Please turn with me in your Bibles to Nehemiah chapter 7.

Someone asked me “Whatever happened to Nehemiah?” We’re not done with Nehemiah, as there are 13 chapters in that Book. But I thought that, since this is Business Meeting night, I’d look at a chapter of Scripture that we often overlook. I call these chapters “Telephone Directory Scriptures”.

Nehemiah 7:1-7 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, {2} That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. {3} And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. {4} Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built. {5} And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein, {6} These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; {7} Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;

Before Sherry and I got old and gray, we used to go hiking down various nature trails. One of the nicest areas we found was around Tennessee’s Reelfoot Lake. There are some beautiful hiking trails there. We’d take our walking sticks, and make a day of it.

Down one trail we followed, we found something I still can’t figure out – even years later. We were about a mile in – very far from the road – when we found a washing machine. There’s something freaky about finding a washing machine – one about 20 years old – down a narrow path that no vehicle could follow.

As I was reading and studying Nehemiah, I got to chapter 7 and said to myself, “Oh great. A washing machine!” The bulk of this chapter is nothing but names – many difficult to pronounce – and numbers. The summary of these figures is in

Nehemiah 7:66-67 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, 67 Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.

If you take these numbers:

The Congregation 42,360
The Servants 7,337
The Singers 245

and add them together, you come up with 49, 942 people. Why do we have this “phone book” right in the middle of the Book of Nehemiah? Because God ordered this census.

Nehemiah 7:5 And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein…

Many years before King David decided to do a census of Israel. When he did, God punished Israel for David’s sin. Why? Because the Bible says in

1 Chronicles 21:1, “..Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.”

As David looked over the Kingdom that God had given him, he began to be proud – as if he himself built the house. David did not build the House of Israel, but God did. God commanded Moses to number Israel (Exodus 30:12) so each person could contribute to the welfare of the nation. God put into Nehemiah’s heart the need for a census. Why? Was it for taxation? No, we’re not told that. God put this in the middle of the Book to remind us that ..

People matter to the Lord

Stuff comes and goes. Things come and go. But people matter to God. Think about it for a moment.

+The earth rotates around the sun in such a way as to give us – people – 24 hour days.
+The plant life of this planet absorbs human waste while giving oxygen for us.
+God made all things, then on the 6^th day crowned creation with mankind.
+God gave us weeks, and times of rest, because He loves us.

Jesus said (Mark 2:27) “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath”. God loves us, and wants the best for us. Though Nehemiah and his crew rebuilt the walls in 52 days, and the Temple is being rebuilt, God’s attention is on His people. There are two great commandments given to God’s people. Jesus said:

Matthew 22:36-40 (ESV) … “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

This is how Nehemiah operated. He kept the First Commandment:

Nehemiah 7:1 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,

The “porters and the singers and the Levites” were those who served God in the Temple. The “porters” took care of the Lord’s equipment, whereas the “singers” and the “Levites” led in worship and sacrifice unto God. Nehemiah kept the Second Commandment by:

Nehemiah 7:2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.

These faithful godly men were given charge over the upkeep of the palace and Jerusalem. The things of God must be cared for, the walls and the facilities maintained for His glory and to protect His people. Though God is sovereign and in control, He calls on us who are His to love Him and love one another. Hanani and Hananiah were told by Nehemiah:

Nehemiah 7:3 … Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.

We are called as children of God’s Kingdom to care for and protect one another as if we are family – for we are. The Bible says:

Philippians 2:1-3 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Israel’s enemies are not gone. Rebuilding the walls will have no effect if the gates are not controlled by godly men. Let us as His Church look to Jesus, and let all we do be done through love. For Christ’s sake I pray. Amen and Amen.