What's with the name calling?

Nehemiah 3 is a chapter of names… Many would just look at this chapter and pass over it… But all these names are recorded for a purpose. In fact, the Hebrew names were nearly all significant… Sometimes commemoration was in a name. Sometimes it uttered a testimony. Sometimes a prophecy stirred in it.

But even more than the significance of the names in this particular passage is the way each name is paired with a task… “Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated it. The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib, and next to them Zaccur son of Imri built. The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Beside them Meshullam son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs Beside them the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help their supervisors...” (Nehemiah 3:1-5)

More than just a list of names this passage shows how people working together can accomplish more than if just one person tried to do all the work.

If you were to underline in your Bible every time you see the phrases: "next to him," "next to them," "after him," and "after them" you would find them recorded 28 times in this chapter!

The biblical principle is this: every person is to be involved in ministry because everyone has a job to do…

Don’t be just another name on the roll – you are valued by God and you are valued by your church! Figure out where God is calling you to become involved and don’t be as the nobles of Tekoa in vs 5 and not lift a finger rather be willing to make yourself vulnerable, be willing to seek out change for God’s glory, be willing to take a stand for the Lord, and be willing to commit to the rebuilding of his church so that the name of the Lord would no longer be in disgrace.

See you Sunday!