Nehemiah 7:5-73
Have you ever noticed the amount of lists (names and numbers) recorded in the Bible? The Bible is truly full of details. That's good for us--right? After all, God is showing us things that matter to Him, and not just big things, but the little things as well. So why is it that when we get to one of these passages--that seem to go on and on with names we don't recognize and can't pronounce--we're tempted to skip it all together (and sometimes we do) or we just skim over it quickly? Hmmm...Take a few minutes today and read back through the names and numbers put before us in Nehemiah 7. Did you learn anything new from the details God included for us? If so, what? And lastly, what did this passage reveal to you about God? Tami W.
I learned that Mordacai was one that returned from captivity. I'm always amazed at God's love of details. I should therefore be more detail conscious.
I am one of those who skip chapters and verses that list names because it seems like I am always looking for something deeper more useful for my own life. And at Tami's suggestion I did read through chapter 7 of Nehemiah using The Message. And as I was reading the names I couldn't help but think of Joseph and Mary's trip to Bethlehem in response to the census commanded by the Roman leadership. I also felt the importance of families to God and how each generation lends itself to the success or failure of the next generation.
Grace and PEACE,
Gary
WOW! That really brought light to me that God is all about family and relationships. And He can build a city of His people. And He cares for every one of them in great detail. What an awesome God that we serve.
I thought it was interesting that Solomon's servants came - it must have been important to them
I felt a deep sense of boredom, which is probably God telling me that I need to pay close attention to his holy word. He is not writing a comic book.
The Bible being the Word of God, God is revealing for all time those who remained steadfast in their loyalty to him during their years of captivity. God has rewarded His people with a return to Jerusalem---His city---for their staying constant in their devotion and obedience.
I was tempted to skip over the lists of names of followers and functionaries, but when I read them all during my regular reading, it came to me that God is saying to the reader(s): "I have given the names of my people to you from My heart. You will also be there if you keep Me in yours."
I love verse 5, "God put it in my heart to gather the nobles, the officials, and the people in general to be registered." After all the work was done, in God's heart he wanted to make sure everyone was counted for, to me it was just the icing on the cake. He loved them all and wanted them to know he knew each one of them and they mattered. He counts us as his, never wanting us to feel left out or abandoned. in verses 70-72, the gifts people gave were all counted as well, they were given for the "work". what awesome crowns wait for us?
It's always a good reminder to me when I actually take the time to read all of the details of God's words that he really is all knowing and his hands are in everything and we can be eternally grateful for that because if it was up to one of us it would totally lack information as we are so short sighted in comparison to Almighty God.
As others are mentioning, when I come to the passages in scripture that deal either with lists of names and numbers (which aren't quite as intimidating to me) or details of how things are built (which are decidedly more intimidating to me!), I'm reminded that God is a God of order, detail, and complete accuracy.
As an example: I'm guessing no one pulled out their calculator to double-check the math in this passage, right? :-)
I have Alexander Scourby reading the Bible on DVD. The names are so beautiful when correctly pronounced. It is like poetry. If God put these names in the Bible, they are very important for us to know that He cares about each and everyone of us as individuals.
Can't we imagine our names (their names) written in God's Book of Life, which Jesus will open in the last day!