Nehemiah Chapter 7 – Those who had once returned to Jerusalem
Quietly hiding in our hymn books, Bibles, or perhaps a box tucked away at home, are photographs taken years ago at church training camps, spiritual meetings, etc.
These photographs often capture precious memories of our journey of faith. Yet, these photographs can bring with them a sense of pity, or regret too. They are often a reminder of the faces that we once saw in church, but not anymore.
Jerusalem, once a glorious city with kings like David and Solomon, had been destroyed. But as prophesied, the Israelites returned from exile.
By Nehemiah 7, the temple had been completed decades earlier, and the wall had just been rebuilt. Faithful and God-fearing men were given charge of the city. Gatekeepers, singers, and Levites had been appointed (Nehemiah 7:1-2).
Things look promising for Jerusalem.
What else could be missing?
Nehemiah 7:4 tells us: The city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few.
After all the work in rebuilding, this is quite pitiful! The temple may be completed, service to the Lord may have been resumed, yet only a few enter into His courts to worship Him. The city walls may stand tall, but who are they protecting if the city is empty?
In today’s context, what’s the point of a large, grand place of worship, if members are few and without zeal? The leaders of the church may be “faithful.. and fear God more than many”, the systems and processes in church may be well-established, but just as important is the attendance, faith, and service of each individual member!
No, the church is about the people – the people purchased by His own blood (Acts 20:28).
“In a multitude of people is a king’s honor, but in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.” (Proverbs 14:28)
The passage in Nehemiah 7:6-72 might seem familiar to us – we read it before in Ezra 2! These two passages are identical (barring a few minor differences).
We learn from Nehemiah 7:5 that Nehemiah found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up in the first return decades earlier. And God put it into Nehemiah’s heart to gather the people.
Like us looking at faces in old photos, Nehemiah looked at the list of households and names in the genealogy.
This was the record of people who once left Babylon and returned to Jerusalem, the city of the living God. These were people who once helped to rebuild and restore the temple. People who perhaps, unfortunately, over time got discouraged or distracted, and left Jerusalem.
Our old photographs capture the faces of those who had once came out of spiritual Babylon. Perhaps they were once zealous and fervent. However, amidst the storms of life, the disappointments they faced, and the allures of the world, they were drawn away from the church.
In today’s chapter, we see that it was God who put it into Nehemiah’s heart, and Nehemiah who was willing to take action. He gathered all these people back (Nehemiah 7:73-8:1), so that Jerusalem would not be a desolate city, devoid of inhabitants.
And this gathering of people back in Jerusalem would give rise to some touching scenes in the next chapter. In a large assembly, in one accord, the people of God learnt His laws, rejoiced and worshipped God. For the first time since the days of Joshua, the people of God all dwelt in booths and observed the feast of Tabernacles, listening to the word of God each day.
And there was a very great gladness (Nehemiah 8:17).
Indeed, there is great joy when people return to spiritual Jerusalem, when we can again worship God together as we did in the past.
In the busyness of our lives it is easier to forget those who once prayed, sang hymns, and worshipped God alongside us.
When was the last time we contacted them? Have we been earnestly praying for them? How else can we reach out to them?
When we next clean up our homes, or when we next glance and see the photographs in our hymn books or Bibles, may God put it into our hearts to do our part in gathering people back home to His church.After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)