life where God has uprooted (and continues to uproot) unhealthy and damaging thinking and replaced it with an understanding of my identity in Christ. I still have days that are dark and hard to fight against, but little by little, the Lord has provided me with His keys to freedom through His Word.
If you struggle with depression, wrong thinking, desires or urges you can't seem to tame, or wounds from the past — the Word of God is your only deliverance! Meditate on these Scriptures so your heart's soil is tilled and the Rightful seed planted. Be diligent, be consistent, and be intentional about knowing how Christ sees His bride.
70 And some of the heads of the fathers' houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand gold drachmas, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priestly garments. 71 Some of the heads of the fathers' houses gave to the treasury of the work twenty thousand gold drachmas, and two thousand two hundred silver minas. 72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand gold drachmas, two thousand silver minas, and sixty-seven priestly garments.
73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the Nethinim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities.
When the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
"and all Israel dwelt in their cities." What a beautiful picture of where God desires us to be: dwelling with Him. One of the Hebrew definitions of the word "dwell" is to marry. We are the bride of Christ and called to come to Him (Revelation 22:17). Jesus also tells us in John 14:2 that He goes to prepare a place for us. He does so because He's looking forward to the day where we are in His presence constantly, dwelling with the Father and being taught more about Him. I'm ready to settle into that place the Lord has prepared for me. Yes, and Amen.