Nehemiah 7:56

This chapter lists all of the families that came back to Jerusalem. They even counted the number of animals that they had in verses sixty-eight and sixty-nine. This is the Word of God. It is exact and precise whenever the Holy Spirit chose to go into great detail. The Bible says in Nehemiah 7:56-73, “The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.[57] The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,[58] The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,[59] The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.[60] All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.[61] And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.[62] The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.[63] And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.[64] These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.[65] And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.[66] 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.[68] Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:[69] Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.[70] And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.[71] And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.[72] And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments.[73] So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.” Notice carefully verse seventy: “And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work.” Everyone has something they can do for the work of the Lord. Some people did the actual physical work, but others were not able to do that. Some people have more money than others. If they understand money, and the hand of God, and personal responsibility for what God has given to them, they will look for opportunities to use some of that money for the Gospel of Christ. It says in Second Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” The chiefs gave twenty thousand drams of gold. A dram is a coin, and so that was twenty thousand gold coins. The rest of the people also gave twenty thousand gold coins. If everyone gives a little, then it ends up being a lot. All of the common people together gave as much as the wealthy people. This was a lot of money. If we give a modest value of $100.00 for each of the gold coins, that would be four million dollars in gold alone that was given by the wealthy people and the common people for the temple. There was 4,200 pounds of silver given in total. At today’s values for silver ($25.00 an ounce), that would over one and a half million dollars. No wonder the work was so successful. Everyone was committed to it in every way.

The Bible says in Nehemiah 8:1-3, “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.[2] And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.[3] And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.” It says in verse one that “all the people” wanted to hear the Word of God. That is an amazing thing and a great revival. Would to God that we could say the same thing today. You can always tell when there is a revival because people will want to hear the Word of God. The Spirit of God draws our hearts to the Word. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Watch your heart and its desires. Make sure that you desire the Word. It says in First Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”

We can also tell that this was a time of revival because it says in verse one, “the people gathered themselves together.” They gathered together. This is the will of God for believers. That is one of the purposes of a church: maybe the most important purpose. Jesus established the church so that believers would gather together. Jesus described the basic church and He said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” The people under Nehemiah not only gathered together, but they were united. We are also told in verse one above that they gathered together “as one man.” They had unity. That is so important. And yet, anger and disputes and arrogance can arise so easily in a congregation of believers. Beware. The Lord Jesus wants unity. We should be able to be united. We are all sinners who have been saved by the Lord Jesus, and we are all members of the family of God by the grace of God. We will all be together in heaven forever. O, the shame of our divisions.

Notice in verse three that it says that they listened to the Word of God “from the morning until midday.” That is at least four to six hours. Of course, this was a special event. They did not have their own copies of the Bible. What will people like that will say in heaven when they hear that we can each have our own Bibles and as many copies as we want? Will they will ask why we did not read it more?

The Bible says in Nehemiah 8:4-8, “And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.[5] And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:[6] And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.[7] Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.[8] So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” Some things do not change. This description of what happened with Ezra is exactly what is supposed to happen today in the age of the New Testament church. Ezra read from the Bible, huge numbers of people gathered together to hear the Word of God, and the Word of God was taught by those who had understanding of the Word so that every believer would understand. It says in Ephesians 4:7-12, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.[8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.[9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?[10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)[11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” This is one of the most important parts of a church service and is why Christians should go to a good Bible teaching church. Every Christian has one or more spiritual gift, but only some Christians have the gift to teach God’s Word. You either should be hearing good Bible teaching from a gifted teacher, or if you have that gift, you should be doing the teaching at a church where you are the pastor. Start a new church if you must.

The Bible says in Nehemiah 8:9-12, “And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.[10] Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.[11] So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.[12] And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.” It says in verse nine that “all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.” Never doubt the power of God’s Word to touch hearts. That is why a God-sent preacher teaches the Bible. There is a great power in the Word. There is not power in your words: there is power in the Word of God. It says in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Ezra told the people, “mourn not, nor weep.” There is a time for everything. There is a time to mourn and weep, but this was not the time for that. This was a time to be joyful. This was a time to celebrate all that the Lord had done for them. And guess what, the people did not do what the Bible teachers told them to do. They did what the Word of God told them to do. There is a big difference. Notice that it says at the end of verse twelve, “because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.” Once they understood the Word, they did what the Word told them. But in order to understand, they needed a good Bible teacher. As we have stated before, one of the reasons to go to a Bible teaching church is to hear teachings from the Word. Every Christian needs that. Do not do what the preacher says. Do what the Word says.

One final lesson from these verses: when you hear the Word and put it into practice in your life, you will have the happiest and most joyful life possible over all. Yes, you will have your share of sorrows and difficulties. But do not let anything take away the joy of your salvation. You have Jesus, you have eternal life, you have forgiveness of sins, you have all the promises of God for your life every day. Rejoice. Be happy. Enjoy your salvation.

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