I have to have some fun with this passage today, as it really tickles a bone down deep inside me to read hear about choirs and musicians being honored and prioritized. When I set out into the world of education after high school, I thought that it was to such a position and career I was headed. Church choirs and orchestras were a big deal then. Contemporary worship was yet to be born. And even though my primary focus drifted from music to pastoral ministry even before I had graduated from college, serving as a minister of music with choral and orchestral conducting was still a primary part of what I would do in local churches for a handful of years. And it was exuberating I must say. And though I made my change away from traditional to contemporary worship with my eyes open many years ago, believing it would be the best way of reaching our culture and world, a part of me still loves the grand sounds of a large choir, orchestra and pipe organ.

The two choirs marched around the wall in opposite directions, meeting ultimately at the Temple. It may well be that they performed some sort of antiphonal singing – meaning a type of back and forth expression, or something with one group echoing the other.

The passage goes on to not only describe this day, but to also give detail as to how an ongoing system of support was arranged for the functioning of worship. Detailed arrangements were made that offerings would be provided to support the priests, Levites, and musicians. This was re-establishing what the Law had prescribed for the worship experience of the nation, something largely forgotten and alien to the experience of people who had been dispersed, along with their physical center of faith being destroyed.

What are the timeless truths that arise from an Old Testament passage such as this? Should we re-establish choirs and pay musicians to live in the church building? No, that’s not the ticket. We do need to take from this that God is to be worshipped and prioritized in all of life. Honoring him centrally in all we do needs to be the highest priority. Doing that together with others on the first day of the week is an important feature of this, and we should “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (as it says in Hebrews 10:25).

But as Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4, a day was coming when true worshippers would not be about doing it at a single place like Jerusalem, but that it would be in “spirit and truth.”  We don’t go to church to meet God at the specific place where his glory especially dwells, because we have in this church age the Spirit of God living in us. We don’t go to church merely to do church, we ARE the church and we gather to do more together than we can do alone – both in worship and service.

When the Israelites gathered and worshipped on this occasion, it says that the sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

As we live our faith and live a legacy, oh that it would be true of us that the “sound” and knowledge of the joy and reality of life in Christ would be very evident to the outside world. And may that be true of our church and our churches in this community! May it be that our relationships with God and with each other are the stuff that makes those yet to know Christ say to themselves, “Where can I sign up to be a part of something like that?”

12:40 – The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.

When we think of the book of Nehemiah, it is the incredible construction of a wall that we think about first and foremost. But why did Nehemiah care so much about a wall? Yes, security was a big issue. Ancient cities were very exposed without walls of protection from barbaric attacks.

But it was much more than just a wall for protection. It represented a larger vision for a greater legacy. They rebuilt the security, protection, and strength of their city, AND, they brought the nation back into a place of spiritual focus with a proper worship of God.

The structure of the ancient city was designed around its religious character. Thus the dedication ceremony that we read about today had a decidedly religious flavor. The dedication of the wall cannot be separated, then, from the work of Ezra who rebuilt Israel’s temple. We may rightly see this ceremony as the climax to the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Of this section of text this past week, we made this point: We live a legacy when we make eternal values a present priority.

We might ask, “What will I leave behind that will matter in 100 years?

Our greatest impact, to live a legacy, is for us to pass on to the next generation the experience of the personal presence of God. We will be most remembered, not for what we did, but for how we passed on what we did so that the next generation can do it better.

We must make it our life mission to hand to others not merely a list of how-to’s, but rather a compelling reason to live so as to experience of the presence of God.

What will outlast us in our city that we can live today?  Focusing on what matters for eternity! That means we can’t just focus on what is temporary – making a living, our jobs, hobbies and interests, maintaining the status quo – we must LIVE A LEGACY by living a life that matters for eternity.

Invest in “rebuilding the walls” of protection and security for our city and those we know and care about – by praying, by loving, by serving, by living a life of compassion.

We must call our city and churches, our own family and friends back to true worship of the one true God rather than being consumed with living for the moment, caught up in what is comfortable, safe, and easy … but passing away. Yes, we need to lift our eyes up from the sidewalk experience of this world, to see rather the horizon of the eternal kingdom of God.

12:27 – At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.

31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.

38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.

Like many others some years ago, I confess that when I heard of the plans for the construction of the Vietnam Memorial, I thought to myself, “That’s it?  That’s all they’re going to do?  A mere wall with names on it?  Nothing fancier or dramatically artistic than that?”

Probably most of you have been there at one time or another and been moved by the simple, yet profound nature of it. The shape, the structure, the color and texture – it all works together in a most moving fashion. It has been written that the shiny black wall was designed so that when a visitor looks upon the wall, his or her reflection can be seen simultaneously with the engraved names, which is meant to symbolically bring the past and present together.

There are 58,307 names of those who gave their lives in that conflict in Southeast Asia. But what is the value of one life? Would it have made a difference if there were 58,306 … or 58,305 who fought and perished in the effort? Try telling the family of any one person on that wall that their loved one’s efforts were merely a drop in the bucket and not worth much in light of the big picture!

Every life counts. We might even say it this way: #AllLivesMatter. Any great undertaking is comprised of masses of people who, like the varied roles of bees in a hive, all contribute their part toward making a success of any endeavor.

Today’s passage in Nehemiah 12:1-26 (following the same sort of material in chapter 11) is another of those long laundry lists of names in Scripture that seem to go on ad infinitum! Why does this happen in the Bible?  I’d suggest it is because all lives matter … all servants doing their part count. There are no small or insignificant roles in the Lord’s work.

What we have here is a sort of Old Testament account of the New Testament principle forming the main idea in another 12^th chapter – that of 1 Corinthians. There the people of God – the Church – are seen as possessing varied gifts and talents for the service and wellbeing of the whole body. The illustration of course is to the varied members of the human body, great and small. When what is often considered a lesser part of the body has a problem, suddenly the whole body realizes the value of that small member.

Nehemiah lists in these verses the names of people who together played varied roles in the grand project of not only rebuilding the wall, but who were now occupying the city and Temple and making it a functioning and living place for God’s glory. These were people who were leaving a legacy by living a legacy – fulfilling the oft-described role of “blooming where they were planted.”

For our city to thrive, we are going to need the thousands of people who will serve God by serving others, most often in small ways. If you consider your role alone, it may not seem to be tremendously significant. But when added together with a host of others, it is a beautiful picture. 

It is my family that owns the Potomac Bead Company store in Hagerstown (and multiple other locations). At times when I have been in the store, someone will come through the doors for the first time. And they often audibly gasp at the tidal wave of colors that hits their eyes, as literally millions of beads create a rainbow cacophony of hues and shades. A single bead can sometimes be as small as a sesame seed – not very impressive. But put them all together, and the effect is dramatic.

So as you read these names, knowing that even though recorded in the Holy Bible most will be forgotten, know also that they are not forgotten by God. And know also that your work, though maybe (or even likely) forgotten by man, will never be disremembered by the Lord.

And as you read these names – names unknown, like the thousands on the Vietnam Wall Memorial – see your reflection and see the past and present come together. As they built and served for God in their generation and lived a legacy, you too can know that you are building and serving God in His Kingdom – one that will never pass away.

12:1 – These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush, 3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

4 Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah.

These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua.

8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services.

10 Joshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada, 11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.

12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families: of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah; of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra’s, Meshullam; of Amariah’s, Jehohanan; 14 of Malluk’s, Jonathan; of Shekaniah’s, Joseph; 15 of Harim’s, Adna; of Meremoth’s, Helkai; 16 of Iddo’s, Zechariah; of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah’s, Zikri; of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai; 18 of Bilgah’s, Shammua; of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib’s, Mattenai; of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi; 20 of Sallu’s, Kallai; of Amok’s, Eber; 21 of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.

22 The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.

25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.

For this final week of devotionals that follows the last of our six sermons in the For Our City series, we will be focusing on the idea of a legacy. And a major idea flowing out of this emphasis is that in order to leave a legacy, we must live a legacy worthy of passing along to those who follow us.

A legacy is not just something you can will yourself into possessing. It is all about a long walk in the same direction. In an instant-gratification world, living a legacy will also mean sustaining a long walk against the flow.

There is no such thing as a legacy participation trophy. You don’t get this (or, more truthfully, “give” this away) simply for showing up and making it to the end of life’s season. Cal Ripken was a model of daily routine faithfulness and dedication, but he didn’t set the all-time record for consecutive games just because he came to work every day. He had to commit to playing well, producing according to the rules. Unlike many players who never changed the way they do things, Ripken was famous for making adjustments in his batting stance and swing, always having as a goal to be his best for the success of the team.

The masses of people today seem to do what they want to do, regardless of how it affects future generations, rarely asking if what they’re doing and living is actually according to God’s design or desire.

Most people make little difference and leave little behind. Their lives have minimal impact. The plan and decision is to play it safe, take no risks, minimize failure and maximize comfort, and like mindless lemmings, casually and comfortably go with the flow toward an impending cliff called “death.”

In Christ we can do better than that. We can live a legacy – one that can be left to others to follow.

As we turn to chapter 10 in Nehemiah, we see that the people made a commitment to follow the Lord and his law. And here are three overarching, God-revealed, timeless, objective truths for a life that is bigger than existing for mere convenience and comfort…

1. We need to maximize relationships with common values and worldviews that are eternal.

10:28 – “The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand— 29 all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord.

30 “We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons.

At first glance this would seem to fly in the face of our view of a God who has a heart for the lost peoples of the world. It was God’s desire that the nation of Israel be a witness to the rest of the world of the one true God. But they were to do that from a position of strength and connection with one another. Over and over again in the Old Testament, we see the Israelites being more often drawn into the ways of surrounding nations than we see them being a light-giving, life-giving witness.

Our intimate relationships need to be primarily with those of a common faith and worldview. It creates a strength and interdependence that can be a dynamic and compelling vision to a watching world.

2. Our priorities need to be about honoring God over accumulating material gains.

12:31 – “When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.

The constant flow of commerce on the Sabbath was a persistent problem faced by Nehemiah at several points in the narrative of the whole book. As governor, he had to make a stand against this. The issue was that this commerce took away from a focus upon God and dependence upon him. It was an attitude that the people had that if there was nothing better or more profitable to do on a Sabbath, then they would honor it. Though we don’t have the constraints of Sabbatical laws and requirements in this church age of grace, there remains a similar pattern in the lives of people relative to attendance and church commitment. Having many other (mostly nice and good) things to draw them away to other activities, before long it becomes a pattern to be absent, with a concurrent drift away from relationship with God as a priority.

There was a part of the Law that said the people were to honor a Sabbath year every seventh time around the sun. The people were to trust God that he would provide enough for them in advance that they should leave the ground untilled for a seventh year.

How would you feel about quitting your job every seventh year and believing that God would give you enough in advance to cover your financial needs?  That would take some serious faith and dependence. But God can be trusted; he is ever faithful.

3. We must prioritize giving to God and supporting his ongoing work.

12:32 – “We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals; for the holy offerings; for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God.

34 “We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law.

35 “We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.

36 “As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there.

37 “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. 38 A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. 39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept.

“We will not neglect the house of our God.”

In Old Testament times after the giving of the Law to Moses, the people were to express their dependence upon God and the support of his worship and work by giving of the first and best of everything they had. It was not a matter of giving to God what might have been left over after every other life contingency was met.

Consider what it was like for the Jewish worshipper to give up his best animals and crops. It was giving away his future – the genetics that could be passed on, and the seeds for a future harvest. But doing this placed the Old Testament saint fully into an honored position of caring about bigger and eternal things, rather than being merely consumed with substance.

And the principle applies to this day that God can be trusted. Trusting him daily, day after day after week after month after year after year … it all adds up to a long walk that we might even call “living a legacy.”