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.
