1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,100 Steve Webb: No truer words were ever said. 2 00:00:03,260 --> 00:00:06,110 This is the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from 3 00:00:06,110 --> 00:00:09,950 Riverside, California. Podcasting since 2004, my name 4 00:00:09,950 --> 00:00:13,730 is Steve Webb. I'm your OG Godcaster. It's History Tuesday 5 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,430 and our reading today will complete the book of Nehemiah 6 00:00:16,430 --> 00:00:20,000 with chapters 10 through 13. And by the way, this episode was 7 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,050 pre-recorded this past Saturday, September 9, 2023, since the 8 00:00:24,050 --> 00:00:27,320 surgery I mentioned a few days ago is scheduled for tomorrow. 9 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,920 The next two episodes will also be pre-recorded since I'm not 10 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,650 sure if I'll be able to record right away after the surgery. 11 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,310 It'll be a laparoscopic procedure, so less invasive than 12 00:00:37,310 --> 00:00:40,160 a traditional surgery with an incision, but they have 13 00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:43,580 prescribed some pretty heavy painkillers for me, so I'm not 14 00:00:43,580 --> 00:00:46,670 really sure what to expect. Thus, the extra pre-recorded 15 00:00:46,670 --> 00:00:50,060 episodes. And tomorrow is Wednesday which is normally a 16 00:00:50,060 --> 00:00:53,240 praise and prayer request day, but under the circumstances, our 17 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,960 next prayer request day will be this coming Sunday. And that's 18 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:00,200 enough of that. The website is lifespringmedia.com and I'll 19 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,500 have contact information at the end of today's show. Before we 20 00:01:03,500 --> 00:01:07,310 read, let's pray. Our heavenly Father, we love you and we thank 21 00:01:07,310 --> 00:01:10,070 you for our time together today. I pray that you would bless this 22 00:01:10,070 --> 00:01:13,250 time and that you would teach us. We pray this in Jesus' name. 23 00:01:13,670 --> 00:01:15,950 Amen. Okay, let's begin. 24 00:01:17,930 --> 00:01:22,160 Nehemiah, chapter 10. These are the men who sealed the 25 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,520 agreement: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah. 26 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:32,360 Zedekiah, Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashhur, Amariah, 27 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,390 Malkijah, Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, 28 00:01:35,390 --> 00:01:40,220 Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Meshullam, Abijah, 29 00:01:40,610 --> 00:01:51,920 Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These are the priests. 30 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:56,870 These are the Levites who sealed it: Jeshua son of Azaniah, 31 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,160 Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, and their fellow 32 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:07,040 Levites: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Mica, 33 00:02:07,370 --> 00:02:13,100 Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodiah, 34 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:17,840 Bani, and Beninu. These are the leaders of the people who sealed 35 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:24,110 the agreement: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 36 00:02:24,380 --> 00:02:32,360 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Hezekiah, 37 00:02:32,690 --> 00:02:39,560 Azzur, Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 38 00:02:39,980 --> 00:02:46,460 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 39 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:53,450 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, Hallohesh, 40 00:02:53,780 --> 00:03:01,040 Pilha, Shobek, Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 41 00:03:01,430 --> 00:03:05,870 Malluch, Harim, and Baanah. The rest of the people took an oath. 42 00:03:05,990 --> 00:03:10,010 They were the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, Temple 43 00:03:10,010 --> 00:03:13,070 servants, all those who separated themselves from 44 00:03:13,070 --> 00:03:17,000 foreigners to keep the Teachings of God, and also their wives and 45 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,450 their sons and daughters who could understand. They joined 46 00:03:20,450 --> 00:03:23,480 their fellow Israelites and their leading men in taking an 47 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,870 oath, which was tied to a curse in case they broke the oath. 48 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,930 They promised to follow the Teachings of God, which they had 49 00:03:29,930 --> 00:03:33,560 been given through Moses the servant of God, and to obey all 50 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:38,180 the commands, rules, and laws of the Lord our God. They said: We 51 00:03:38,180 --> 00:03:41,750 promise not to let our daughters marry foreigners nor to let our 52 00:03:41,750 --> 00:03:45,320 sons marry their daughters. Foreigners may bring goods or 53 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,080 grain to sell on the Sabbath, but we will not buy on the 54 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:52,520 Sabbath or any holy day. Every seventh year we will not plant, 55 00:03:52,580 --> 00:03:56,600 and that year we will forget all that people owe us. We will be 56 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,420 responsible for the commands to pay for the service of the 57 00:03:59,420 --> 00:04:03,020 Temple of our God. We will give an eighth of an ounce of silver 58 00:04:03,020 --> 00:04:06,500 each year. It is for the bread that is set out on the table; 59 00:04:06,620 --> 00:04:09,920 the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; the offerings 60 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,400 on the Sabbaths, New Moon festivals, and special feasts; 61 00:04:13,790 --> 00:04:16,760 the holy offerings; the offerings to remove the sins of 62 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,270 the Israelites so they will belong to God; and for the work 63 00:04:20,270 --> 00:04:24,530 of the Temple of our God. We, the priests, the Levites, and 64 00:04:24,530 --> 00:04:28,250 the people, have thrown lots to decide at what time of year each 65 00:04:28,250 --> 00:04:31,790 family must bring wood to the Temple. The wood is for burning 66 00:04:31,790 --> 00:04:35,180 on the altar of the Lord our God, and we will do this as it 67 00:04:35,180 --> 00:04:38,960 is written in the Teachings. We also will bring the first fruits 68 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,900 from our crops and the first fruits of every tree to the 69 00:04:41,900 --> 00:04:45,860 Temple each year. We will bring to the Temple our firstborn sons 70 00:04:45,860 --> 00:04:49,100 and cattle and the firstborn of our herds and flocks, as it is 71 00:04:49,100 --> 00:04:52,580 written in the Teachings. We will bring them to the priests 72 00:04:52,580 --> 00:04:56,120 who are serving in the Temple. We will bring to the priests at 73 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,510 the storerooms of the Temple the first of our ground meal, our 74 00:04:59,510 --> 00:05:03,230 offerings, the fruit from all our trees, and our new wine and 75 00:05:03,230 --> 00:05:06,620 oil. And we will bring a tenth of our crops to the Levites, who 76 00:05:06,620 --> 00:05:10,160 will collect these things in all the towns where we work. A 77 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,950 priest of Aaron’s family must be with the Levites when they 78 00:05:12,950 --> 00:05:16,640 receive the tenth of the people’s crops. The Levites must 79 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,490 bring a tenth of all they receive to the Temple of our God 80 00:05:19,490 --> 00:05:23,180 to put in the storerooms of the treasury. The people of Israel 81 00:05:23,180 --> 00:05:26,300 and the Levites are to bring to the storerooms the gifts of 82 00:05:26,300 --> 00:05:30,380 grain, new wine, and oil. That is where the utensils for the 83 00:05:30,380 --> 00:05:33,590 Temple are kept and where the priests who are serving, the 84 00:05:33,590 --> 00:05:37,940 gatekeepers, and singers stay. We will not ignore the Temple of 85 00:05:37,940 --> 00:05:38,720 our God. 86 00:05:39,620 --> 00:05:44,450 Nehemiah, chapter 11. Now the leaders of the Israelites moved 87 00:05:44,450 --> 00:05:48,290 into the city of Jerusalem. The rest of the people used lots to 88 00:05:48,290 --> 00:05:51,530 decide who else should move there with the leaders. They 89 00:05:51,530 --> 00:05:54,560 chose a tenth of the people to live in Jerusalem, the holy 90 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:58,100 city. The rest of the people stayed in their own towns. The 91 00:05:58,100 --> 00:06:01,190 people who stayed asked God to bless those who were willing to 92 00:06:01,190 --> 00:06:05,540 move to Jerusalem. Some of the Israelites, priests, Levites, 93 00:06:05,570 --> 00:06:08,930 servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants lived in the 94 00:06:08,930 --> 00:06:13,190 various towns throughout Judah. These all lived on property they 95 00:06:13,190 --> 00:06:16,940 owned in these towns. But the area leaders lived in Jerusalem. 96 00:06:17,450 --> 00:06:20,120 And other people from the families of Judah and Benjamin 97 00:06:20,150 --> 00:06:23,900 lived in Jerusalem. These are the descendants of Judah who 98 00:06:23,900 --> 00:06:29,270 moved to Jerusalem: Athaiah son of Uzziah (the son of Zechariah, 99 00:06:29,270 --> 00:06:32,990 who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Shephatiah, who 100 00:06:32,990 --> 00:06:36,860 was the son of Mahalalel, who was a descendant of Perez) and 101 00:06:36,860 --> 00:06:40,760 Maaseiah son of Baruch (the son of Col-Hozeh, who was the son of 102 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:44,060 Hazaiah, who was the son of Adaiah, who was the son of 103 00:06:44,060 --> 00:06:47,720 Joiarib, who was the son of Zechariah, who was a descendant 104 00:06:47,750 --> 00:06:51,590 of Shelah). The number of Perez’s descendants living in 105 00:06:51,590 --> 00:06:57,710 Jerusalem was 468. All of them were brave men. These are the 106 00:06:57,710 --> 00:07:01,910 descendants of Benjamin who moved into Jerusalem: Sallu son 107 00:07:01,910 --> 00:07:05,810 of Meshullam (the son of Joed, who was the son of Pedaiah, who 108 00:07:05,810 --> 00:07:09,740 was the son of Kolaiah, who was the son of Maaseiah, who was the 109 00:07:09,740 --> 00:07:13,190 son of Ithiel, who was the son of Jeshaiah), and those who 110 00:07:13,190 --> 00:07:17,840 followed Jeshaiah were Gabbai and Sallai. All together there 111 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:23,630 were 928 men. Joel son of Zicri was in charge of them. And Judah 112 00:07:23,660 --> 00:07:26,900 son of Hassenuah was in charge of the Second District of the 113 00:07:26,900 --> 00:07:30,440 city of Jerusalem. These are the priests who moved into 114 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:35,300 Jerusalem: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jakin, and Seraiah son 115 00:07:35,300 --> 00:07:38,300 of Hilkiah (the son of Meshullam, who was the son of 116 00:07:38,300 --> 00:07:41,480 Zadok, who was the son of Meraioth, who was the son of 117 00:07:41,510 --> 00:07:46,220 Ahitub), who was the supervisor in the Temple of God, and 822 118 00:07:46,220 --> 00:07:49,370 men of their brothers that did the work for the Temple, and 119 00:07:49,370 --> 00:07:53,270 Adaiah son of Jeroham (the son of Pelaliah, who was the son of 120 00:07:53,300 --> 00:07:56,600 Amzi, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of 121 00:07:56,660 --> 00:08:01,610 Pashhur, who was the son of Malkijah), and 242 men who were 122 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:06,290 Adaiah’s brothers (leaders of their families), Amashsai son of 123 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:10,130 Azarel (the son of Ahzai, who was the son of Meshillemoth, who 124 00:08:10,130 --> 00:08:15,410 was the son of Immer), and 128 of Amashsai’s brothers. (These 125 00:08:15,410 --> 00:08:19,370 men were brave soldiers. The officer over them was Zabdiel 126 00:08:19,460 --> 00:08:23,090 son of Haggedolim.) These are the Levites who moved into 127 00:08:23,090 --> 00:08:27,830 Jerusalem: Shemaiah son of Hasshub (the son of Azrikam, who 128 00:08:27,830 --> 00:08:30,890 was the son of Hashabiah, who was the son of Bunni), 129 00:08:31,250 --> 00:08:35,030 Shabbethai and Jozabad (two of the leaders of the Levites in 130 00:08:35,030 --> 00:08:38,570 charge of the outside work of God’s Temple), Mattaniah (the 131 00:08:38,630 --> 00:08:42,140 son of Mica, who was the son of Zabdi, who was the son of 132 00:08:42,140 --> 00:08:45,620 Asaph), the director who led the people in singing songs of 133 00:08:45,620 --> 00:08:49,370 praise and prayer, Bakbukiah (the second in charge over his 134 00:08:49,370 --> 00:08:53,210 brothers), and Abda son of Shammua (the son of Galal, who 135 00:08:53,210 --> 00:08:57,620 was the son of Jeduthun). So there were 284 Levites who moved 136 00:08:57,620 --> 00:09:01,700 into Jerusalem, the holy city. These are the gatekeepers who 137 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:06,560 moved into Jerusalem: Akkub, Talmon, and 172 of their 138 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:10,010 brothers. They watched and guarded the gates of the city. 139 00:09:10,340 --> 00:09:13,970 The other Israelites, and the other priests and Levites, lived 140 00:09:13,970 --> 00:09:17,330 in all the towns of Judah. Everyone lived on the land that 141 00:09:17,330 --> 00:09:20,900 their ancestors had owned. The Temple servants lived on the 142 00:09:20,900 --> 00:09:24,980 hill of Ophel. Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the Temple 143 00:09:24,980 --> 00:09:30,020 servants. The officer over the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi. 144 00:09:30,740 --> 00:09:34,280 Uzzi was the son of Bani (the son of Hashabiah, who was the 145 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:38,060 son of Mattaniah, who was the son of Mica). Uzzi was a 146 00:09:38,060 --> 00:09:42,020 descendant of Asaph. Asaph’s descendants were the singers who 147 00:09:42,020 --> 00:09:45,500 were responsible for the service in God’s Temple. The singers 148 00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:48,590 obeyed orders from the king, which told them what to do from 149 00:09:48,590 --> 00:09:52,550 day to day. Pethahiah son of Meshezabel told the people what 150 00:09:52,550 --> 00:09:55,460 the king wanted done. (Meshezabel was one of the 151 00:09:55,460 --> 00:09:59,480 descendants of Zerah. Zerah was Judah’s son.) The people of 152 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:03,620 Judah lived in these towns: In Kiriath Arba and the small towns 153 00:10:03,620 --> 00:10:07,640 around it, in Dibon and the small towns around it, in 154 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,930 Jekabzeel and the small towns around it, and in Jeshua, in 155 00:10:11,930 --> 00:10:17,150 Moladah, in Beth Pelet, in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and the 156 00:10:17,150 --> 00:10:21,410 small towns around it, and in Ziklag, in Meconah and the small 157 00:10:21,410 --> 00:10:25,940 towns around it, and in En Rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, 158 00:10:26,180 --> 00:10:30,740 and in Zanoah and Adullam and the small towns around them, in 159 00:10:30,740 --> 00:10:34,640 Lachish and the fields around it, and in Azekah and the small 160 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:38,810 towns around it. So the people of Judah were living all the way 161 00:10:38,810 --> 00:10:42,590 from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom. The descendants of the 162 00:10:42,590 --> 00:10:46,850 family of Benjamin from Geba lived in Micmash, Aija, Bethel, 163 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:51,380 and the small towns around it, in Anathoth, Nob, and Ananiah, 164 00:10:51,710 --> 00:10:58,010 in Hazor, Ramah, and Gittaim, in Hadid, Zeboim, and Neballat, in 165 00:10:58,010 --> 00:11:01,820 Lod and Ono, and in the Valley of the Craftsmen. Some of the 166 00:11:01,820 --> 00:11:05,690 groups from the family of Levi moved to the land of Benjamin. 167 00:11:06,890 --> 00:11:11,780 Nehemiah, chapter 12. These are the priests and Levites who came 168 00:11:11,780 --> 00:11:15,800 back to the land of Judah. They came back with Zerubbabel son of 169 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:20,660 Shealtiel and Jeshua. This is a list of their names: Seraiah, 170 00:11:20,750 --> 00:11:23,750 Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, Shecaniah, 171 00:11:23,750 --> 00:11:28,010 Rehum, Meremoth, Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah, Mijamin, 172 00:11:29,060 --> 00:11:38,960 Maadiah, Bilgah, Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, Sallu, Amok, 173 00:11:39,050 --> 00:11:43,310 Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These men were the leaders of the priests 174 00:11:43,310 --> 00:11:47,510 and their relatives in the days of Jeshua. The Levites were 175 00:11:47,690 --> 00:11:53,300 Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also 176 00:11:53,390 --> 00:11:57,620 Mattaniah. These men, with Mattaniah’s relatives, were in 177 00:11:57,620 --> 00:12:02,600 charge of the songs of praise to God. Bakbukiah and Unni were the 178 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,710 relatives of those Levites. These two men stood across from 179 00:12:06,710 --> 00:12:12,020 them in the services. Jeshua was the father of Joiakim. Joiakim 180 00:12:12,050 --> 00:12:15,920 was the father of Eliashib. Eliashib was the father of 181 00:12:15,950 --> 00:12:21,140 Joiada. Joiada was the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan was the 182 00:12:21,140 --> 00:12:25,430 father of Jaddua. In the days of Joiakim, these men were the 183 00:12:25,430 --> 00:12:29,090 leaders of the families of priests: The leader of Seraiah’s 184 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:33,230 family was Meraiah. The leader of Jeremiah’s family was 185 00:12:33,290 --> 00:12:38,120 Hananiah. The leader of Ezra’s family was Meshullam. The leader 186 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,930 of Amariah’s family was Jehohanan. The leader of 187 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:46,070 Malluch’s family was Jonathan. The leader of Shecaniah’s family 188 00:12:46,070 --> 00:12:51,320 was Joseph. The leader of Harim’s family was Adna. The 189 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:55,370 leader of Meremoth’s family was Helkai. The leader of Iddo’s 190 00:12:55,370 --> 00:13:00,080 family was Zechariah. The leader of Ginnethon’s family was 191 00:13:00,110 --> 00:13:04,880 Meshullam. The leader of Abijah’s family was Zicri. The 192 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:09,800 leader of Miniamin and Maadiah’s families was Piltai. The leader 193 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:14,120 of Bilgah’s family was Shammua. The leader of Shemaiah’s family 194 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:18,860 was Jehonathan. The leader of Joiarib’s family was Mattenai. 195 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:23,030 The leader of Jedaiah’s family was Uzzi. The leader of Sallu’s 196 00:13:23,030 --> 00:13:28,010 family was Kallai. The leader of Amok’s family was Eber. The 197 00:13:28,010 --> 00:13:31,820 leader of Hilkiah’s family was Hashabiah. The leader of 198 00:13:31,820 --> 00:13:36,320 Jedaiah’s family was Nethanel. The names of the leaders of the 199 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,680 families of the Levites and the priests in the days of Eliashib, 200 00:13:39,830 --> 00:13:44,570 Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were written down during the rule of 201 00:13:44,570 --> 00:13:48,410 Darius the Persian king. The family leaders among the 202 00:13:48,410 --> 00:13:51,950 descendants of the Levites and up to the time of Johanan son of 203 00:13:51,950 --> 00:13:55,670 Eliashib were written in the history book. And these were the 204 00:13:55,670 --> 00:14:00,230 leaders of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua the 205 00:14:00,230 --> 00:14:04,070 son of Kadmiel, and their brothers. Their brothers stood 206 00:14:04,070 --> 00:14:08,180 across from them to sing praise and honor to God. One group 207 00:14:08,180 --> 00:14:11,270 answered the other group. That is what was commanded by David 208 00:14:11,270 --> 00:14:15,110 the man of God. The gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms next 209 00:14:15,110 --> 00:14:20,150 to the gates were Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, 210 00:14:20,390 --> 00:14:25,520 Talmon, and Akkub. They served in the days of Joiakim. Joiakim 211 00:14:25,550 --> 00:14:29,240 was the son of Jeshua, who was the son of Jozadak. And the 212 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,420 gatekeepers also served in the days of Nehemiah the governor 213 00:14:32,420 --> 00:14:36,350 and in the days of Ezra the priest and teacher. The people 214 00:14:36,350 --> 00:14:39,800 dedicated the wall of Jerusalem. They brought all the Levites to 215 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:43,970 Jerusalem. The Levites came from the towns they lived in. They 216 00:14:43,970 --> 00:14:47,090 came to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication of the wall of 217 00:14:47,090 --> 00:14:51,080 Jerusalem. They came to sing songs of praise and thanks to 218 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:55,790 God. They played their cymbals, harps, and lyres. And all the 219 00:14:55,790 --> 00:14:59,690 singers also came to Jerusalem. They came from the towns all 220 00:14:59,690 --> 00:15:03,740 around Jerusalem. They came from the town of Netophah, from Beth 221 00:15:03,740 --> 00:15:08,870 Gilgal, Geba, and Azmaveth. The singers had built small towns 222 00:15:08,870 --> 00:15:12,590 for themselves in the area around Jerusalem. So the priests 223 00:15:12,590 --> 00:15:16,310 and Levites made themselves pure in a ceremony. Then they also 224 00:15:16,310 --> 00:15:19,460 made the people, the gates, and the wall of Jerusalem pure in a 225 00:15:19,460 --> 00:15:23,930 ceremony. I told the leaders of Judah to go up and stand on top 226 00:15:23,930 --> 00:15:27,770 of the wall. I also chose two large singing groups to give 227 00:15:27,770 --> 00:15:31,760 thanks to God. One group was to start going up on top of the 228 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:35,960 wall on the right side, toward the Ash Pile Gate. Hoshaiah and 229 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:39,200 half of the leaders of Judah followed the singers. Also 230 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:43,460 following them were Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, 231 00:15:43,550 --> 00:15:47,270 Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah. And some of the 232 00:15:47,270 --> 00:15:50,210 priests with trumpets also followed them up to the wall. 233 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,900 Zechariah also followed them. (Zechariah was the son of 234 00:15:53,900 --> 00:15:56,960 Jonathan, who was the son of Shemaiah, who was the son of 235 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:00,500 Mattaniah, who was the son of Micaiah, who was the son of 236 00:16:00,500 --> 00:16:04,550 Zaccur, who was the son of Asaph.) There were also Asaph’s 237 00:16:04,580 --> 00:16:10,070 brothers, who were Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, 238 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:14,780 Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. They had the musical instruments 239 00:16:14,780 --> 00:16:19,040 that David, the man of God, had made. Ezra the teacher led the 240 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,550 group of people who were there to dedicate the wall. They went 241 00:16:22,550 --> 00:16:25,550 to the Fountain Gate and walked up the stairs all the way to the 242 00:16:25,550 --> 00:16:29,420 City of David. They were on top of the city wall. They walked 243 00:16:29,420 --> 00:16:32,960 over the house of David and went toward the Water Gate. The 244 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,990 second group of singers started out in the other direction, to 245 00:16:35,990 --> 00:16:39,260 the left. I followed them as they went up to the top of the 246 00:16:39,260 --> 00:16:43,190 wall. Half of the people also followed them. They went past 247 00:16:43,190 --> 00:16:46,640 the Tower of Ovens to the Broad Wall. Then they went over these 248 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:51,230 gates: the Gate of Ephraim, the Old Gate, and the Fish Gate. And 249 00:16:51,230 --> 00:16:53,900 they went over the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the 250 00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:57,860 Hundred. They went as far as the Sheep Gate and stopped at the 251 00:16:57,860 --> 00:17:01,730 Guard Gate. Then the two singing groups went to their places in 252 00:17:01,730 --> 00:17:05,930 God’s Temple. And I stood in my place. And half the officials 253 00:17:05,930 --> 00:17:10,280 stood in their places in the Temple. Then these priests stood 254 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:15,320 in their places: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Mijamin, Micaiah, 255 00:17:15,590 --> 00:17:19,970 Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah. These priests had 256 00:17:19,970 --> 00:17:23,120 their trumpets with them. Then these priests stood in their 257 00:17:23,120 --> 00:17:28,220 places in the Temple: Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, 258 00:17:28,370 --> 00:17:34,070 Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. Then two singing groups 259 00:17:34,070 --> 00:17:38,090 began singing with Jezrahiah leading them. So on that special 260 00:17:38,090 --> 00:17:42,020 day, the priests offered many sacrifices. Everyone was very 261 00:17:42,020 --> 00:17:45,380 happy because God had made them happy. Even the women and 262 00:17:45,380 --> 00:17:49,190 children were excited and happy. People far away could hear the 263 00:17:49,190 --> 00:17:53,060 happy sounds coming from Jerusalem. Men were chosen to be 264 00:17:53,060 --> 00:17:56,300 in charge of the storerooms on that day. People brought the 265 00:17:56,300 --> 00:18:00,170 first part of the harvest and a tenth of their crops. So the men 266 00:18:00,170 --> 00:18:03,320 in charge put these things in the storerooms. The Jewish 267 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:07,460 people were very happy about the priests and Levites on duty. So 268 00:18:07,460 --> 00:18:10,490 they brought many things to be put in the storerooms. The 269 00:18:10,490 --> 00:18:14,360 priests and Levites did their work for their God. They did the 270 00:18:14,360 --> 00:18:17,270 ceremonies that made people pure, and the singers and 271 00:18:17,270 --> 00:18:20,750 gatekeepers did their part. They did everything that David and 272 00:18:20,750 --> 00:18:25,040 Solomon had commanded. (Long ago, in the days of David, Asaph 273 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:28,340 had been the director. And he had many songs of praise and 274 00:18:28,340 --> 00:18:32,600 thanks to God.) So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, 275 00:18:32,690 --> 00:18:35,900 all the Israelites gave every day to support the singers and 276 00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:39,530 gatekeepers. The people also set aside money for the other 277 00:18:39,530 --> 00:18:42,830 Levites. And the Levites set aside the money for the 278 00:18:42,830 --> 00:18:44,150 descendants of Aaron. 279 00:18:44,390 --> 00:18:49,310 Nehemiah, chapter 13. On that day the book of Moses was read 280 00:18:49,310 --> 00:18:52,610 aloud in the hearing of the people. They found written in it 281 00:18:52,610 --> 00:18:56,720 that no Ammonite or Moabite may ever enter the assembly of God, 282 00:18:57,110 --> 00:18:59,840 for they had not met the Israelites with food and water, 283 00:18:59,930 --> 00:19:03,860 but instead had hired Balaam to curse them. (Our God, however, 284 00:19:03,860 --> 00:19:07,160 turned the curse into blessing.) When they heard the law, they 285 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:11,300 removed from Israel all who were of mixed ancestry. But prior to 286 00:19:11,300 --> 00:19:15,530 this time, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been 287 00:19:15,530 --> 00:19:19,190 appointed over the storerooms of the temple of our God. He made 288 00:19:19,190 --> 00:19:22,310 for himself a large storeroom where previously they had been 289 00:19:22,310 --> 00:19:25,820 keeping the grain offering, the incense, and the vessels, along 290 00:19:25,820 --> 00:19:29,000 with the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil 291 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,570 as commanded for the Levites, the singers, the gate keepers, 292 00:19:32,750 --> 00:19:36,380 and the offering for the priests. During all this time I 293 00:19:36,380 --> 00:19:39,500 was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of King 294 00:19:39,500 --> 00:19:43,670 Artaxerxes of Babylon, I had gone back to the king. After 295 00:19:43,670 --> 00:19:47,240 some time I had requested leave of the king, and I returned to 296 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:51,620 Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for 297 00:19:51,620 --> 00:19:54,650 Tobiah by supplying him with a storeroom in the courts of the 298 00:19:54,650 --> 00:19:58,820 temple of God. I was very upset, and I threw all of Tobiah’s 299 00:19:58,820 --> 00:20:02,330 household possessions out of the storeroom. Then I gave 300 00:20:02,330 --> 00:20:05,840 instructions that the storerooms should be purified, and I 301 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,930 brought back the equipment of the temple of God, along with 302 00:20:08,930 --> 00:20:13,190 the grain offering and the incense. I also discovered that 303 00:20:13,190 --> 00:20:16,010 the grain offerings for the Levites had not been provided, 304 00:20:16,340 --> 00:20:19,610 and that as a result the Levites and the singers who performed 305 00:20:19,610 --> 00:20:23,690 this work had all gone off to their fields. So I registered a 306 00:20:23,690 --> 00:20:26,780 complaint with the leaders, asking “Why is the temple of God 307 00:20:26,780 --> 00:20:30,140 neglected?” Then I gathered them and reassigned them to their 308 00:20:30,140 --> 00:20:33,950 positions. Then all of Judah brought the tithe of the grain, 309 00:20:33,980 --> 00:20:37,520 the new wine, and the olive oil to the storerooms. I gave 310 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:41,720 instructions that Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a 311 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:45,350 certain Levite named Pedaiah be put in charge of the storerooms, 312 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,950 and that Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, be their 313 00:20:48,950 --> 00:20:52,970 assistant for they were regarded as trustworthy. It was then 314 00:20:52,970 --> 00:20:56,030 their responsibility to oversee the distribution to their 315 00:20:56,030 --> 00:21:00,260 colleagues. Please remember me for this, O my God, and do not 316 00:21:00,260 --> 00:21:02,840 wipe out the kindness that I have done for the temple of my 317 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:07,760 God and for its services! In those days I saw people in Judah 318 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,120 treading winepresses on the Sabbath, bringing in heaps of 319 00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:14,030 grain and loading them onto donkeys, along with wine, 320 00:21:14,060 --> 00:21:18,110 grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, and bringing them to 321 00:21:18,110 --> 00:21:21,350 Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them on the day that 322 00:21:21,350 --> 00:21:24,890 they sold these provisions. The people from Tyre who lived there 323 00:21:24,890 --> 00:21:28,430 were bringing fish and all kinds of merchandise and were selling 324 00:21:28,430 --> 00:21:31,760 it on the Sabbath to the people of Judah – and in Jerusalem, of 325 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:35,420 all places! So I registered a complaint with the nobles of 326 00:21:35,420 --> 00:21:38,150 Judah, saying to them, “What is this evil thing that you are 327 00:21:38,150 --> 00:21:41,540 doing, profaning the Sabbath day? Isn’t this the way your 328 00:21:41,540 --> 00:21:44,930 ancestors acted, causing our God to bring on them and on this 329 00:21:44,930 --> 00:21:48,380 city all this misfortune? And now you are causing even more 330 00:21:48,380 --> 00:21:51,830 wrath on Israel, profaning the Sabbath like this!” When the 331 00:21:51,830 --> 00:21:54,980 evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem before 332 00:21:54,980 --> 00:21:59,090 the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be closed. I further directed 333 00:21:59,090 --> 00:22:02,390 that they were not to be opened until after the Sabbath. I 334 00:22:02,390 --> 00:22:05,660 positioned some of my young men at the gates so that no load 335 00:22:05,660 --> 00:22:09,500 could enter on the Sabbath day. The traders and sellers of all 336 00:22:09,500 --> 00:22:12,620 kinds of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem once or 337 00:22:12,620 --> 00:22:15,770 twice. But I warned them and said, “Why do you spend the 338 00:22:15,770 --> 00:22:19,400 night by the wall? If you repeat this, I will forcibly remove 339 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:24,230 you!” From that time on they did not show up on the Sabbath. Then 340 00:22:24,230 --> 00:22:27,560 I directed the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard 341 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:31,310 the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. For this 342 00:22:31,310 --> 00:22:34,880 please remember me, O my God, and have pity on me in keeping 343 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:38,810 with your great love. Also in those days I saw the men of 344 00:22:38,810 --> 00:22:43,370 Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Half of 345 00:22:43,370 --> 00:22:46,010 their children spoke the language of Ashdod (or the 346 00:22:46,010 --> 00:22:48,470 language of one of the other peoples mentioned) and were 347 00:22:48,470 --> 00:22:51,860 unable to speak the language of Judah. So I entered a complaint 348 00:22:51,860 --> 00:22:55,400 with them. I called down a curse on them, and I struck some of 349 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:59,150 the men and pulled out their hair. I had them swear by God 350 00:22:59,150 --> 00:23:02,690 saying, “You will not marry off your daughters to their sons, 351 00:23:02,810 --> 00:23:05,690 and you will not take any of their daughters as wives for 352 00:23:05,690 --> 00:23:10,010 your sons or for yourselves! Was it not because of things like 353 00:23:10,010 --> 00:23:13,520 these that King Solomon of Israel sinned? Among the many 354 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:17,420 nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, 355 00:23:17,540 --> 00:23:21,530 and God made him king over all Israel. But the foreign wives 356 00:23:21,530 --> 00:23:25,190 made even him sin! Should we then in your case hear that you 357 00:23:25,190 --> 00:23:28,910 do all this great evil, thereby being unfaithful to our God by 358 00:23:28,910 --> 00:23:33,410 marrying foreign wives?” Now one of the sons of Joiada son of 359 00:23:33,410 --> 00:23:36,680 Eliashib the high priest was a son-in-law of Sanballat the 360 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:41,270 Horonite. So I banished him from my sight. Please remember them, 361 00:23:41,300 --> 00:23:44,720 O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, the 362 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:49,040 covenant of the priesthood, and the Levites. So I purified them 363 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:52,400 of everything foreign, and I assigned specific duties to the 364 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:56,630 priests and the Levites. I also provided for the wood offering 365 00:23:56,660 --> 00:24:01,070 at the appointed times and also for the first fruits. Please 366 00:24:01,100 --> 00:24:03,320 remember me for good, O my God. 367 00:24:05,270 --> 00:24:08,330 Well, Beloved, at the end of it all, Nehemiah’s conscience is 368 00:24:08,330 --> 00:24:11,510 clear, but he's disappointed that the people could not 369 00:24:11,510 --> 00:24:15,080 fulfill their vows to serve faithfully. And once again, we 370 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:18,380 see that there's nothing new under the sun. And, Beloved, 371 00:24:18,380 --> 00:24:21,110 let's face it, we're no better than they were at living a 372 00:24:21,110 --> 00:24:26,060 sin-free life. Despite our best intentions, we fail. Truer words 373 00:24:26,060 --> 00:24:29,690 were never said: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 374 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:34,130 Commentator David Guzik wrote, “If we could be saved by our own 375 00:24:34,130 --> 00:24:38,120 promises, by our own commitment to Jesus, then His death would 376 00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:41,810 have been noble, but unnecessary. We aren’t saved by 377 00:24:41,810 --> 00:24:45,860 some vow we make, or some leaf we turn over, but by trusting in 378 00:24:45,860 --> 00:24:50,810 who Jesus is, and what He has done to save us.” Beloved, how 379 00:24:50,810 --> 00:24:54,020 thankful we are and how blessed we are to have a Savior whose 380 00:24:54,020 --> 00:24:57,950 sacrifice on the Cross paid the price for our weakness. If we 381 00:24:57,950 --> 00:25:00,710 could live a sinless life, his sacrifice would not have been 382 00:25:00,710 --> 00:25:05,810 necessary, but since we can't, his sacrifice was necessary. And 383 00:25:05,810 --> 00:25:09,680 in making that sacrifice he made eternity with God a possibility 384 00:25:09,710 --> 00:25:18,230 for all who believe. Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. 385 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:39,296 As always, I invite your comments and your questions. 386 00:25:39,363 --> 00:25:42,633 Send a boostagram using a modern podcast app from 387 00:25:42,699 --> 00:25:46,503 podcastapps.com. Or call the Lifespring Family Hotline at 388 00:25:46,570 --> 00:25:50,373 +1-951-732-8511. If you have a prayer request or a praise 389 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,510 report for next Sunday's prayer segment, go to 390 00:25:53,576 --> 00:25:57,781 prayer.lifespringmedia.com. If you have a comment or a question 391 00:25:57,847 --> 00:26:00,783 for me, go to comment.lifespringmedia.com or 392 00:26:00,850 --> 00:26:03,720 send an email to steve@lifespringmedia.com. 393 00:26:12,510 --> 00:26:15,422 Thanks to the team: Sister Denise, Michael Haner, Scott 394 00:26:15,474 --> 00:26:18,334 Snider, Jason Paschall, and Sister Brittaney for their 395 00:26:18,387 --> 00:26:21,352 generous donation of time and talent. Jason Paschall was 396 00:26:21,404 --> 00:26:24,740 today's show art artist. Thank you for inviting me to be a part 397 00:26:24,793 --> 00:26:28,076 of your day today. I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. 398 00:26:28,129 --> 00:26:31,200 Until then, may God bless you richly. I'm Steve Webb. Bye. 399 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,127 Announcer: The Lifespring! Media family of programs are made 400 00:26:37,187 --> 00:26:41,130 possible by the generous support of listeners like you. Thank you.