If you’ve ever played in a band, you don’t do it for the money. For every U2, Rolling Stones, and Maroon 5, there are tens of thousands of bands who come out on the short end of the bar bill at the end of the gig. But God has a plan to take care of the house band at His temple. That’s what we read here in Nehemiah 12:44-47. Each member of God’s chosen people will regularly contribute to the support of the folks who play on the worship team. They’ll stock storerooms full of food and supplies for every person who serves at the temple, all of the priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers. Who says there are no miracles mentioned in the book of Nehemiah? When the people give what God commands, His band doesn’t struggle to eat.
Remember the setting of the story. It’s 445 BC. After His people spent 70-plus years of captivity in Babylon, God orchestrates their return to the Promised Land in three waves. First, under Zerubbabel (Ez 2:1-2). Second, with Ezra (Ez 7:6-10). Third, Nehemiah led the way (Neh 2:9-11). It’s important to remember the R’s of story. The people return. They rebuild the temple (Ez 6:14-15). They refurbish the walls (Neh 6:15). They repent of their sin (Neh 10:28-39). They repopulate the city (Neh 11:1-36). And ultimately they rejoice and praise God for all He’s doing (Neh 12:31-43).
The very same day as the twin parades on top of the walls and massive party at the temple, Nehemiah took very specific steps to provide for everyone serving in worship. “On that day men were appointed over storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites” (v44). You see, God’s plan to provide for those on the worship team isn’t anything new. He’s had that on the books for centuries (Lev 7:34-36; 18:21-24; Dt 18:1-5). God has given every other Jewish family a specific inheritance in the Promised Land EXCEPT for the descendants of Levi. No, He has a VERY special blessing for them. God Himself will be their inheritance (Dt 18:2). He’s handpicked Levi’s family “out of all your tribes to stand an minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for all time” (Dt 18:5). In return for their service, God “has given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do” (Lev 19:21).
The LORD blesses His band through the generosity of His people. That’s a perfect example of how He uses us to bless others. God graciously allows us to be part of His process of blessing. Our God is a Lover. Our God is a Giver. In fact, there’s no greater giver in the universe. A couple of chapters back, the people praise Him for placing them under His waterfall of grace (Neh 9:6-37). That’s not just limited to the Old Testament. Jesus tells Nicodemus how His Dad continues to keep on loving and giving. “For God so loved, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). God is also conforming us into the image of His Son (Rom 8:29; 2Cor 3:18), conforming us into givers as well. He blesses the band by turning His people into givers. He blesses those around us by turning us into givers too.
The people are still stoked over the epic party God has just thrown. In particular, the band rocked! “For Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered” (v44). The LORD used these men to lead the celebration over the completion of the walls. As an expression of thanks to God for His blessing through His band, people take the time to stock the storerooms at the temple. Along with the singers and gatekeepers, these servants at the house of God are doing everything “according to the command of David and his son Solomon” (v45). This is really nothing new. They simply went back to the way things worked under the musical direction of King David and his worship leader Asaph (v46). Consider it classic rock.
Nehemiah reminds us of the power and importance of music. God continually commands us to use music as means to praise Him. Why else would He include Psalms, an entire book of the Bible to contain the lyrics of some of the greatest songs of all time? Music has a mysterious ability to touch our hearts like nothing else. Notice how God provides the lyrics but never gives us sheet music. It’s the words that set our minds on the goodness of our God. There’s no form of music that is inherently evil apart from the lyrics. There’s no requirement of certain instruments to be used in church (just do a search in Scripture for pianos and organs and see what you come up with). And when volume is discussed, it’s always loud. VERY loud. But the big point here is God’s gift of music. Crank it up.
Nehemiah wraps things up by describing how the temple staff divvy up the people’s offerings. Since the days of Zerubbabel up until Nehemiah’s era, all of Israel have been dropping off their stuff daily (v47). That’s how things have been done for almost 100 years since the Big Z first started bringing worship back. Once the supplies arrive at the temple, they divide them for each of the singers, gatekeepers, Levites and priests. When God’s people give, His house band isn’t broke. Who says there are no miracles in the book of Nehemiah?
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