From Weeping to Rejoicing

Of those that lived in Jerusalem, we read names of families:

Sons of Judah and Perez (11:4-5)

Sons of Benjamin (11:6-9)

Sons of the Priests (11:10-14)

Sons of the Levites (11:15-18)

Gatekeepers and Temple servants and singers (11:19-24)

Those outside Jerusalem (11:25-35)

History of Priests and Levites (12:1-26)

For the OT church, these lists were important in the legitimization of the Priestly and Levitical lines along with who were truly descendants of Abraham

For us, these names are a testimony to the historical reality of the Bible.

Nehemiah  11:1-2

Nehemiah 12:27-47

Nehemiah 1:3-4

“The joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.”

Where did Nehemiah and the people get that kind of joy? How can we attain such joy?

The joy of the Lord was his strength (Nehemiah 8:10)

Dwelling in God’s city

Dedication to the Lord

Delight in His worship

The joy that came from dwelling in God’s city (11:1-2).

The joy that grew out of their dedication unto the Lord (12:27-47).

Their joy grew from their delight in the worship of God (12:43).

Nehemiah 12:43

Psalm 126:1-3, 4-5