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ELEMENTS OF CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE (XVI)
SATURDAY, MARCH 21
Nehemiah 12:1-26

1 Kings 12:25-33

 

“…and he placed in Bethel
the priests of the high places

which he had made.”

 

ELEMENTS OF CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE (XVI)
 
The last two chapters present to us additional aspects of congregational response which reflected the people’s consecration and commitment to God. Nehemiah 12 begins with yet another genealogical record which gives a register of the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel from exile. This list affirmed that the worship and service of the House of God could be conducted by those chosen by the LORD. The register contained names that had been mentioned in earlier lists which was significant especially when we consider the purpose of the various lists. This would mean that the worship and service would be conducted not only by those authorised by the Lord, and those who qualified, but also by those who:
 
(i) volunteered to return at the word of Cyrus (in the list of Nehemiah 7),
 
(ii) ministered to the people (in the lists of Nehemiah 8–9),
 
(iii) represented the people and signed the oath/covenant renewal and led the consecration of the people to God (in the list of Nehemiah 10),
 
(iv) willingly relocated to live in Jerusalem (in the list of Nehemiah 11).
 
Moreover the Levites… (Neh 12:8ff). The names that were repeated in the different genealogical registers in Nehemiah included the following:
 
(i) Maaseiah, who was named among the builders in Nehemiah 3:23; among the Levites who caused the people to understand in Nehemiah 8:4, 7; among the Levites who signed the pledge in Nehemiah 10:25; and among the “the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God” (Neh 12:40).
 
(ii) Kadmiel, who was named among the returnees’ register in Nehemiah 7:43; among the Levites who expounded the law of Moses in Nehemiah 9:4-5; among the Levites who signed the pledge in Nehemiah 10:9; and among the Levites mentioned in Nehemiah 12:8, 24.
 
(iii) Bani, who was named among the builders in Nehemiah 3:17; among the Levites who caused the people to understand in Nehemiah 8:7; among the Levites who read and expounded the law of Moses in Nehemiah 9:4‑5; among the Levites who signed the pledge; and among the Levites who lived in Jerusalem in Nehemiah 11:22.
 
THOUGHT: Where my name is listed says something about me.

PRAYER: Give me wisdom to make choices that bring a good report.

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