We continue to study the Book of Nehemiah and look at the topic, “Rebuild our Broken Walls and Others.” Today we are on the ninth section out of eleven. At the beginning of this series, I intended to provide six or seven sermons about this topic. The more I have explored the spirit of Nehemiah, the more I have found divine insight from this book. We have two more messages coming next Sunday and on Palm Sunday. In Nehemiah chapters 11 and 12, there are many names of the people of Israel who participated in the temple recovery project in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11 & 12). When we see unpronounceable names in the Bible, we tend to skip or briefly look at them. Sooner than later, most of us will forget many characters. We believe that all the words of God have a purpose for us as His people to reflect on. Think about why the Holy Scripture sometimes contains long lists of various names. In our Old Testament for today, we can find many listed and unnoticed names of ordinary people of the faith. This morning I want us to observe who they were in God and what they did for the Lord. I want us also to apply these lessons to the spiritual restoration in our church and within ourselves.

Today’s account begins with a situation after the temple’s completion in Jerusalem. Some Israelite leaders lived there, and the rest of the people resided outside that city. They were about to celebrate a temple dedication service. Before that event, as the governor of Jerusalem, Nehemiah noticed that Jerusalem should be filled with more of the new residents, and spiritual workers would look after God’s house. After prayerful consideration, he came up with the idea of casting lots. Whoever was chosen by that method was to live in that holy city. One out of every ten was to move to the heart of the country, and the rest would stay in their own villages. Being elected to settle in that divine town would be a privilege since they were close to the sacred tabernacle. At the same time, it would be a challenge since the temple location could be targeted by enemies. When we look at the voting process carefully, we can find a vital lesson in it. All selected people were allowed to accept or decline that invitation. In other words, moving to Jerusalem was done with a cheerful spirit and a willing heart. The people of Israel applauded those who volunteered to follow God’s calling through the cast.

According to the Word of God, as Christ’s followers, we are all called to move into “God’s New Jerusalem.” In our Epistle for today, we are compared to various divine organs of the spiritual body called the Body of Christ or the Church, as a physical body has many flesh features. Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Leader in our faith journey, we are encouraged to deny ourselves while resembling Christ’s characteristics. We are also motivated to take up our own cross while using our God-given gifts and talents for His recovery mission. This is God’s calling for all of us and God’s blessing upon each of us. Again, God does not force us, as His chosen people, to do what we are entrusted with. Instead, God wants us to do willingly and cheerfully for His Glory if we can. Before we go any further, on behalf of the Leadership Team and Session, I want to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to all of you for all your volunteering duties in God’s activities. God knows all your dedication, whether recognized or unnoticed. The Lord has been pleased with what you have done for His Church and His people.

Now let us look at the list of the people of Israel stepping in God’s vocation to live in Jerusalem and/or work on His temple mission inwardly and outwardly.

Nehemiah made two lists of the two main groups leaving from their hometowns for Jerusalem. Those were from the families of Judah and Benjamin. Thye were ordinary people of the faith. Few names were recorded in the sacred text for today; however, many were not written in this account. The only description was how many of each tribe settled in the divine place: 468 from the Judah branch and 928 from the Benjamin tribe. Those people would have forgotten; however, God recognized who they were and how much they loved God and His tabernacle.

Now we can move on to the lists of spiritual workers at the temple of Jerusalem. When that goldy city was filled with the people of Israel, sacred helpers would be needed to serve God and His people. Nehemiah listed three or even more groups of their identities and their names.

The first type of spiritual aid was related to priests (Nehemiah 11:10-14). They worked at the house of God. Dealing with temple businesses was necessary for the people of Israel when they approached God through priests. When we look at this section, we may identify three kinds of workers. The record in this chapter did not indicate all the names but only revealed the numbers. 822 people carried on the inside work of the tabernacle; 242 men were the heads of families; 128 were people of standing (Nehemiah 11:10-14). Some offered sacrifices, presented offerings, and performed rituals at the temple. Some looked after children and family ministry. Some were involved in God’s Word and prayer parts. Again, we do not know many of the names of the people working in the house of God.

When we apply this Old Testament structure to our church governance, we may call the priests, church elders, and deacons in the New Testament era. Today God places teaching elders, ruling elders, lay preachers, and Christian educators in the Presbyterian Church in Canada. As a teaching elder, I share the Word of God and lead us in worship regularly. As a group of ruling elders called St. Andrew’s Session, they take care of the spiritual life of our congregation.

The second group came from the Levities (Nehemiah 11:15-18). Some oversaw the temple business, such as the maintenance of the inside and outside of the tabernacle. Some took the duty of singing or praising the Lord in God’s dwelling place. Some led the people of Israel in thanksgiving and petition. We remember that prayer gathering led by the Levities. There were also 284 unnamed Levites in the sacred town.

Some people in our church serve as our representatives to the community and presbytery. Some people we called the Board of Managers looked after our church building and property. Some have provided worship music. I plan to share this in detail next week. Some work on our church’s financial matters as treasurers and/or trustees. Some have their own prayer chains and would like to intercede on behalf of the people connected to our congregation and community. Some would join in this prayer movement while knitting prayer shawls.

The third type of temple worker was associated with the gatekeepers (Nehemiah 11:19). Again, there were 172 unrecognized names. They would have served people as they came to the temple. Today, those volunteers would be church ushers or greeters at the doors. There were other duties in the rest of this Nehemiah chapter. They were known as temple servants, chief officers, musicians, singers, and agents or helpers, who would assist in whatever was needed.

Now, we can ask ourselves, “Why does the Bible mention all the detailed information on the people living in Jerusalem and working at the temple?” Once again, every written Word of God in the Bible has a reason for us to learn from that record. One interesting fact I have repeatedly mentioned in our central text for today is that many unknown names of the people serving the Lord exist. One more time, even though many readers, including you and I, may not recognize or pay attention to those bible characters when we meditate on today’s account, God knows all the names of the people mentioned in this text. Through this, we can learn two critical principles in our walk with God.

Firstly, once again, God knows our names, yours, and mine. Knowing names means more than what our full legal terms are, our origins, and what nick and/or maiden names we have. In spiritual matters, knowing our names means God’s understanding of the types of characters we have and the kinds of challenges we have been going through. Knowing our names means God can help us overcome all the challenging situations in our faith journey. We may be one of the numbers in our society. Nobody else understands our frustrations or struggles for our community, church, loved ones’ lives, and us. The Lord, our Creator God, knows our names. He perceives the deep and inside crying of each of us. He sympathizes with one issue after another we may have to deal with in life. He helps us to handle all the difficulties we may encounter today. Furthermore, He can give us all the supernatural strength and significant grace to rebuild our broken walls and others.

I’ve stated before that we are all damaged in one way or another if we humbly and honestly examine ourselves through the spiritual mirror, the Word of God. No one in this fallen world can be recovered to become righteous on their own. With God’s presence, protection, and provision, we can restore the damaged image of God within us and our loved ones. Good Shepherd who knows the names of our loved ones and ours leads them and us to green pastures and quiet waters by calling the name of each of them and us. The Saviour Christ can and will help our loved ones and us to complete the spiritual recovery project within them and us when we ask the Merciful and Mighty God about His guidance and power. The Awesome God can and will make a way for our loved ones and us, even if there seems to be no way. Remember the Lord our God is the Builder of the whole universe. God is the Maker of our loved ones’ lives and ours. It does not matter to God how much our community’s and church’s spirits, our loved ones’ minds and our hearts are broken or damaged. The thing is whether we all bring each of them to God courageously and confidently and keep doing the right things God wants us to do. We are so thankful to the Lord for knowing our names and calling each of us to come to Him as we are.

Secondly, God values each talent and gift we dedicate to the Lord. Again, even though people have not noticed our deeds and motives, God recognizes all of them. He sees what we have done for our community, church, and loved ones. He collects all the tears and heartfelt love for God and His people. None of the services we have contributed to the Lord is insignificant. Furthermore, the Lord will reward us based on what we have done for this sacred mission. Everything we present can be counted in God’s sight. We cannot change the entire world. However, we each can do some things and make a little difference in our community. The people around us need the words of divine encouragement. They need the hope of the Lord, the vision of Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Who can share God’s love with them? Who can be called to provide God’s care for them? Whether we realize it or not, you and I have been entrusted to be part of God’s Restoration Ministry. You and I can do that if we work together in a Heavenly team with the support of the Triune Lord.

My wife and I visit our boys living in Toronto twice a month. When we spend time with them, we often walk downtown Toronto. We see some homeless people there. We usually only consider that situation as part of unfortunate city culture. However, God has recently touched our hearts through the conversation between Christ and one disciple regarding helping needy people. “The King [Christ] will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me'” (Matthew 25:35-40). Those vulnerable people can be our children, siblings, and parents in God. I’ve been wrestling with how to reach out to those who need God’s love and care. I am talking about not just people who are hungry in a physical sense but also people who are thirsty in a spiritual manner. One more time, we need to remember no one else is exempted from this life-challenging matter since we are all human beings. We were sinners and still have sinful natures and tend to incline to do wrongdoings. We need one another.

Our church’s mission statement is to support and serve by communicating our faith, love, and hope all the people in our church and all the people in our community, regardless of their backgrounds and circumstances. It can be impossible for us as a small group of Jesus’ disciples to feed an enormous crowd of five thousand people. Remember how Jesus blessed five loaves and two fish Andrew brought to Him and what He did with those items. Jesus thanked the Lord while holding the small but somewhat significant materials, asked God’s blessing upon them, and fed all the needed people with Andrew’s true heart.

Today, God wants us as His church to remember our God-inherited talents. Again, our gifts may be minor; however, in God’s sight, every item we bring to Christ is marvellous. Jesus can and will use our two fish and five loaves when we present them for His Kingdom Ministry. With the guidance and help of the Triune Lord, we, as Christ’s church and Christ’s followers, can build up God’s Temple and take care of His people.

Friends, think about how blessed we are since we, as a royal priesthood, have been asked to do something for the glory of God. Are we excited about moving into the New City of Jerusalem in Heaven and participating in this sacred restoration mission with our brothers and sisters in God? Remember, when we do some things for those around us, the Lord will and can use all these dedicated hearts we put in to help our loved ones one way or another in return. Indeed, God will count all the work we have been doing for His Church and His people and bless us with His abundant presents here on earth and later in Heaven. God knows all our names and records all of us as ordinary heroes and heroines of the faith in the Book of the Heavenly Temple.

*In this sermon, I have used some thoughts from the messages based on the texts, Nehemiah 11:1-9 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-12, 27.