Nehemiah 11:1-6: a reflection

1The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities. 2The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem. 3Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah, everyone lived in his possession in their cities—Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the children of Solomon’s servants. 4Some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez; 5and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. 6All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.

Jerusalem had walls again, but not enough people. The city stood rebuilt and largely empty, and someone had to leave the comfort of a family plot in the countryside to live in the holy city and hold it. So they cast lots to bring one in ten, and Scripture pauses to bless those who willingly offered themselves to dwell there.

Notice that the move was a sacrifice. To settle in Jerusalem meant giving up a settled life elsewhere to take up a harder, more exposed post for the sake of the whole. The people did not take these volunteers for granted. They blessed them. The community understood that its life depended on those willing to shoulder the duty others would rather avoid.

God still builds his work through people who volunteer for the hard, unglamorous post. Somewhere near you there is a duty that everyone hopes someone else will take, a place that needs a steady presence more than it needs applause. Ask whether God is inviting you to be one who willingly offers himself. And when others take up such burdens, do as the people did, and bless them.

Lord, make me willing for the post others avoid. Where your work needs a steady presence more than praise, give me the heart to offer myself. And teach me to honor those who quietly carry what the rest of us would rather set down. Build your city through willing hands, mine among them. Amen.