God's work connects Generation

Nehemiah 12:1-26, 세대를 이은 하나님의 일




1 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib,Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Joshua. 8 And the Levites: Joshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his brothers was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 And Bakbukiah and Unni and their brothers stood opposite them in the service. 10 And 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 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of father's house: of Seraiah, Meraia; of Jeremiah, Hannah; 13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 of Harim, Anna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 of Abidjan, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai, 18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Ever; 21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of JEdaiah, Nethanel. 22 In the days of Eliashib, Joiadah, Johanan and Jaddua, the Levites were recorded as heads of father's houses; so too were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 As for the sons of Levi, their heads of father's houses were written in the book of the Chronicles until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24 And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Joshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers who stood opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch by watch. 25 Mattania, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates. 26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Joshua son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra, the priest and scribe.



Thingking and understanding

The names of the priests and Levites who served in the days of the high priest Joiakim, Nehemiah and Ezra are recorded. But the names of those who first returned to Jerusalem and restored the temple, those who served with Ezra, and those who rebuilt the city wall with Nehemiah are recorded together. These people were all related. Although they lived in different eras, they were one in restoring Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple and city wall.


What lesson is God teaching us?

Before the dedication of Jerusalem's wall, the passage looks back on the legacy of Israel's ancestors. Let's look back on the history of our communities. Our communities were achieved through the prayers, devotion and passion of those who came before us. We today are enjoying the fruits of the work they accomplished with God. Let's take some time to thank those who came before us. what traditions of faith must we inherit by example?(1-26)

God accomplishes his work through several generation. Joiakim and Nehemiah lived in different times; however, the passage describes them as if they worked together. The complete restoration of Jerusalem, including the restoration of the temple and the city wall, was a work that transcended generations. Is our community trying to achieve everything in our very own life times?