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The Value of Every Servant (Nehemiah 11:1-36)

Writer's picture: Corby AngleCorby Angle

Nehemiah 11:1–36 - 1 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. 3 Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah each lived on his own property in their cities—the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. 4 Some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah the 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. 6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 able men. 7 Now these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the 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; 8 and after him Gabbai and Sallai, 928. 9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second in command of the city. 10 From the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the leader of the house of God, 12 and their kinsmen who performed the work of the temple, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, 13 and his kinsmen, heads of fathers’ households, 242; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and their brothers, valiant warriors, 128. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim. 15 Now from the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God; 17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the leader in beginning the thanksgiving at prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were 284. 19 Also the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren who kept watch at the gates, were 172. 20 The rest of Israel, of the priests and of the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each on his own inheritance. 21 But the temple servants were living in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants. 22 Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of God. 23 For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the song leaders day by day. 24 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king’s representative in all matters concerning the people. 25 Now as for the villages with their fields, some of the sons of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 and in Jeshua, in Moladah and Beth-pelet, 27 and in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its towns, 28 and in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns, 29 and in En-rimmon, in Zorah and in Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba as far as the valley of Hinnom. 31 The sons of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, at Bethel and its towns, 32 at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 From the Levites, some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin. 

 

What does today’s passage say?

In today's passage, the leaders including Nehemiah had to decide who should live in the holy city of Jerusalem in order to rebuild its population (vv. 1-2). They appointed godly people as residents, realizing strong leadership was essential for the community to thrive. The passage then lists groups of Israelites who settled in the towns and villages of Judah and Benjamin (vv. 3-24), indicating capable people were strategically placed all throughout the region to contribute through their presence and service wherever located. Finally, the passage provides an extended roster of additional Israelites inhabiting towns and areas outside of Jerusalem (vv. 25-36). This demonstrates how the Lord values each person He has called, whether their service seemed prominent or obscure. Every act of obedience held significance for strengthening their society as the people followed Nehemiah's God-directed leadership.

 

How can I apply Nehemiah 11:1-36 to my life?

In this passage, we read about Nehemiah’s strategic repopulation of Jerusalem after the completion of the city walls. His selective placement of Israelite families throughout the region demonstrates thoughtful administrative skills with spiritual intentionality. Nehemiah sought to strengthen Judah’s infrastructure through the dispersed settlement of capable leaders whose steadfast local service added value to neighboring communities. Yet he balanced regional development with the priority of reestablishing Jerusalem as a vibrant hub of spiritual life, selecting faithful officials to inhabit the holy city. This approach highlights how every follower of God has a vital role in His redemptive purposes when obedient to divine placement and calling. The Lord weaves together the collective contributions of each person who responds in faith to His direction. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:


1.    Step Forward in Faith and Obedience to Where God Has Called You (vv. 1-2): Nehemiah selected leaders to live in Jerusalem in order to repopulate the city. This demonstrated that capable, godly leaders were needed in order for the community to thrive. In the same way, God may be calling some of us to step into positions of increased responsibility and leadership, even when it requires sacrifice or going outside our comfort zone. Responding to His call is an act of faith on our part, believing that He will equip us for the tasks He appoints. As we seek God's will, we may sense Him prompting our involvement in ministry roles that contribute to the growth of our church body. Stepping forward in fearful obedience almost always precedes seeing the Lord's purpose unfold. When God calls us to lead, He also promises to provide His presence and power if we step out in faith. Though we may feel inadequate for positions of influence, God knows our capability better than we do. Saying yes when God calls us to lead is an act of trust in His enabling grace. As God led capable men and women to replenish Jerusalem's population, He may lead us into areas of contribution we never imagined (Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 6:8; Acts 20:24; Hebrews 11:8).


Food for Thought: What fears or hesitations could be holding you back from leadership roles God may want you in? What practical steps can you take to lean into God's calling and trust Him to guide and strengthen you?


2.    Make Your Community Better Through Your Faithful Service (vv. 3-24):  These verses provide details on the provinces where many of the Israelites settled, demonstrating how the community was strengthened by having capable people dispersed throughout the region. Just as these faithful followers of God contributed through their presence and service wherever they were located, we too can make our communities better places when we commit to fulfilling our roles faithfully. Whether at church, school, work, or in our neighborhood, when we carry out our tasks wholeheartedly as unto the Lord, the overall health of that community improves. Approaching our daily responsibilities with diligence, care and integrity allows us to season the atmosphere around us with salt and light. Living out godly values becomes infectious over time. Even small acts done in Jesus’ name ripple outward in unseen ways. As we grow deeper in relationship with Christ, He shapes our character to reflect more of His selfless love. The byproduct is that the collective environment we inhabit together grows more loving, patient, kind, and unified. We might not fully see the positive changes occurring in the communities we inhabit, but God does. He sees our sincere efforts to add value through steadfast devotion to the duties appointed for this season. Take heart that your conscientious labors on behalf of others carry lasting kingdom impact in ways only heaven can reveal (1 Corinthians 10:31; Matthew 5:13-16; Philippians 2:14-15; Psalm 37:3-6).


Food for Thought: What one act of service or improvement could you focus on this week that might enhance the quality of life in your community? Are there any habits or attitudes that could be adjusted to increase your positive effect on others around you?


3.    Value Every Person in God's Plan (vv. 25-36): These verses provide a listing of the Israelites who settled in various towns and villages outside of Jerusalem, indicating that while some were called to populate the capital city, many others were strategically placed throughout Judah and Benjamin. This demonstrates how the Lord values and has purpose for every one of His people, not just those in prominent positions. When we scan the lengthy roster of seemingly ordinary names and obscure locations, we realize that the work of God’s kingdom encompasses more than what unfolds on the largest stages. The Lord weaves together the collective contributions of each person who follows His direction to accomplish His sovereign plans. Every act of obedience, whether public or private, holds significance. The towns listed may appear insignificant, yet the residents who inhabited and cultivated the land did so in response to Nehemiah’s God-ordained leadership. They played essential roles in strengthening the society. Likewise, when we fulfill our duties with excellence, however small or hidden, the Lord amplifies our efforts for the good of the faith community. God delights to use ordinary people who make themselves available to serve wherever needed. He has assigned each of us unique parts to play in united participation with the body of Christ. We must guard against underestimating what the Spirit can achieve through a surrendered life. In light of eternity, roles the world overlooks may hold special importance for advancing God’s work in ways we will only fully grasp in glory. Take heart today if you serve in unseen realms! Keep serving where God plants you through steadfast devotion, for every act of faithfulness brightens His harvest field (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Colossians 3:23-24; 1 Samuel 16:7; Matthew 25:23).


Food for Thought: Do you tend to feel your contributions to God’s work lack value or importance at times? What perspectives from this passage help adjust that thinking? How might you encourage someone serving faithfully in a “hidden” role this week?


In summary, Nehemiah's strategic repopulation of Jerusalem contains valuable insights on leadership. First, when God calls us to step into positions of increased responsibility, we can move forward in trust, believing His grace will equip us. Second, faithfully carrying out our daily duties with care and integrity causes the environment around us to improve, as we season it with godly virtues. Small, sincere acts of service add up. Finally, every follower of Christ has a vital role in God's plans, whether prominent or obscure. The Lord delights to use ordinary people who make themselves available to serve wherever needed. As we fill our unique parts in the body of Christ through steadfast devotion, God amplifies our efforts for the corporate good. May we, like the settlers listed in this passage, respond to our Shepherd's voice by occupying the places He appoints. There we discover the lasting purpose He has prepared for us within His harvest field.

 

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray that You would give me wisdom and discernment to recognize when You are calling me to step into greater leadership roles and responsibilities. I know that responding to Your call requires faith and trust that You will equip me with everything I need. Give me courage and confidence in Your promises when You prompt me to take steps outside my comfort zone. I pray that You would shape my character to reflect more of Jesus' selfless nature, so that I can serve my community wholeheartedly. Help me carry out all my daily duties with care, integrity and attention to detail, so that I add value wherever You place me. Give me eyes to see people and tasks the way You do - reminding me that every act of obedience holds great significance to You. Thank You for assuring me that my small, sincere efforts amplify Your work when done in faith. Continue developing in me an eager willingness to serve wherever Your plans require.

I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Nehemiah 11:2 – “And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.”

 

 

With His Blessings,

Pastor Corby

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