8/22/2011 7:54:16 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: Establishing citizenship
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Nehemiah 7:4-69
Message of the verses: I believe that I mentioned in yesterday’s SD that these list of names if very similar to the list that was compiled from Ezra chapter two and verses one through sixty-four. I have chosen not to copy and paste these verses into this SD because the names are many and very difficult to pronounce, however that does not mean that these names are not important. Dr. Wiersbe compares these names to those listed in Hebrews eleven and that is a great compliment to these people. He writes this about these names, “The important thing is not to count the people but to realize that these people counted. There are some differences in this list and the list found in Ezra, and this could be attributed to the scribes who copied the list, for that list was over a century earlier. In the Hebrew language I am told that numbers are depicted by letters and if someone missed a letter it could mean the number is wrong. However this has nothing to do with the theology that is contained in the Bible. I will mention the “Dead Sea Scrolls,” as proof of the accuracy of the Scriptures, for when those scrolls were found which were written very early and when they were compared to scrolls that were written later there was no difference between them. Everyone who picks up a Bible can rest assured that this is the written Word of God, for after all if it was God, through the Person of the Holy Spirit who breathed into the writers of the Bible what He wanted to say, He surely can make sure that His Word will remain accurate for those who read it today. I have no doubts that when I read God’s Word that I am reading exactly what was written when it was written.
Personally when I come to a list of difficult names in the OT that I have no idea of how to pronounce I will listen to them from a recording so that I can understand how to pronounce them. I have found recording of the entire Bible online that were free, all I had to do was download them and listen to them.
As I look at these names I have to remember that these people were people who came from a life of less difficulty as they lived in Babylon to a life that was much more difficult when they moved to Israel. However they were a bridge from the past to be a part of rebuilding the temple and the walls of the city in order to have the King of Glory visit planet earth in the very place where they were living and preparing for Him to arrive some 400 years later. What an important job they had to do.
The names on this list are divided into different categories and I will briefly mention these different categories. In verse seven we see the leaders who returned with Zerubbable, and there are twelve men listed and they very well could have represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Some think that there were ten tribes lost after the Assyrians conquered the northern tribes of Israel in 722BC, but if one reads the Bible correctly they will find that after the kingdom was divided that many of the people from the north came to live in Judah in the south because of the idolatry that was going on in the north.
Next listed are various families or clans from verses 8-25, and then in verses 27-38 we see listed people according to the villages.
The temple personnel are next being listed and these can be found in verses 39-42. The Levites in verse 43, temple singers in verse 44, gatekeepers in verse 45 and various temple servants in verses 46-60.
There was a group of priest that could not find prove their genealogies and they are listed in verses 62-65.
Finally there was a miscellaneous assembly of over 7000 servants listed in verse 67. Then animals are listed last and are found in verses 68-69. These were very important to those who came to Jerusalem for they were needed for various things including for the animal sacrifices.
I will end this portion of this SD with a very important quote from “Be Determined,” the commentary from Warren Wiersbe on the book of Nehemiah. It is probably the most important quote that I will ever use from him.
“Before we leave this section, it might be good to ask yourself, ‘If I had to prove my genealogy in order to get into God’s city, could I do it.’ You are heading for one of two destines—heaven or hell—and only those who belong to God’s family can enter heaven. You enter God’s family be receiving Jesus Christ as your own Savior, and this alone guarantees your entrance into heaven (John 1:11-12; 3:16; 14:6).”
John 1:11-12, “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.
John 3:16 “"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 14:6 “Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: As I look at this list of names, and at times I kind of dread trying to pronounce them, I have to think about another list of names that because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for me on the cross my name is found. The book of life that is mentioned in the book of Revelations is where all believers of Jesus Christ is written. I did not do anything to have my name written there for Jesus paid it all, and because of that all to Him I owe. One cannot work for their salvation, but one is to work after the free gift of salvation is given to them as seen in Ephesians 2:10.
Yes lists of names are important and not boring when one thinks of the importance of them, especially the book of life.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
1. Trust the Lord for wisdom to get ready for the long trip back to Ohio, for there are many things yet to accomplish.
2. Continue to learn contentment.
8/22/2011 9:03:04 AM
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