Nehemiah 11:15-21: a reflection

15Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of God’s house; 17and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four. 19Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred seventy-two. 20The residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance. 21But the temple servants lived in Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

In the list of those who served in the rebuilt Jerusalem, one man is noted for a particular and beautiful role: Mattaniah, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer. Among all the Levites and their duties, this one was appointed to begin the thanksgiving, to lead others into gratitude and praise, to start the giving of thanks in which the others would join. There is something worth noticing in this role: someone to begin the thanksgiving, to lead the way into gratitude, to draw others into the praise of God. Thanksgiving does not always begin on its own; often someone must begin it, lead into it, draw others in. To be one who begins the thanksgiving, who leads others into gratitude and praise, is a valuable role. Someone was appointed to begin the thanksgiving and lead others into it. There is value in being the one who leads others into gratitude and praise. To begin the thanksgiving, drawing others in, is a real service.

Notice the role Mattaniah was given: to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, leading others into it. This was a specific and honored role among the Levites: to be the one who started the giving of thanks, who led the way into gratitude and praise, whom the others would follow. This tells us something about thanksgiving: that it often needs someone to begin it, to lead into it, to draw others in. Gratitude and praise do not always arise on their own; frequently someone must take the lead, start the thanksgiving, and others will join. To be such a one, who leads others into gratitude and praise, who begins the thanksgiving that others take up, is a valuable and honorable role. We can each, in our own settings, be one who begins the thanksgiving, who leads others toward gratitude rather than complaint, who starts the praise of God that others may join. There is a real service in being the one who leads into thankfulness. To begin the thanksgiving, to draw others into gratitude and praise, is a role worth valuing and taking up. Leading others into thankfulness is a gift to them. Someone must begin the thanksgiving; we can be that one.

That is worth taking to heart, for there is value in being one who begins the thanksgiving, who leads others into gratitude and praise. We can wait for gratitude to arise on its own, or default to complaint; but Mattaniah was appointed to begin the thanksgiving, to lead others into it. Thanksgiving often needs someone to begin it, to draw others in; and to be such a one, leading others toward gratitude and praise, is a valuable role. Do not merely wait for thanksgiving to arise; be one who begins it, who leads others into gratitude and praise, as Mattaniah was appointed to do. Be one who begins the thanksgiving, leading others into gratitude and praise rather than waiting for it to arise on its own or defaulting to complaint, as Mattaniah was appointed to be the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer; for gratitude and praise often need someone to begin them, to lead the way into thankfulness and draw others in, and to be such a one, who starts the thanksgiving that others take up and leads them toward gratitude rather than complaint, is a valuable and honorable service, a gift to those we lead into thankfulness, so that we can each, in our own settings, be one who begins the thanksgiving and draws others into the praise of God.

Lord, in the list of those who served in the rebuilt Jerusalem, one man is noted for a particular and beautiful role: Mattaniah, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer. Among all the Levites and their duties, this one was appointed to begin the thanksgiving, to lead others into gratitude and praise, to start the giving of thanks in which the others would join. There is something worth noticing in this role: someone to begin the thanksgiving, to lead the way into gratitude, to draw others into the praise of you. Thanksgiving does not always begin on its own; often someone must begin it. Show me the role Mattaniah was given: to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, leading others into it. This was a specific and honored role: to be the one who started the giving of thanks, whom the others would follow. This tells me something about thanksgiving: that it often needs someone to begin it, to draw others in. Gratitude and praise do not always arise on their own; frequently someone must take the lead, and others will join. To be such a one, who leads others into gratitude and praise, is a valuable and honorable role. I can, in my own settings, be one who begins the thanksgiving, who leads others toward gratitude rather than complaint. Take that to my heart, for there is value in being one who begins the thanksgiving, who leads others into gratitude and praise. I can wait for gratitude to arise on its own, or default to complaint; but Mattaniah was appointed to begin the thanksgiving. Keep me from merely waiting for thanksgiving to arise; help me be one who begins it, Lord, who leads others into gratitude and praise, as Mattaniah was appointed to be the chief to begin the thanksgiving, drawing others toward gratitude rather than complaint and into the praise of you.