Jerusalem lay in waste for several decades at this point, and the enemies of Israel were delighted to have it so. When Nehemiah was ordained of GOD to go and restore the city of Jerusalem, according to the prophecy given to Daniel (DAN 9:25) the opposers of GOD were outraged.
So was Satan their master and for two reasons: he realizes that as long as Jerusalem exists the prophecies concerning Messiah stand ready to be fulfilled – so the reality of Jerusalem is an open threat to him and his kingdom which will come to an abrupt end once the Messiah returns and sets up His government over the world from its Messianic capital (ISA 9:6-7; PSA 110:1-2).
The second reason is that GOD has placed the highest degree of importance in the city of Jerusalem aka Zion and the land of Israel as distinctly His own (MATT 5:35; JOEL 3:2; PSA 78:67-68). As we are well aware, Satan hates and despises everything – and everyone – that GOD loves:
PSALM 87:2-3It’s both tragic and fascinating to watch the unbridled hostility of the world that’s determined to wrest Jerusalem from the Jewish people (for the reasons stated above, though the nations are likely unaware of who’s inspiring them with such hatred. Can someone say “Hamas”?).
2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah.
The desire to destroy Jerusalem was no less vehement in the days of Nehemiah. So by certain of the Jewish people electing to live within the walls of the City of Peace, they were essentially painting a target on their backs… and on their fronts… and on their heads.
Yet they dwelled there and in doing so, they were declaring that they were there to stay! And so they did: at least for nearly 530 years – in 70 AD, when the nation was dispersed, Jerusalem and the Temple destroyed, one million Jews crucified by the Roman armies about 40 years because of Israel’s wholesale rejection of their Messiah (33 AD; LUKE 21:12,20-22).
Israel’s people were scattered among the Gentiles for more than 1800 years. At least until May 14th, 1948, when Israel was gathered back “the second time” (ISA 11:11). This has profound prophetic implications that point to the Second Advent of the Messiah who will arrive soon, not as the sacrificial LAMB of GOD but as the sovereign LION of Judah to rule with a rod of iron (PSA 2:9,27; REV 12:5; 19:15)!
NEHEMIAH 11:1-3
1 Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. 3 These are the heads of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem. (But in the cities of Judah everyone dwelt in his own possession in their cities-Israelites, priests, Levites, Nethinim, and descendants of Solomon's servants.)
All the leaders dwelled in Jerusalem; one might suspect a bit of elitism going on here, but as explained earlier, these were playing a high stakes game. Potentially an attack on the Holy City could happen at any time. While the walls and gates were completed, their security assured as much as possible, still there was a risk. One that they were willing to take.
Satan understands as well that if he can take out leadership in the church, that this will weaken the position of the saints of GOD. Scandal and compromise are rife in the church these days, and many Christians who witness these things are so demoralized and discouraged that they often are tempted to quit (some actually do).
This is why it’s imperative that we as the saints of GOD look to and follow the greatest, the best, the most unshakable example for the church: the LORD Jesus Christ Himself (MATT 16:24). Doing so, despite whoever and how many leaders may fall, means that the saint will (while heartbroken) stay the course undeterred.
Also: may I solicit your prayers for the leadership of the church? While Christ is the ultimate example to look to, if the LORD didn’t intend for us to follow the example of godly leadership, He would have never provided them; 1 COR 11:1). Yet He did provide spiritual leadership as gifts to the church and to build up the saints!
EPHESIANS 4:8-16It wasn’t only the leadership however that put down stakes in Jerusalem. The people drew lots and one out of every ten also lived there. Leadership without those to lead is pointless. GOD has appointed leaders and followers and both are equally important. In point of fact, in the view of servant-leaders it’s the followers who are more important in the sense that their needs have a higher priority than those of the leaders.
8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." 9 (Now this, "He ascended" what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
This is a Kingdom Principle established by the LORD Himself:
MATTHEW 20:25-27In the city of Jerusalem, leadership and the people worked together to maintain the security of the city in opposition to those who were intent on destroying the newly built walls, gates, and buildings within.
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.
MATTHEW 23:11-12
11 "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
“…everyone dwelt in his own possession in their cities-Israelites, priests, Levites, Nethinim, and descendants of Solomon's servants…”
Others were called to dwell in “their cities” and their inherited lands. It wasn’t that those who dwelled in Jerusalem forfeited their inheritance, for the tribes and the families couldn’t disown or sell their inherited lands. They could temporarily lose them because of debt, but it would be restored by a kinsman redeemer or when the Year of Jubilee came. However the land could be leased to others Jews as well (but never Gentiles, though they could lease housing, never property).
“But the gifts and callings of GOD are without repentance” (ROM 11:29)! Just as with Israel and the covenants that the LORD made with them (the unconditional ones like Abrahamic, Davidic and Land; note: Check out the TTUF articles on the Eight Covenants), so too is the new covenant unconditional for the saint! The new covenant is modeled after Abraham’s (who received it by faith; ROM 4), not after Moses which is absolutely conditional (DEUT 28-30)! Abraham, not Moses is used as the example of faith, the “father of the faithful” thus we understand which covenant the New Testament is modeled after.
Once we fulfill the one ‘condition’ in this unconditional new covenant (JOHN 6:29), it’s a done deal just as much as that which was granted to Abraham (GAL 3:6), to David (2 SAM 7) and to the nation (PSA 105:9-11).
Jews and Gentiles today may come to salvation by faith in Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ, for there is no other Name, no other Way than by Him Who is the Door (ACTS 4:12; JOHN 14:6; JOHN 10:7).
So of all these people, the Israelites, priests, Levites, and the Nethinim, as well as the descendants of Solomon's servants all lived in their inherited lands.
No matter what station we may have in the church, high or low, we are all of us promised an inheritance in Christ as His joint-heirs. I’m convinced that none of us understands how very profound this is: just as the Father has granted to His Son “all things” – for He is worthy; we also will inherit along with Christ as His bride, we who are made worthy by the blood of the Lamb!
What does this inheritance entail?
REVELATION 21:7That is, believing faith, effective and active faith, the sort of faith that truly receives the Word of GOD (1 THESS 2:13) and as a result produces good works (EPH 2:10) and proves that our faith is genuine (JAMES 2:21-24) which leads to genuine repentance (2 COR 7:10) and thereby genuine salvation! There are those who have believed in vain (1 COR 15:2) and have done plenty in Christ’s Name but are in all actuality “workers of iniquity” (MATT 7:21-23) The LORD declares those terrifying words to these, “I never knew you”!
He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Those considered overcomers are these:
1 JOHN 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
NEHEMIAH 11:4-6
4 Also in Jerusalem dwelt some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin. The children 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 children 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 Shiloni. 6 All the sons of Perez who dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.
Judah and Benjamin comprised “the southern kingdom” or “the kingdom of Judah” or “the house of Judah” (as opposed to “the house of Israel” which was “the northern kingdom”).
This split between the twelve tribes of Israel was because of the oppressive reign of Jeroboam. The ten tribes to the north more or less said, “You’re on your own Judah, we’re out of here!”. Only Judah and Benjamin remained in the south.
The Kingdom of Israel was never united again. Even when the Jewish people returned to the land, the throne of David was not reinstituted, without which – and a viable King – there is no united kingdom! And no one of the line of David through Solomon all the way down to “Coniah” would ever take the throne – how then could the Messiah ever assume the throne if there was a blood curse on the family line according to JER 22?
The late Dr. Chuck Missler explains this and a whole lot more concerning the Messiah!
In the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, still there was no throne of David; and while there was a Roman appointed “king of the Jews”, Herod was an Idumean (an Edomite, a descendent of Esau, not Jacob).
Today Israel is a Socialist Democracy and while the land is united again, there is no throne, no kingdom and the King awaits at the prophetic door to commence the last of the last days. At the end of those days, the King of Israel will commence the kingdom of Israel, aka “the tabernacle of David” (ACTS 15:13-16), aka the Millennial Reign of Christ.
But prophecy states that Israel will one day be reunited as a kingdom with a legitimate King!
EZEKIEL 37:21-22This was the burning question in the minds of the apostles after their King rose from the dead, reigniting their hopes for the future! They point blank asked the LORD:
21 "Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 "and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.
"Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He never stated that the kingdom was no longer valid, just postponed. It is certainly still part of GOD’s plan, but for now, “in the Father’s keeping” (ACTS 1:6-7).
And the promise of the Messiah’s throne was declared to the mother of Jesus before He was even born:
LUKE 1:30-33From Jamieson Faussett and Brown we have the following:
30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name JESUS. 32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. (See ROMANS 11 esp. vs. 25-27)
Vs. 4. “…at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah--The discrepancy that is apparent between this (NEH 11:4-36) and the list formerly given in 1 CHRON 9:1-9, arose not only from the Jewish and Oriental practice of changing or modifying the names of persons from a change of circumstances, but from the alterations that must have been produced in the course of time. The catalogue in Chronicles contains those who came with the first detachment of returned exiles, while the list in this passage probably included also those who returned with Ezra and Nehemiah; or it was most probably made out afterwards, when several had died, or some, who had been inserted as going on the journey, remained, and others came in their stead.”NEHEMIAH 11:7-9
7 And 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, nine hundred and twenty-eight. 9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.
The sons of Benjamin have the distinction of being among the most war-like tribe, bringing forth many mighty men; they were also notoriously wicked at times. Among the most notable from this tribe are Ehud the warrior that delivered Israel from Moab, Saul the first king of Israel; Mordecai and Esther also belonged to this tribe, and of course there is the apostle Paul who knew what warfare of the spiritual kind was all about! Check out the GOT QUESTIONS article, What Can We Learn From The Tribe of Benjamin?
Concerning Joel and Judah, we have the following from Patrick/Lowth/Whitby commentary:
“The former of these was the governor of the city; and the other was his deputy; who is called secondary, because he was next to him in the discharge of that office. Who is he, as Bertram thinks, that is called in the 2nd book of Maccabees*, Chapter 3.4, “the prefect of the temple;” and by Josephus, Antiq. 14.11, “the under governor in Jerusalem.”*Note: Maccabees is here used as an historical reference only and is not at all considered inspired canon any more than Josephus’ Antiquities. An article from CROSSEXAMINED.ORG goes into detail about this and all the other books of the Apocrypha.
NEHEMIAH 11:10-12
10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, and Jachin; 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the leader of the house of God. 12 Their brethren who did the work of the house were eight hundred and twenty-two; 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,
The identity of these priests is confirmed in 1 CHRON 9:10. Here we read about those who ministered in the house of GOD as well as their leader, which was not Nehemiah, but Seraiah. There is always the distinction of leadership in Israel between the political and the religious, based on the respective callings of the tribes of Judah and Levi.
Kings of Israel were to only come from the tribe of Judah, and from David their king, came other kings strictly from his house. Once the nation was divided, there were rulers who governed the northern house of Israel, but they weren’t anointed of GOD as king the same way David and his descendants were.
The priests of the Tabernacle, and later the Temple only came from the tribe of Levi, and those who ministered inside the Tabernacle/Temple nous were only from the house of Aaron, much in the same way that kings came from the house of David.
There were occasions when breaches were made, and a king attempted to minister in the office of a priest – king Saul for example:
1 SAMUEL 13:8-14Separation of powers is what we see here, and in fact our founding fathers took their cues from such divisions by creating our own three branches of government in an attempt to create a “checks and balances” between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government. Also the idea of freedom of religion which was not to be restricted by government any more than religion was to dictate governmental politics.
8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me." And he offered the burnt offering. 10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. 11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, 12 "then I said, 'The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.' Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering." 13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 "But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."
There are only three exceptions to this rule of separation between kings and priests:
One is Melchizedek (an Old Testament type of Christ; GEN 14:18; HEB 7:1-4); then there is Christ Himself (PSA 110:4; HEB 7:26; REV 19:16), and thirdly the members of the church which is a kingdom of priests and kings (REV 5:9-10).
NEHEMIAH 11:13-14
13 and his brethren, heads of the fathers' houses, were two hundred and forty-two; and Amashai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and their brethren, mighty men of valor, were one hundred and twenty-eight. Their overseer was Zabdiel the son of one of the great men.
The LORD has His mighty men of valor, such as those mentioned in JOSHUA 1:14; there were also David’s mighty men (of valor; 2 SAM 10:7; 23:8-9) and the enemy has his as well (GEN 6:4).
Yet what makes the enemy’s men “mighty… [of] renown…” are the evil spirits that empowered them. What makes the LORD’s mighty men exceed in valor, but the Holy Spirit Himself! As you can readily agree, there is no comparison between the Holy Spirit of GOD and the spirits of fallen angels or demons!
The god of this world is likely the most powerful creature that GOD ever made: none can match his intellect, his power, his beauty if we are reading EZEK 28:11-15a correctly.
He traffics throughout all of this world – on the earth (JOB 1:6-7) and in the heavenlies as well (EPH 2:2). And yet for all of his powers and abilities, for all of his wiles (strategies; EPH 6:11) and cunning (GEN 3:1) he is not above the child of GOD because of the indwelling Spirit of Christ by whom we’ve been born into the Kingdom (JOHN 3:3-5) and seated with Christ, being deputized into His authority (EPH 2:6; MATT 28:19-20; LUKE 10:19).
1 JOHN 4:4And of course the LORD has quite “the mighty man” watching over Israel, the magnificent warrior angel Michael, whose station is the defense of the nation (DAN 12:1). And he must wage a fierce warfare, because as we mentioned in the introduction, Satan is actively intent on wiping Israel off the face of the world!
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
NEHEMIAH 11:15-19
15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the heads of the Levites, had the oversight of the business outside of the house of God; 17 Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer; 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 two hundred and eighty-four. 19 Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren who kept the gates, were one hundred and seventy-two.
Moses, Aaron and Mariam were of the tribe of Levi, and whereas previously every man of each household was considered the priest of the family in Israel (EXOD 13:1; 22:29), later the entire tribe of Levi became the priesthood (LEV 1:5; NUM 3:12).
The calling of GOD is upon those whom He elects; offices in Israel or the church are not available for saints who have a preference on how to serve GOD. He has ordained every saint for a specific position(s), and it’s up to the saints to seek GOD’s will in where they are to fit into the body.
It very well may be, that if a saint as a zeal for evangelism, and seems particularly gifted, that they are in fact by these same gifts called of GOD. Others may be gifted teachers, able to grasp and apply the doctrine of the Word to their lives (not perfectly, but consistently) and such indicators would point to GOD’s calling on their life as a Bible teacher or pastor.
The Levites were ordained of GOD to minister “outside the house” or the Tabernacle / Temple, that is around and inside of the outer court area. This ministration was not open to any Hebrew of any of the other tribes, and even among the Levites, only those of the house of Aaron could minister inside the Temple nous (in the actual building at the center of the outer court, that is, the holy place (for the Aaronic priests) and the holy of holies (for the high priest alone).
“Mattaniah…the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer…”
Whenever we enter into prayer, expressing our needs in various petitions and supplications, such should always be accompanied with thanksgiving.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7Why is this necessary? Firstly, we should always be grateful for all the ways GOD has blessed us, and we can always find reasons to thank GOD. For example, I might get diagnosed with cancer at the age of 68. Therefore I can thank GOD for living a cancer-free life for 67 years!
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
By offering thanks to the LORD, we can review our prayer life and see how many times GOD was faithful to hear and answer our prayers. This will not only put us in the proper mindset for petitioning our Abba Father, but this will encourage us: just as GOD has been faithful to answer our prayers up to the present, we can be equally confident that He will answer our prayers in the future!
NEHEMIAH 11:20-23
20 And the rest of Israel, of the priests and Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance. 21 But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel. And Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim. 22 Also the overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha, of the sons of Asaph, the singers in charge of the service of the house of God. 23 For it was the king's command concerning them that a certain portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day.
The Nethinims were likely descendants of the Gibeonites, a tribe of people that by subtlety tricked Joshua, but later became servants to Israel in performing menial tasks (JOSH 9:27). The Nethinims were specially selected by David for the Levites as helpers (1 CHRON 23 & 24). Here they are seen dwelling in Ophel, a small region associated with Jerusalem. That these servants of menial tasks should be appointed a place so near the beloved City of Peace shows that GOD does indeed exalt the humble, even the lowliest.
And as for the singers, the ruler of the day commanded that they should be well looked after and provided a portion. It’s been said that “he who praises, prays twice” and as much of seeking first the Kingdom of GOD has to do with prayer, these singers were assured that “all these things shall be added to you”!
NEHEMIAH 11:24-30
24 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king's deputy in all matters concerning the people. 25 And as for the villages with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt in Kirjath Arba and its villages, Dibon and its villages, Jekabzeel and its villages; 26 in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth Pelet, 27 Hazar Shual, and Beersheba and its villages; 28 in Ziklag and Meconah and its villages; 29 in En Rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; in Azekah and its villages. They dwelt from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
A son of Judah’s tribe, Pethahiah was deputy to the king, that is king Artaxerxes, acting as his deputy to oversee the city of Jerusalem. That Nehemiah was called of GOD to “restore and rebuild” does not mean that he was called to rule or oversee the governing of the city, nor does Nehemiah presume to do so.
Here again, we see each person according to their calling. Some are called to build, others are called to rule, still others are called to other things.
What has GOD called you to do?
You might not think being a godly and faithful husband is all that important as a calling of GOD or being a dutiful and loving father – or the same for the wife and mother. Yet how many godly men and women of tremendous faith, that have greatly impacted the church were able to do so apart from being raised by godly parents, who poured into them the Word of GOD, who displayed Christian virtue by way of example?
You might teach a Sunday School class that has a scant number of students and feel as though your diligent study of the Scriptures, your devotion of prayer, every resource you employ with the intent of investing in those children the counsel of GOD’s Word is for nothing.
But how do you know what impact you will have on these precious souls?
I was approached by a tall young man that I vaguely recognized and he introduced himself to me, shaking my hand. I immediately knew who this was standing before me: one of my Sunday School students that I taught (1st and 2nd grade).
He wanted to tell me that he still remembers the lessons I taught (after nearly twenty years!) and that I was the best teacher he had ever had!
Needless to say, I walked away from that blessed encounter with tears in my eyes, and a humbled heart.
An old evangelist near the end of his ministry was praying for just one opportunity to preach before a large crowd and harvest an abundance of souls for Christ. But as always, the crowd was small, and those who made a profession of faith were few. He nevertheless was diligent in having them fill out some cards with information that would enable him to call on them to see how they did in their new life in Christ.
That night as the evangelist prayed for these few converts, he came upon this one that had the name written at the top, Billy Graham.
An old widow living in New Jersey didn’t have any visibly significant ministry but was a faithful prayer warrior. And she had a burden for the young people who attended the school across the street from her house. She prayed for the salvation of their souls and that GOD would use some of them as missionaries to preach the Gospel in foreign lands.
After many years of prayer, one student received Christ, and he shared the Gospel with his friends and they were also saved. During summer vacation they loaded a beat up van with Gospel tracts in Spanish and went down to Mexico to share the Gospel. This ministry grew and grew until finally (probably long after the saintly widow went home to be with the LORD) this ministry that started from humble beginnings grew into one of the largest missionary societies in the world, OPERATION MOBILIZATION, founded by that same young man who led his friends to Mexico to share the love of Jesus. His name was George Verwer.
All that to say, there really aren’t “big” ministries and “little” ones in GOD’s eyes: there are only “important” ministries, because all of these are in service of the King and His Kingdom! And there is nothing more important that these!
NEHEMIAH 11:31-35
31 Also the children of Benjamin from Geba dwelt in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel, and their villages; 32 in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah; 33 in Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim; 34 in Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat; 35 in Lod, Ono, and the Valley of Craftsmen. 36 Some of the Judean divisions of Levites were in Benjamin.
We have only two more chapters to go to complete the book of NEHEMIAH. What’s next? A journey through the wilderness and into the promised land of Canaan in the book of...
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