When Jesus saw Jerusalem he proclaimed his love for the city. In Revelations, Jerusalem – reformed- is part of heaven. God, His Word and his people all have the understanding Jerusalem is a special place and holds an important place in God’s heart.Luke 13:34
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Nehemiah 11, the people are happy when someone volunteers themselves to live in the city destroyed due to the destruction of Israel and return from Babylon. At this point in Israel, it is better to live independently from Jerusalem.
This reminds me about a movie of a Thanksgiving family reunion that was too full of Hollywood liberalism for me to watch. Until the preview scene: the brother locks all the car doors to verbally abuse his grown siblings and they are desperate to jump out fast. It’s just a repeat of childhood. Both sides of our family have this episode of past remembered anger and hilarious remembrance. Watching this family filled with dysfunctional scenes created by human flaws and failed communication; we could all recognize a scene or two from our own lives.
By the end of their Thanksgiving, these adult chicks were ready to abandon “Jerusalem” and flee back to their independent lives. Until the dad sinks down to lament that everyone is so happy to leave. This strikes a cord and everyone listens. He remembers small moments in their childhood and circumstance that were silly, but everyone remembers the joy of the moment. A complete family filled with joy for the big future. Their reunion is rekindled; the love will be carried back into their lives.
In the last four decades we have all heard discussion on the decline of the family. When our last senior pastor was moving to his new ministry, he accurately told our church family we are a family and have this joy and pain in our community of human frailty. We read in church, today, church attendance in our city is down 10% in 10 years. This census records that only 20% of children could recognize a photo of Jesus. I have heard 3 different families say they were church going and believers, but it became easier not to dress and hustle the kids to church. All 3 families had their kids ask them, “What was that man doing on the letter ' t ‘?”.
At Thanksgiving, we will feed our family for the day. Let's remember to give God the blessing of blessing our children by giving them His love.
Psalm 87
1 He has set his foundation on the holy mountain;
2 the LORD loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God:
Selah
4 "I will record Rahab and Babylon
among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—
and will say, 'This one was born in Zion.' "
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
"This one and that one were born in her,
and the Most High himself will establish her."
6 The LORD will write in the register of the peoples:
"This one was born in Zion."
Selah
7 As they make music they will sing,
"All my fountains are in you."
Nehemiah 11 (The Message)
1-2 The leaders of the people were already living in Jerusalem, so the rest of the people drew lots to get one out of ten to move to Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine remained in their towns. The people applauded those who voluntarily offered to live in Jerusalem.
3-4 These are the leaders in the province who resided in Jerusalem (some Israelites, priests, Levites, Temple staff, and descendants of Solomon's slaves lived in the towns of Judah on their own property in various towns; others from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem):
4-6 From the family of Judah:
Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, from the family line of Perez; Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem numbered 468 valiant men.
7-9 From the family of Benjamin:
Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah, and his brothers Gabbai and Sallai: 928 men. Joel son of Zicri was their chief and Judah son of Hassenuah was second in command over the city.
10-14 From the priests:
Jedaiah son of Joiarib; Jakin; Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, supervisor of The Temple of God, along with their associates responsible for work in The Temple: 822 men. Also Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah, and his associates who were heads of families: 242 men; Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, and his associates, all valiant men: 128 men. Their commander was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.
15-18 From the Levites:
Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; Shabbethai and Jozabad, two of the leaders of the Levites who were in charge of the outside work of The Temple of God; Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. The Levites in the holy city totaled 284.
19 From the security guards:
Akkub, Talmon, and their associates who kept watch over the gates: 172 men.
20 The rest of the Israelites, priests, and Levites were in all the towns of Judah, each on his own family property.
21 The Temple staff lived on the hill Ophel. Ziha and Gishpa were responsible for them.
22-23 The chief officer over the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. Uzzi was one of Asaph's descendants, singers who led worship in The Temple of God. The singers got their orders from the king, who drew up their daily schedule.
24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, represented the people's concerns at the royal court.
25-30 Some of the Judeans lived in the villages near their farms:
Kiriath Arba (Hebron) and suburbs
Dibon and suburbs
Jekabzeel and suburbs
Jeshua
Moladah
Beth Pelet
Hazar Shual
Beersheba and suburbs
Ziklag
Meconah and suburbs
En Rimmon
Zorah
Jarmuth
Zanoah
Adullam and their towns
Lachish and its fields
Azekah and suburbs.
They were living all the way from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
31-36 The Benjaminites from Geba lived in:
Micmash
Aijah
Bethel and its suburbs
Anathoth
Nob and Ananiah
Hazor
Ramah and Gittaim
Hadid, Zeboim, and Neballat
Lod and Ono and the Valley of the Craftsmen. Also some of the Levitical groups of Judah were assigned to Benjamin.
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