A Study in Nehemiah Week 3

 

Earliest use of "Israel"

(Get your Bible and follow along as we study. In this case, just read all of chapter 7)

Chapter 7

Record keeping in the church has come into disrepute. Reading Nehemiah 7 one cannot avoid the conclusion that God’s leaders should be exceptional record keepers. In fact, much of the Bible is about record keeping. It is, in fact, the record of God’s character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption.

God relishes numbers. He wrote a whole book called “Numbers.” In it He spends a lot of time describing how Israel’s tents were laid out on the plains. Why would he do such a thing? Well, think of their layout, then think about what Balam saw when he went to curse Israel. God had been careful to show that they were laid out in the shape of a cross. Balam could not curse them.

In this book we have already seen how Nehemiah carefully and deliberately organized the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. He delegated and he led. His mission was thereby accomplished.

In Chapter 7 we see more evidence of a leader organizing Jerusalem for growth. We see the porters, the singers, the Levites (assistants to the priests) and the co-“mayors” (one for governmental leadership, the other for protection).

We see that God, through Nehemiah, wanted His people to increase in number. Nehemiah found a register of the genealogy of the people and with it he designed a plan to populate Jerusalem. What if those record had not been kept?

It is so important to God that His people keep a record of His involvement in their lives that He lists those who were to increase the Population of Jerusalem. He embarks on what might be considered a boring list of names and leadership positions. But if you really understand what God is doing, it suddenly reveals His unsurpassable “genius.”

In our churches we used to keep records, just like God expects us to do. For instance in Sunday School we used to take attendance, check on tardiness (any idea why? There is a reason; a good one. Can you think of what it might be?), check on studying the lesson, on daily Bible reading, on giving, on worship attendance and “visitation.”

Someone who did not know their Bible or the character of the God we serve, decided that this emphasis on record keeping was somehow “unspiritual.” In effect they said, “Who cares?” Well, God cares, that’s who cares.

Group leaders (such as Sunday School teachers) should have an objective idea of the spiritual development of their class. Do some members need encouragement to be more regular in attendance? Do some need to understand the importance of not being disruptive? Do some need to know what’s going to be discussed in class before the class takes place?

Maybe some need to be encouraged to read God’s Word more regularly. They certainly should be encouraged to join together in worship. Many may need encouragement to give as the Lord lays on their hearts. And we should all be visiting the lost, the home-bound, the sick and those with other needs. Is all of that happening in your church? How do you know?

Why do we disparage what God has ordained? Few of us have considered organization, record keeping, progress checking and the like as spiritual.

Newsflash! God has demonstrated that record keeping is important! Careful record keeping results in Godly growth.

He has given us a record of His plan of salvation in the Bible. What would we do without it? If we believe Jesus is God and that He organized creation (John 1:1ff), and if we believe we are to be His followers, does it not behoove us to follow his example of keeping good records?