Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 11:22-36, Nehemiah 12:1-26, Numbers 8:13-22, 1 Peter 2:9
As a child in elementary school, I was always scared to read aloud in class. It wasn’t because I was a bad reader. In fact, I always read a bit faster than everyone else, skipping ahead to read a paragraph or two before the rest of the class. But even still, I was constantly nervous I would say something wrong or lose my place in the reading, and as a result, make a fool of myself if called on by the teacher.
It’s easy to get lost in this passage from Nehemiah 11 and 12, because it’s full of the names of people and places that are hard to read and even harder to pronounce. It’s also easy to acknowledge that there are a lot of names, decide they’re too difficult to pronounce, and then skip ahead to the more interesting part of the story.
But names are important. The names in this passage are the names of the priests who came back to live in Jerusalem. At the time, Jerusalem wasn’t exactly the hip, new place to live. It was dangerous to the point that the people had to cast lots to see who would go back and build their lives there. The names of these priests listed in Nehemiah 11 and 12 were the priests who took the risk, voluntarily or not, because the people moving to Jerusalem needed priests too.
These lists tell us more than just who these people were; they tell us where they came from, their history. There is a lot of interest nowadays in finding out more about your ancestry. You send in a sample of your DNA, and some laboratory sends you back a full report of your global ancestry. Human nature leans toward wanting more knowledge, more information, which is probably why these kinds of tests have become so popular. We just want to know what we want to know.
These lists of priests serve a similar purpose: to help future generations of priests know where they came from. When we know where we come from, it’s easier to know what we’re moving toward, to take a glimpse at the bigger picture. But our full understanding of where we come from lies in the knowledge and belief of this truth: Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).
Our most important family name is the one given to us as children of God. We are His sons and daughters, and He is our Father. We belong to Him. He is our ancestry. He is our past, present, and future. Our citizenship and our family name rests fully with Him, and Him alone.
Written by Ellen Taylor
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28 thoughts on "The Levites and Priests"
THE ending of this devo, sums it ALL up for me. Thank you Jesus! I am a child of God. My citizenship rest FULLY on my JESUS! Can’t wait to meet you all someday! Gotta go, love you all!
Each name we read (or didn’t read ☺) was a touchstone for future generations. How thrilling it must have been to hear their ancestor’s name and role in the service to God!.
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Love, hugs, and prayers beautiful Shes.
Prayers appreciated for an impromptu outing with a long time friend. ❤
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LindaK- surgery, recovery going smoothly!
I’m finding that following along in the reading with an audible reading really helps me stay engaged. Especially with the names. Not only the pronunciations but also hearing it spoken reminds you this is more than just a list! Does anyone have an idea of how long all of this move took? Are we talking months or several years?
Several years…those with a book probably have a timeline that they can give you an exact number
“Our most important family name is the one given to us as children of God. We are His sons and daughters, and He is our Father.”
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Praise God, I am His daughter, I am His child. I am Sharon – daughter of the Most High God, the King of glory – a princess! Yes, this is the most important family name one can be given, and what a privilege to own it – not because of what I’ve done, but because of who He is.
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Which brings to mind this lovely praise song, Who You Say I Am…
Who am I that the highest King would welcome me?
I was lost, but He brought me in
Oh, His love for me
Oh, His love for me
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Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I’m a child of God, yes I am
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Free at last, He has ransomed me
His grace runs deep
While I was a slave to sin, Jesus died for me
Yes, He died for me
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Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I’m a child of God, yes I am
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In my Father’s house
There’s a place for me
I’m a child of God, yes I am
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I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
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I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
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I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
Oh, I am who You say I am
Yes, I am who You say I am
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Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I’m a child of God, yes I am
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In my Father’s house
There’s a place for me
I’m a child of God, yes I am
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@Chole – welcome! Thanks for sharing yesterday, giving us a chance to meet you. Praying for you as you are burdened for those around you – may God open many doors for you to share His love.
@Tricia C. – what a lovely gesture! It is a great task opening your home, but God will surely bless. Praying He gives you wisdom & discernment.
@Linda K. – praying all goes well with your surgery and for a quick recovery.
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You are chosen sweet sisters in Christ – you are a child of God!
May each of us meditate on this truth today. Have a blessed day sweet She’s! ❤️
I am one that can glance over the list of names…guilty. Today I am reminded of the importance of them; that being named and on the list matters. They were chosen to fullfill a role that was theirs to do, called and appointed by the Lord to be in position to lead well, restore the practices, the worship, the community. The names remind people where they came from and are all important in their part in restoring God’s people and offering the worship and praise He is due. We too must not forget that we are chosen to lead well and by example, offer praise no matter how significant or insignificant we may see our role in where we serve.
Lord, thank you that you have chosen us. May we be worthy of you in all we do. Amen❤️
Amen Wendy, our role is important to honor God with praise and worship!
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”. 1 Peter 2:9
LindaK, I just read your prayer request from yesterday. Praying for your hip replacement surgery today that the surgery goes well. Also for a quick recovery with no pain.
Amen.
The singers, the priests, the Levites, gatekeepers, all having their duties as the children of Israel were led in the thanksgiving psalms, giving praise and thanks – watch by watch (around the clock?) alternating group by group – “according to the command of David the man of God” – a man after God’s own heart, flawed as are we. Never forget the importance of thankfulness and praise, no matter where you are – at home in your comfy chair, or somewhere that took courage to settle in – there is always something to be thankful for .
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CRISSY HUNTER – thank you for reminding of that powerful verse, Philippians 4:13. ALL things …
TRICIA C – praying with you for the Lord’s guidance in fulfilling this leading you feel, and for your husband to feel it as well, strongly(!) and join you in praying for guidance. May this be a strengthening of faith for you both.
TRACI GENDRON ❤️ beautiful memory ❤️
KIMBERLY Z !! ❤️ I was just thinking about you yesterday and wondering how you and your family are doing.
CHLOE ❤️ praying for hearts and minds to be opened and
turn to Jesus, our living hope … Phil Wickham’s song comes to mind … “in desperation, I turned to heaven, And spoke Your name into the night”
LINDAK – praying the hip replacement surgery goes well! ❤️
MEAGAN C – ❤️ praying the Lord will give you a love for your new home and guide you to just the right church for your family.
RHONDA J ❤️
KELLY (NEO) ❤️
CEE GEE ❤️
Amen!!
Amen! ❤
Thank You Lord. Amen
Amen
It was important to restore the worship if the people of Israel were going to live as God’s representatives to the world.
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And how much more for us as His holy people, His kingdom of priests, to gather and publicly worship Him while we can?
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Thinking of our persecuted brothers and sisters who put their lives in danger to gather together, who mouth the words of praise without sound for if they were heard they would be turned in, imprisoned, or killed. One glorious day their voices will be heard before the throne singing “Holy, holy, holy.”
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LINDAK – praying all goes well with your hip replacement today.
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TRICIA C – praying for you and your husband to discern how to be a blessing to those around you this Thanksgiving.
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SEARCHING – continuing to pray for your family’s decision-making process.
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FOSTER MAMA – continued prayers for your F-I-L’s cancer battle will bring him to surrender his heart to Jesus.
Yes, Amen Kelly! Such good words to ponder on this morning the importance of Praise and Worship for the people of God!
Amen❤️
Amen
Amen❤️
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I am always amazed at the way God brings to mind another life story that’walks alongside ‘ the devotional.
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Some years ago, my mother in law, that was, presented me with a book for 2 reasons.. it was a good read that she felt could have been my story, but also the picture on the cover, of a little girl could have been me!
The book was about a daughters search for the truth of her father accused of treason and being killed by firing squad, and the truth finally coming out some 30 years later when the last of the government official in the case had died.
I decided to read the book whilst on holiday visiting my dad.
So, on one of the early pages the author talks sbout her father and his three friends the only black people in Scottish university in the early 1960s. She mentions the friends one, a creole, one from Sierra Leone, and the last from Guyana called George Blankson!
Okay!
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I put the book down, and ask my dad, how far our name goes and do we have Guyanese relatives.. Daddy shakes his head with a categorical No! We talk about this George mentioned in the book..
No word of a lie, at this point there is a knock at the door, I put my book down to go and answer it. Daddy gasps and says to the visitor, “we have just been talking about you”
Puzzled, I look at dad, “we have”
The gentleman sat down and as he does he picks up my book, looks it over, and as a sadness comes across his face and he says.. “This is my old friend we were in Scotland together at university. He was executed wrongly for crimes he did not commit! He was a good man..
I stand there for what could have been ages in that serreal moment!
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WHAT????
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Names, indeed matter, where we come from matters, family matter.
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BUT GOD..
To whom we belong, and to whom we truly have worth and purpose, grace and mercy, faithfulness and Hope is where we will find our true selves, our true home and history.
We can get our ‘here on earth’ history wrong in stories we hear, but with God, our story is intwinned with His, making ours lives a lot rich and truth covered..
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Praise God..
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Where’s the time gone..
Gotta rush..
Much love my dears. Be blessed in all you do today.. ♥️
Oh, wow! What a strange turn of events. What did your MIL say, assuming you told her, that your people were in the story?
Hope you have a blessed day.❤️
We belong ❤️
Thank you, sister.
Wow, Tina! God is everywhere and in everything. Compared to Him everything’s is very small. Look at how the lives of your family connected in that
I always want to hear more in your stories, Tina.
I am so Glad my name is written in the Lambs Book of Life. Praise God!
Wow, Tina, that’s an amazing story!