Nehemiah 12:8-21: a reflection

8Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving songs, he and his brothers. 9Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their brothers, were close to them according to their offices. 10Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada, 11and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua. 12In the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers’ households: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

This passage lists the Levites and priests who served in Jerusalem, generation after generation; and among them is a detail worth noting: certain Levites were appointed over the thanksgiving songs, the ministry of praise. And the lists show this service continuing across generations, one group of servants succeeding another, the ministry of worship and thanksgiving carried on and handed down through the years. The work of praising God was not the task of one generation only, but was continued and passed on.

Notice the continuity of the ministry across generations. The Levites and priests served, and were succeeded by others; the ministry of thanksgiving and praise did not stop with one generation, but was carried on, handed down, continued by those who came after. Each generation of servants took up the ministry and, in time, passed it to the next. The worship of God was an ongoing work, larger than any one person or generation, continued and handed down through the years.

That continuity is worth taking to heart, for we too are part of an ongoing work of worship and service larger than ourselves. The worship and service of God did not begin with us and will not end with us; we take up a ministry handed down from those before us, and are to hand it on to those who come after. We are part of an ongoing tradition of praise and service, carried on across generations. Do not think of your worship and service as belonging only to you or your time; you are part of an ongoing work, taking up what was handed down and handing it on to those who follow. Take your place in the ongoing ministry of worship and service, receiving what has been handed down and passing it on, as the Levites took up and continued the ministry of thanksgiving across the generations. The work of praising and serving God is larger than any one of us; be a faithful link in it, continuing and handing on what you have received.

Lord, this passage lists the Levites and priests who served in Jerusalem, generation after generation, with certain Levites appointed over the thanksgiving songs; and it shows this service continuing across generations, the ministry of worship carried on and handed down through the years. Show me the continuity of the ministry across generations. Each generation of servants took up the ministry and, in time, passed it to the next; the worship of you was an ongoing work, larger than any one person or generation. Take that to my heart, for I too am part of an ongoing work of worship and service larger than myself. The worship and service of you did not begin with me and will not end with me; I take up a ministry handed down from those before me, and am to hand it on to those who come after. Keep me from thinking of my worship and service as belonging only to me or my time; I am part of an ongoing work, taking up what was handed down and handing it on. Help me take my place in the ongoing ministry of worship and service, receiving what has been handed down and passing it on, Lord, as the Levites took up and continued the ministry of thanksgiving across the generations. Make me a faithful link in it, continuing and handing on what I have received.