The Book of nehemiah

Chapter 12

Nehemiah 12: [1] Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, [2] Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, [3] Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, [4] Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, [5] Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, [6] Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jediah,
[7] Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

[8] Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. [9] Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.

[10] And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada, [11] And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.

[12] And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; [13] Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; [14] Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; [15] Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; [16] Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
[17] Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; [18] Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; [19] And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; [20] Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
[21] Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. [22] The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian. [23] The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. [24] And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward. [25] Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates. [26] These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.

1) The Principle Leaders of the Day Vs 1-26

This chapter details the day of the dedication of the wall built around Jerusalem.

Nehemiah provided a detailed list of those leaders who first returned to Jerusalem from Babylon.

In verse 1, Nehemiah declares the leader, the first governor Zerubbabel.

In verses 1-7, Nehemiah names 21 priests led by Jeshua the High Priest.

In verses 8-9, Nehemiah names 8 Levites who returned from capitivity.

In verses10-11, we find the son and descendants of the high priest Jehsua.

These were successors to the office of priest.

In verses 12-21, Nehemiah lists the sons of those priests found in verse 1-7.

These were those priests who lived during Joiakim’s (High Priests successor) days.

In verses 22-26, Nehemiah lists the Levites and their succession and service.

Nehemiah 12: [27] And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. [28] And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi; [29] Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.

2) The Preparation for the Day Vs 27-29

Nehemiah prepared this list of the Lord’s servants & plans a day of dedication for the wall of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah sought out the Levites and gathered them to lead in this day of dedication.

The Levites will gladly lead the people in praise and thanksgiving.

Nehemiah states that the singers willingly gathered themselves to lead in this time of thanksgiving.

Singing is to promote worship. Singing should give praise, glory, thanks and honor to God.

Singing is not for entertainment.

Psalms 92:1

[1] It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

Psalms 100:4

[4] Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalms 103:1

[1] Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Psalms 105:1,2

[1] O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
[2] Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

Hebrews 13:15

[15] By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Nehemiah 12: [30] And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

3) The Purification for the Day Vs 30

Before leading in this day of dedication, the Levites purified themselves.

You can not lead in worship until you are clean before the LORD.

Num 8:5-8,21,22

[5] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [6] Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. [7] And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean [8] Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering. [21] And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them. [22] And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.

Then the Levites led the people to purification.

Psalms 24:3,4

[3] Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

[4] He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

1 John 1:9

[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Then the Levites purified the gates and the walls of the city.

There was to be nothing to hinder purity and praise to GOD!

Nehemiah 12: [31] Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate: [32] And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah, [33] And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, [34] Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, [35] And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph: [36] And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. [37] And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward. [38] And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall; [39] And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate. [40] So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me: [41] And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; [42] And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. [43] Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

4) The Praise on that Day Vs 31-43

Nehemiah appointed 2 choirs to give thanks unto God on this day of dedication.

(31) One choir went to the right and the other choir went to the left (38).

The priests went with them and carried trumpets.

The choir encircled the city and began to sing (42).

The choir was led by Jezrahiah and they sand loudly; not dead and without feeling!

The people wanted to thank GOD for His blessings and help.

God allowed them to return home, He allowedg them a House of God and walls of protection.

(43) God caused them to rejoice with great joy as they sang unto the Lord.

The people rejoiced and offered sacrifices as they sang unto the Lord.

The women and children rejoiced as they sang unto the Lord.

The joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

It does not say the singing was heard, but the joy was heard!

The heathen took notice.

Psalms 126:1-3

[1] When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
[2] Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
[3] The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

GOD is the source of our joy.

Nehemiah 8:10

[10] for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Nehemiah 12: [44] And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. [45] And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. [46] For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
[47] And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.

5) The Proceedings of that Day Vs 44-47

This joy led to the glad giving of the people.

The people gladly supported the work of God in the ministry with great joy.

They took care of the priests, Levites and the singers.

(46) The singing and all that was done, was directed God-ward (unto the Lord).

Col 3:16

[16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
[17] And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Oh that all we do would be directed God-ward. Things would go much better if we would do so.