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Speaker 1: I'm John Stanghi, and today we're in Nehemiah chapter twelve,
Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the New English translation. These
Speaker 1: are the priests and Levites who returned with Zorubbabel, son
Speaker 1: of Shieltl and Jeshua, Sayah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Malik, Hattush,
Speaker 1: shek and Ayah, Rahum mehramoth itdo Ginnathon, Abaijah, Midjamin, Modiah, Bilga, Shemaiah, Joya,
Speaker 1: rib Jediah, Salu amok Hilkiah and Jediah. These were the
Speaker 1: leaders of the priests and their colleagues in the days
Speaker 1: of Jeshua and the Levites. Joshua, Benui, cadmil Sherebiah, Judah
Speaker 1: and Madaniah, who together with his colleagues was in charge
Speaker 1: of the songs of thanksgiving Backbukiah and Uni. Their colleagues
Speaker 1: stood opposite them in the services. Joshuah was the father
Speaker 1: of Joyakim. Joyakim was the father of Eliashib. Eliashib was
Speaker 1: the father of Joyda Joida was the father of Jonathan,
Speaker 1: and Jonathan was the father of Jaduah. In the days
Speaker 1: of Joyakim, these were the priests who were leaders of
Speaker 1: the families of Sarayah, Mariah of Jeremiah, Hannanaiah of Ezra,
Speaker 1: Mishulm of Amariah, Jehohanan of Malak, Jonathan of Shekeaniah, Joseph
Speaker 1: of Harim, aDNA of Merimoth, Helkai of ido Zechariah of Guinathon,
Speaker 1: Mishulem of Abaijah, Zikri of many Amine and Modaiah Piltai
Speaker 1: of Bilga, Shamua of Shamaiah, Johonathan of Joyareb Maddini of Jediah,
Speaker 1: Uzi of Salu, Cali of Amok, Eber of Hilkiah, Hashibaiah
Speaker 1: of Jediah, nethanel As for the Levites, in the days
Speaker 1: of Eliashib, Joiada, Johannan and Jeduah, the heads of families
Speaker 1: were recorded, as were the priests. During the reign of
Speaker 1: Darius the Persian, the descendants of Levi were recorded in
Speaker 1: the Book of the Chronicles as heads of families up
Speaker 1: to the days of Johanan son of Eliah, ship and
Speaker 1: the leaders of the Levites were Hashebiah, Sherebiah, Joshua, son
Speaker 1: of Cadmil, and their colleagues who stood opposite them to
Speaker 1: offer praise and thanks one contingent corresponding to the other,
Speaker 1: as specified by David the Man of God. Mattanaiah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Mishulam, Talman,
Speaker 1: and Akoub were gatekeepers who were guarding the storerooms at
Speaker 1: the gates. These all served in the days of Joyakim,
Speaker 1: son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the
Speaker 1: days of Nehemiah the Governor, and of Ezra the priestly scribe.
Speaker 1: At the dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem, they sought
Speaker 1: out the Levites from all the places they lived to
Speaker 1: bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication joyfully with
Speaker 1: songs of thanksgiving and songs accompanied by symbols, harps, and leers.
Speaker 1: The singers were also assembled from the district around Jerusalem,
Speaker 1: and from the settlements of the Natophathites, and from Beth Gilgal,
Speaker 1: and from the fields of Giba and Asthmaveth. For the
Speaker 1: singers had built settlements for themselves around Jerusalem when the
Speaker 1: priests and Levites had purified themselves. They purified the people
Speaker 1: the gates and the wall. I brought the leaders of
Speaker 1: Judah up on top of the wall, and I appointed
Speaker 1: two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed
Speaker 1: on the top of the wall southward toward the dungate.
Speaker 1: Going after them were Hoshiah, half the leaders of Judah, Azariah, Ezra, Mishulam, Judah, Benjamin, Shamaiah, Jeremiah,
Speaker 1: some of the priests with trumpets, Zechariah son of Jonathan,
Speaker 1: the son of Shemaiah, the son of madame Na, the
Speaker 1: son of Mekaiah, the son of Zakor, the son of Asaf,
Speaker 1: and his colleagues Shemaiah, Azirel, Mililai, Gilili may I, Nethanel Judah,
Speaker 1: and Hanani with musical instruments of David, the Man of God.
Speaker 1: Ezra the scribe led them. They went over the fountain
Speaker 1: gate and continued directly up the steps of the city
Speaker 1: of David. On the ascent to the wall, they passed
Speaker 1: the house of David and continued on to the watergate
Speaker 1: toward the east. The second choir was proceeding in the
Speaker 1: opposite direction. I followed them, along with half the people
Speaker 1: on top of the wall. Passed the Tower of the
Speaker 1: Ovens to the broad Wall, over the Ephrium Gate, the
Speaker 1: Joshana Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hannanel, and
Speaker 1: the Tower of the Hundred to the Sheep Gate. They
Speaker 1: stopped at the gate of the Guard. Then the two
Speaker 1: that gave thanks took their stations in the Temple of God.
Speaker 1: I did also, along with half the officials with me,
Speaker 1: and the priests Eliakim, Messiah, Mini Amine, Mekiah, elion I,
Speaker 1: Zechariah and Hannanaiah with their trumpets, and also Messiah, Shamaiah,
Speaker 1: eliezer Uzi, jehohan An, malkaija Elam, and Isasar. The choirs
Speaker 1: sang loudly under the direction of Jezrahiah, and on that
Speaker 1: day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had
Speaker 1: given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced.
Speaker 1: The rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard from far away.
Speaker 1: On that day, men were appointed over the store rooms
Speaker 1: for the contributions first fruits and tithes to gather into
Speaker 1: them from the fields of the cities, the portions prescribed
Speaker 1: by the law for them, the priests and the levites
Speaker 1: for the people of Judah, took delight in the priests
Speaker 1: and Levites who were ministering. They performed the service of
Speaker 1: their God and the service of purification along with the
Speaker 1: singers and gatekeepers, according to the commandment of David and
Speaker 1: his son Solomon. For long ago, in the days of
Speaker 1: David and asaff there had been directors for the singers
Speaker 1: and for the songs of praise and thanks to God.
Speaker 1: So in the days of Zerubbable and in the days
Speaker 1: of Nehemiah, all Israel was contributing the portions for the
Speaker 1: singers and gatekeepers according to the daily need. They also
Speaker 1: set aside the portion for the Levites, and the Levites
Speaker 1: set aside the portion for the descendants of Erin let's pray, Lord,
Speaker 1: we thank you for your word, and we thank you
Speaker 1: for the opportunity to look at this portion of scripture today.
Speaker 1: And Lord, as we've been going throughout the book of Nehemiah,
Speaker 1: we could see that the big task that you would
Speaker 1: get given the people was to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem,
Speaker 1: so that Jerusalem could ultimately be a city that was
Speaker 1: set apart, a city that was dedicated to You, in
Speaker 1: a place that would be dominated by a culture of worship.
Speaker 1: As people lifted up their hearts to you and obeyed
Speaker 1: your word and sought to just teach their children and
Speaker 1: serve as an example of what it meant to walk
Speaker 1: by faith in You. And Lord, as we look at
Speaker 1: this portion of scripture, we rejoice with them at the
Speaker 1: dedication of the wall around the city that that task
Speaker 1: is now completed, and we look at these large groups
Speaker 1: of people that are traveling on top of the wall
Speaker 1: as they're walking around on top of it. And yet
Speaker 1: we remember a few chapters earlier when those that scoffed
Speaker 1: at the people of Judah joked that if a small
Speaker 1: animal like a fox tried to walk on that wall,
Speaker 1: that the thing would crumble. But yet we could see
Speaker 1: that your hand was behind this work, and you accomplished
Speaker 1: what you had pledged to accomplish through your people, what
Speaker 1: you had inspired them to do. Lord, It's such an
Speaker 1: encouraging portion of Scripture, and we're grateful to read it,
Speaker 1: and we're even grateful, Lord, to read through the lists
Speaker 1: of names that are included here, because these are people
Speaker 1: who walked by faith in You and their lives, whether
Speaker 1: we know a lot about them or just a little
Speaker 1: about them, or even if we just know their name.
Speaker 1: Their lives serve as a testimony of what it means
Speaker 1: to walk by faith. And Lord, we're grateful that you
Speaker 1: lead us as well, and that we have the privilege
Speaker 1: to walk by faith in your son Jesus Christ. That
Speaker 1: you've opened up our eyes to our need for Jesus,
Speaker 1: and that you empower us day by day to live
Speaker 1: in your strength and to be blessed by the supply
Speaker 1: of your wisdom. Lord, we're grateful for your presence with
Speaker 1: us today. We thank you for the blessing of reading
Speaker 1: your word, and we thank you for the privilege of
Speaker 1: knowing you. We commit this day to your care, and
Speaker 1: we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.