“[From the priests]…and their associates, who carried on work for the temple—822 men; Adaiah son of Jeroham…”

Nehemiah 11:12a

Last time we saw Seraiah’s final two listed descendants and his role as supervisor in the House of God Almighty. Today we see the associates who carried on the work of the temple.

The word associates here is ach, which can mean brother, countryman, kinsman. These were the ones taking care of the details of sacrifices and offerings. The word used for carrying on this work is asah – accomplish, to do, an action with a product, specifically a poem, a thing offered.

Don’t you like the imagery of keeping up the new Temple in the now-walled-in City as something offered to God? Mind you, it was work (melakah – labor, project), but with the possibility to be done unto the Almighty as poetry. These 822 men are made sure to be mentioned in this chronicle of names remaining in Jerusalem. The work was needed and important.

How about us? Do we see the inherent dignity in our daily labor? What if it’s done over and over, seemingly never ending? Or unappreciated, unsuccessful, or insignificant?

I’m grateful we serve a God Who sees and uses it all to make us into the kind of people that fit into His Kingdom. Not just willing to do something laborious or unexciting, but offer it to Him to love and serve.

After listing these associates, we have a specific man named as a family head. It’s Adaiah, which means “Yah has ornamented Himself,” from Yah and adah – to pass on, advance, deck self, pass by, take away, to remove.

It of course makes me think of God hiding Moses in the cleft of the rock as He passes by announcing His gracious and merciful character. For if on full display, completely ornamented, Moses would be unable to look on and live. Such is our dazzling Yahweh.

When I balance the ornamented and bedecking synonyms with others, however, it seems “removing and taking away” hold more weight than the former. What does that do to your heart, thinking of the God Who ornaments Himself as one who also removes?

I want to so fully trust His motives, I can in sincerity say, “The LORD gives and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be praised.”

Adaiah’s father is Jeroaham, whose name means “may he be compassionate.” It comes from racham (verb form) meaning to love, have compassion, surely have mercy. As a noun racham means “compassion, deep mercy, tender love, great, pity, womb (as cherishing a fetus).”

Have you ever beheld this compassion? Felt it for another? Watched someone love with a tender mercy?

My sister showed me some photos this weekend as we discussed mass shootings, racial trauma, and a boy my son’s age shot in the street. They are striking, shining a spotlight on the emptiness of political rhetoric and circular arguments to how beating hearts are no longer.

If we allow ourselves to think of the grief of mothers, the wails against injustice, the desperate plea for change, we may get a glimpse of God as Mother, under Whose wings is refuge, where a deep and protective maternal love is found.

God help us, may we be compassionate.

“…Seraiah…son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the supervisor of the Temple of God.” 

Nehemiah 11:11c

Last time we took a deep dive into two more generations of our our third priest, Seraiah’s, descendants. Today we visit the final two generations and Seraiah’s role among the people remaining in Jerusalem.

We ended with Seraiah’s great-grandfather, Zadok, last time. Today we see Z’s father, Meraioth, whose name comes from marah – bitter, rebellious, contentious, disobedient, provoke. I feel this is a bit of a rough thing to be named after. I know Ruth’s mother-in-law chose the name in her distress, but to have been given the name would be…hard.

But it does make us think about the areas in which we’re bitter and disobedient, provoking others to arguments or rebellious to God and His ways. And when we see the dignity of human lives regularly attacked, we can assume we are moving away from the Way and Kingdom of love and justice.

As if in a study of contrast, Meraioth’s father is Ahitub, which means “my brother is goodness.” The root words are ach (brother) and tub – good things, best things, bounty, fair, glad, prosperity, joy, beauty, welfare; from tob – to be pleasing, good, did well, merry, cheer.

Much more palatable name meaning, yes? I always smile when good things/best things are brought up. In our college years, hubs and I heard a lot about prioritizing the good to say yes to the best from conferences and in sermons. It’s something I still think about and believe, particularly watching Jesus’ life of prioritizing both alone time with His Father and the people in front of Him.

But I think about welfare and bounty, prosperity and beauty a bit differently than I did in those same years. I no longer assume success in the world’s eyes is a given. Not when the Savior I am to follow had more enemies than close friends, and laid down His life for the whole lot of them. Of us.

I’m so much less interested in others thinking our marriage is ideal or we’re a cute couple; I just want to learn to love, become more of who God created me to be for eternity, and help others when times are hard.

As He continues to open my hands, it matters less and less that our kids have the right grades or succeed in sports or are following the perfect path for their ultimate welfare. I just want them to be kind. I want them to love well. I want them to know the tenderness of God when their heart is hurting and the joy in putting others first. I want them to be more broken for suffering than not having a padded bank account. I want them to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.

I’m glad Seriah had a descendant with such a name. After all, when we finally get to the end of his relatives, we find he was a supervisor (nagid – chief officer, prince, noble) in the Temple of God (bayith Elohim – House of God Almighty).

Aren’t you happy about that, too? Seriah’s name, if you remember, means Yah persists. From there we have names meaning My Portion is Yah, To Be Righteous, Make Amends, Bitter, and My Brother is Goodness. It seems as though Yah did persist in Seriah’s family. We know He will persist in the family of God.

May we in the House of God Almighty be known for the goodness and beauty of the Gospel by seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.

“[From the priests]:

…Seraiah…son of Meshullam, son of Zadok…”

Nehemiah 11:11b

Last time we listed the three priests remaining in Jerusalem. Today we pick up with our third priest’s grandfather into two more generations.

We established Seraih means “Yah persists.” Seraiah’s descendants are listed down to his great-great-great grandfather. His father’s name is Hilkiah, meaning “my portion is Yah,” from Yah and cheleq – portion, territory, farm land, inheritance, legacy, property, reward, flattery, smoothness of tongue.

I love that I began Deuteronomy this morning where Moses relayed from God to all Israel, “You have stayed long enough…I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore to your fathers…” (Deut. 1:6b + 8a)

There was a land to be inherited by the next generation of God’s people after the Exodus from Egypt. Those who had watched what unbelief had done to their elders and who had their marching orders. Camping out in the wilderness was over; taking possession of their portion from Yah was now.

Would they still have to go and follow and obey and fight? Yes. But in the end, it would be Yah. Yah fighting, Yah working, Yah and His ways being their ultimate treasure. Land is good and property is fine, but seeing the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living, knowing He has allowed our boundary lines to fall in pleasant places, and He alone is our portion and cup is better.

His grandfather is Meshullam which comes from shalam – make amends, to be complete or sound, make an end, finish, full, give again, to be safe, be at peace, make restitution, restore.

Do you not love that on Good Friday, our Lord suffered, bled, cried out, and announced the fulfillment of making amends? That He paid the price for our restitution, restoring us to God? And we are now safe, at peace, and completely full in Him?

Tetelestai is how “it is finished” is translated in Greek. But, as Jesus likely spoke Aramaic, I saw an interesting article on this phrase in John 19:30 in Aramaic (משׁלמ) -> {this is not from me…I don’t know how to do that.}

From Chaim and Laura:

“Finally, He said: ‘It is finished.’ This is a very curious word in the Aramaic, it is the word mashelem. It comes from the root word shelem which is the same root word that shalom or peace comes from.” (source)

Crazy, huh? We’re studying a priest’s descendant named Meshullam, and Jesus’ final words were likely “mashelem.” All with this same root word shalom.

We’ve learned together shalom does not just mean peace, but a making of all things right. Restoring things to wholeness, bringing back to Yah’s original plan for His creation. While He will one Day make all things new, in the not-yet we move that direction with Him. Making restitution, doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God. Out of the fullness we have in Him, we give and give again by His strength and in His power.

Meshullam’s father is Zadok, a name we have seen in Nehemiah chapter 3 and 10. Its root words are tsedeq meaning rightness, righteousness, accurate, just, vindication, and tsedoq – to be just, righteous, aquit, declare you right, properly restore, prove right, cleanse.

The empty tomb is all we need to know about being properly restored. If the God of the Universe is mighty, holy, perfect, and majestic, bringing us back to Him required defeat of sin and death. If it’s true the God-Man did just that, it is not a peripheral truth, but the ultimate one.

I know, based simply on yesterday alone, I am not able to stand before such a magnificent God. I need to be properly restored, and I cannot do it on my own. Thank Jesus He did it for me, for us, and “the empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.”

Happy Resurrection, friends. He is risen!

“From the priests:

Jedaiah son of Joiarib; Jakin; and Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the supervisor of the Temple of God.” 

Nehemiah 11:10-11

So far in our list of leaders staying in Jerusalem, we have seen the tribe of Judah and Benjamin. Today we dive into the priests who remained and inhabited the capital city.

First we have Jedaiah, whose name means “Yah has known,” from Yah and yada – personal knowledge, know intimately, know for certain, well aware, clearly understand, experience, surely teach, bring forth, chosen.

I simply love that knowing in God’s Word is never just head knowledge. It always includes intimacy, experience, time with someone. Or Someone. The more we walk with Him, the more we surely know His character, ways, and leading. But what I adore in this name’s implication is how it is Yahweh Who has known. Or as my students would say, “He’s been knowing.” As in, he knew way back when, He knows now, and He knows what’s ahead. All the way to eternity.

And not just dispassionate, logic-only knowing, but an incarnational Personal experience – of humanity, each of our lives, the pain to redeem, and the joyful future. That we, too, would be well aware of this tender God and His movement in our generation.

Jedaiah’s father is Joiarib, a name we just saw in Nehemiah 11:5 which means “the LORD contends,” from Yhvh and rib (to strive, contend, judge, argue, complain, plead, quarrel, reprimand). Some of those definitions are palatable and seem expected of God: judge and reprimand, for starters. But to picture quarreling or striving for an Almighty is more difficult. And it actually points to His slow to anger, abounding in hesed, character that He would strive at all with we mortals.

Then I picture Him contending with evil, striving for righteousness to prevail. I must admit, I don’t imagine an all-powerful God really exerting much effort in the fight. But if the Person of the Holy Spirit can be grieved, if Jesus the God-Man can, in His distress, sweat drops of blood, and if the anger of God the Father can be kindled at sin, I’m thinking this God of ours is not divorced from His emotions. He is fully invested in His creation and its redemption. May we be on the right side of a Yah Who contends.

Next is Jakin – “He will establish” from kun – to be firm, appoint, carry, certainly confirm, make ready, firmly establish, strengthen, faithfulness, fitted. I can appreciate these definitions at the start of Holy Week. Through Scripture, watching the Man Who wept over Jerusalem, faced His accusers head on, allowed Himself to be ready for burial, and firmly followed through with His appointed death.

How about us as those choosing to follow Him and His ways? How do we carry out our appointed time on this earth during mass shootings, political polarity, racial trauma, divided believers? Are we firm without accusing, faithful minus bigotry, rooted and established in love while certainly confirming our stand for justice? Way easier to type than to live out, I get it. Jesus, help us.

Jakin’s father is not listed, so Seraiah is up next. His name means “Yah persists” from Yah and sarah – exert oneself, persevere, wrestle, have power as a prince. Indeed, He persists. That He doesn’t give up on us, give up on me, in this mess we’ve made is my main praise some days.

But I think we get to join Him in this wrestling and persevering – in prayer, in actions, stances, and causes. From a settled position of our power in Him, we can contend for others and situations without being combative, shame-mongering, or scapegoating. We can expose deeds of darkness with a trust that Light wins in the end, and everything will one day be exposed.

But this Week in particular, I’m grateful our Savior laid down those royal rights as a human. That He exerted Himself all the way to Gethsemene, willing another way, offering up that will. The power came from surrender, and darkness came before dawn in the garden.

This Week may we sit with the exertion, the wrestling, the exhaustion of His need to come and make it right. Of our lack of ability to fix it on our own. Our absolute necessity to learn to wash feet like He did and pray for others, even as they killed Him. Winter before spring, the dim before the first shimmer of daybreak.

Thank God, Yah persists.

“[From the tribe of Benjamin:]

…Their chief officer was Joel son of Zicri, who was assisted by Judah son of Hassenuah, second-in-command over the city.”

Nehemiah 11:9

Last time we saw the final descendant names of those leaders from the tribe of Benjamin who stayed in Jerusalem. Today we see these leaders’ leaders, along with their fathers’ names.

The chief officer of the Benjaminite leaders is Joel, whose name means “The LORD is God” from Yhvh and el (God, mighty, creator). I didn’t know YHVH, the proper name of the God of Israel, comes from havah, meaning “to become.”

It makes me think of how Yahweh told Moses to tell the Israelites I Am Who I Am had sent him. The self-existent One, Who has always been, has name origins in “to become.” I’m not sure what to make of that. El Elyon, Creator God Himself, did not have to go through self help or a process to become perfect. He has always been. King, eternal, immortal, First and Last, Creator and Sustainer.

And yet, how beautiful this never-becoming, always-arrived Perfect One brought forth an entire cosmos which does transform, grow, mature. Humans made in His likeness becoming increasingly like Him if cooperating; Sky and sea and rocks and wildcats, daisies and lemons, salt water and water buffalo simply displaying the pleasures of His fabulous character. Indeed, The LORD is God.

Joel’s father is listed in our verses. His name is Zicri which means “memorable.” While we haven’t seen this name yet in the Word, we have seen its root a number of times. It is from zakar – call to mind, mindful, confess, remember, keep in remembrance.

There is pain right now for so many. In my own life and those I know, I am challenged to keep in mind genuine needs, fears and desires and lay them before God. Being mindful of petitions before Him is only part of the challenge, though. The other part is calling to mind all the ways He’s been faithful in the past. Maybe you’re like me and you forget. You have to purposely remember, “No, I couldn’t see the way forward this one time, but look.” Or, “He hasn’t brought us this far to suddenly be disinterested in next steps for everyone involved.”

Our faithful God will keep on being faithful, friends. Let’s bring this to mind.

This Joel, son of Zicri, is listed as the chief officer of the leaders who stayed in our capital city. Officer is paqid – commissioner, overseer, had charge of, leader, governor. Everywhere I turn I see leadership being refined. From the top down in our nation and the Church, it seems God has set out to bring injustice to light, giving folks the opportunity to both repent and wash feet of those they oversee.

But we don’t get to just sit on the couch and observe on the news or social media. There are aspects over which we have charge of in our personal lives. Areas in which we lead, govern, and commission others with our words, decisions, choices. Otherwise we wouldn’t be made in the image of a free and ruling God.

So let’s ask Him where He is refining us. Asking myself at the same time, do we see our influence as the opportunity to serve? Are we willing to open our hands if He shines light on something which needs to change? And do we look at those under our governance – however small to our own eyes – as image bearers? Help us, Father.

Chief Joel was assissted by Judah, whose name means “celebrated, praised.” It is from yadah – to throw, cast, confess, give thanks, give praise, glorify. This word uses the Hebrew yad, which means hand, in a literal sense. As in to physically throw away or cast something, to revere or worship with extended hands, to bemoan while wringing hands.

Not always, but occasionally I will catch myself sliding my knuckles together. When I retrace my thoughts, it’s usually my version of wringing my hands. I am meditating on situations which are unclear or out of my control. The good news is, with those same hands I can simply separate and lift high in reverence. I am so, so grateful for every action that reminds me our worship is embodied, in the image of an Incarnational God.

Anything you need to cast away – either with literal hands or in your mind? As often as it comes up? Areas in which you’re wringing your hands but could just as easily outstretch them in surrender and celebration of what He will do? None of this is an excuse to downplay genuine grief or real hardship. It is simply next steps in our heart with Him.

Finally in our verse today, Assistant Judah’s father, Hassenuah, is listed. This name means “to prick, thorny.” I don’t know about you, but this conjures up only negative images. Pricking a finger for a blood draw or thorns poking as you reach in a bush or for a rose for beauty.

And yet, it’s the hard that makes the good so precious. It’s the realization that joy and sorrow will always be intertwined in this not-yet-heaven existence. It’s what makes a glorious sunset and disappointing news both pierce the heart. One with beauty, the other with groaning. And it’s what keeps us turning to a God Who is not indifferent, Who holds us through it all.

Oh, thank goodness, The LORD is God.

“From the descendants of Benjamin:

…Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah, and his followers, Gabbai and Sallai—928 men.”

Nehemiah 11:7b-8

Last time we saw the first several descendants of Benjamin, grateful for our Redeemer, our Witness. Today we journey on with the four ancestors’ names.

Kolaiah is our first descendant listed. His name means “Voice of Yah” from Yah and qol – sound, voice, blessing, crying, growl, listen, loudly, obey, proclamation, public, report, roar, scream, shout, thunder, tinkling, voice, wept, crackling, fame, “what you say,” “what my are saying,” “what I say,” witness.

So many synonyms for this word voice. And so striking – growling, roar, wept, thunder, tinkling. Words that sound like they sound. Have you felt such grief? It came out in a roar, but also a tinkling tear? Growling in anger and agony, but also weeping in loss?

Even if you may have not come to such emotional depths, we can be grateful to know our God has. God the Father burns with anger, has a voice that thunders, and roars as the Lion of Judah. God the Son knows such things with skin in the game. Weeping at the loss of friends, loss of faith, stubborn refusal to repent, desiring to bless, but having to publicly proclaim hypocrisy.

How about those phrases: what you say, what I say, what my are saying? If you’re wondering, I did not mistype that; it is not “what mine are saying.” So intriguing. Does it make you want to fill in the sentence? What my friends are saying. What my people are saying. What my denomination says. What my worldview proclaims. What leftists, right-wing, progressives, reformed, conservatives, evangelicals say.

Exhausting, isn’t it? I’m not even sure what I’m “supposed” to believe based on several factors. I just can’t keep up. Good news is we don’t have to. We can simply talk to God about situations, stay in His Word, walk in community with people who also want to do those things, and seek to love our neighbor.

As my sister pointed out in a quote she texted, “Love always starts with knowing.” Proximity matters. We can go from what I say, what my says, to listening to what others have to say. Before we loudly and publicly proclaim what we believe about a certain issue, we could actually spend time getting to know people for whom that topic is a daily reality. Not so we can check some box, but so we can know another. Learn and love another human being God loves. And allow them to teach us, let them help us.

Everyone has a witness, a perspective the Body of Christ needs. Whoever you may be thinking of, just know you are that other to someone else. We all naturally see our way as the way, but it’s only one way. Not more than one Ultimate Truth, but more than one expression of that Truth. More than one history and lived experience, ways to worship and live out a creative, multi-faceted, communal, eternal Triune God.

Next is Maaseiah, a name we have recently seen. So let’s focus on his father, Ithiel, whose name means “with me is God.” It is from el and eth – to accompany, along, among, before, beside, concerning, help, including, know, near, presence, together, toward, within.

Yes, yes, yes, to that being a name which is our reality. With me is God. I know His presence, He is within me. Before, beside, among me. Except it might have the wrong person in focus, namely me. I want God to accompany me, be beside me, along with me and my plans. When God is the center of the universe, including us in His movement. We draw near His presence and move toward His passion. We abide, He simply is.

Next up is Jeshaiah, or Isaiah, which means “salvation of Yah.” It is from Yah and yasha – to deliver, avenge, bring salvation, bring victory, help, save, victorious, to be open, wide and free, to be safe.

It’s one of my favorite descriptions of heaven, this wide open, exhilarating sense of freedom with the kind of safety Perfect Love brings. Such salvation, victory can only be of Yah. He saves and keeps on saving. He delivers and helps, frees and restores.

Because our final name is Sallai, which is the same as Sallu from last time, we will be ending with Gabbai. Both Sallai and Gabbai are listed here as Jeshaiah’s followers or brothers. This verse is the only occurrence of the name Gabbai, which comes from gab – a back, defenses, a shrine, to hollow or curve, higher place, eyebrows, nave, ring.

Did you already know what a nave is? I did not. It’s the section of a church where the people congregate, particularly the long, central hall. Makes sense with our definition of a hollow, curved, higher place.

What do you make of that definition alongside words like defenses, back, and shrine? May the Church be a place of refuge, where our eyes are lifted, but never, ever enshrines anyone or anything as an idol. May we know God is solidly for us in Christ, therefore laying down our need to be defensive.

And may our gaze forever be on a higher place.

“From the descendants of Benjamin:

…Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah…” 

Nehemiah 11:7-8

Last time we finished up the descendants of Judah, following the lineage of Maaseiah. Today we see the provincial leaders who were descendants of Benjamin that stayed in Jerusalem .

First up is Sallu, whose name comes from calah – to reject, make light of, toss aside, tread under foot, tread down, value. Don’t you find that reference to value interesting alongside throwing out and rejecting? It seems, in fact, quite the opposite.

What feelings surface when you read “reject, tread down, and toss aside?” Has that ever described your situation, your experience? If it hasn’t, praise God. And may you use your valued experience to value others.

If it is an accurate description of times in, or the majority of, your life, how I pray you know Yahweh as Defender, Husband, Maker, and Refuge. Please don’t allow any prosperity gospel convince you the God of Angel Armies is for the powerful and against the downtrodden. He sees and He acts. When His People do the opposite, it is not a reflection of Him.

Sallu’s father is Meshullam, a name we have seen on here before. It means “allied” from shalam – amends, to complete, sound, to make an end, finish, give again. That phrase “give again” gets me every time.

Weary, have your own concerns, tired of fighting? Give again. Fatigued from making amends, wanting something to be complete, finished? Give again. Uncertain your actions will matter, desiring peace and sound relationships among us all? Give again. Not in your strength, but His.

Our give-again descendant’s father is Joed, the only occurrence of this name. It means “the LORD is a witness,” from Yhvh and ed – a witness, evidence, testimony, recorder; active participle of yaad – to appoint, assemble, designate, meet together, summon, gather selves.

Oh, do you love it? Those who are appointed are the active particles of ed, giving witness, a voice to the work He’s done in our lives. We are evidence, walking around as living sacrifices, our lives a record of His activity. The good news is a recorder simply puts down what has happened, no spinning, trying to make things happen. Only pointing to the evidence of what we know: I once was this, but now I’m this.

Not only are we witnesses, but God Himself is a witness. The God Who Sees taking a record of those who honor Him. We never have to wonder if our actions matter.

Our final descendant for today is Pedaiah, a name we have seen in Nehemiah chapter 3 and 8. It means “Yah has ransomed” from Yah and padah – any means redeem, rescued, deliver.

In reading through the Pentateuch, I’ve been struck by this word redeem. Particularly when talking about who and what is to be bought back to the LORD by paying the redemption price. It means to free from captivity, release from debt. Which feels weird because these firstborn children and animals haven’t done anything yet.

I don’t think we like thinking of the need for sheep or bulls or rams to shed blood for us to have forgiveness. But it speaks to our innate need to be rescued, how we cannot save ourselves. We require someone else to pay the redemption price on our behalf.

Anything from which He has rescued you? Ways in which He has bought back something in your life that had been broken or destroyed? If that does not ring true, or if you don’t have eyes yet to see it, may we know Him by one more name: Redeemer, Whose banner over us is Love.

“[From the descendants of Judah]…

…Maaseiah…the son of Adaiah son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah…

Nehemiah 11:5b

Last time we looked at some descendants of Maaseiah, reveling that we get to be active participles of the Ultimate Seer. Seeing and living out His Word in a broken world. Today we continue on with family names.

First up is Adaiah whose name means “Yah has ornamented himself” from Yah and adah (adorn, pass on, advance, deck self, pass by, take away, to remove, to bedeck.)

The first verse about adorning which popped into my head refers to a wedding.

I delight greatly in the Lord;
    my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10

The beauty of being adorned with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness – His righteousness. However, this is not the only reference to adorning. You know which other verse uses it? When God finally answers Job:

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:

“Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.

“Would you discredit my justice?
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
Do you have an arm like God’s,
    and can your voice thunder like his?
Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
    and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.

Job 10:6-10

A much less sweet verse, no? But when Yah bedecks Himself, it is with fearsome glory. He will take away all pride, remove our overconfident ideas of self-righteousness. Those doing injustice should tremble. Anyone trampling on the weak ought to run and hide, if they could.

“For I, the Lord, love justice;
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing…”

Isaiah 61:8a

And that’s not all. The next relative of Maaseiah is Joiarib, which means “the LORD contends.” It’s from Yhvh and rib – to strive, contend, argue, complain, dispute, quarrel, judge, plead case, reprimand, chide, lay wait, to grapple, to wrangle, to defend, debate, rebuke, strive thoroughly.

Some of those synonyms seem positive: contend, plead case, to defend. Others are too relatable in my heart: argue, complain, debate, quarrel. And still others, especially when applied to Yahweh, are pretty intense: dispute, judge, reprimand, chide, lay wait, rebuke, strive thoroughly.

When you think of the Most High in this context, what comes to mind? A petty and critical human version of God? Or a majestic, all-seeing Judge Who governs in Love? May we come to know Him as the latter, even when He is reprimanding us and striving thoroughly for His best in our lives.

The next relative is Zechariah, whose name we have recently visited in our study of Nehemiah. So let’s focus on the following relative, Shelah, whose name comes from shalah (to draw out, extract, take away, remove, to fall.) It is related to two other Hebrew words – shalal (take spoil, plunder) and nashal (to slip or drop off, draw off, clear away, cast out, loose, slip, pluck off, put off.)

What is He drawing out in your life? Anything He is telling you is better to pluck out than to continue on in disobedience? Me, too. The good news is when He draws things out, it is so He can clear it away to work in your life. He extracts to remove, like a masterful surgeon.

We soak in certain mixtures to draw out toxins. Not to wallow that they were there, but to move forward in better health. He draws off so we can put off the old self and put on the new, taking with us spoil from a war with our enemy. He never removes without also renewing. As He draws out evil amidst the Church, may we cooperate with the renewing.

And one more thing is true in this drawing out. Not only does the Spirit draw out sinful habits and systems in our individual and corporate lives, He also draws out giftings and movements and righteous anger. Sometimes it takes something big to shake us from our complacency.

When we see abuse, it can draw out a resolve to hold accountable, to restructure what is systemically broken. We we watch blatant injustice, we can wake up to our privilege and join the fight for righteousness. When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, it can draw out worship and an experiential realization we need not fear evil.

And when we look around at the myriad ways to serve, the Spirit can activate the giftings He gave and draw us in to join His Work.

“[From the descendants of Judah]…

…Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Kol-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah…”

Nehemiah 11:5a

Last time we saw the final name in the line of Athaiah, grateful part of discipleship to Him means infusing all things with His Spirt, to the Praise of God. Today we see the second line of the descendants of Judah who was to remain in Jerusalem.

The provincial leader’s name is Maaseiah, which means “Work of Yah.” We have seen this name both in Ezra and Nehemiah, and it comes from Yah and maaseh – accomplishment, vocation, workmanship, art, task, sculptured; from asah – to do; an action with a product, specifically a poem, a thing offered.

Do you like the references to art in this definition? Sculpture, poetry, workmanship, a thing offered. And how the accomplishment is a product of Yah?

Me too. I appreciate His movement in our world includes beauty for the sake of beauty. Workmanship offering our work, all a product of His Spirit in us. Anything He’s asking you to create out of overflow? Let’s cooperate with Him, then leave the results to Yah.

Maaseiah’s father is Baruch which means “blessed.” It is from barak – to kneel, abudantly bless, boast, congratulate, salute, thank, pronounce blessing; curse, blaspheme. Yeesh, a couple of those are rough. Boast, curse and blaspheme I could do without. Yet out of the same mouth we bless God and curse our neighbor, do we not? Never has this been so large scale as in our divided moment with social media amplification.

What does it look like to repent of that and embrace the rest of the definition: to kneel, abundantly bless, pronounce blessing? And to take it one step further and repair what’s been broken? Not just relational trust, but actual walls like Nehemiah. Actual institutions and business cultures, school systems and healthcare. Seems as though that blessing would mean more than words, but a doing of the Word.

Baruch’s father is Kol-Hozeh which means “Every Seer.” It comes from kol (whole, all, entirely, farthest, throughout, utter, wholehearted, altogether, every one/place/thing) and chozeh (a seer, agreement, stargazer). This is the active participle of chazah – to see, behold, gaze, gloat, prophesy, contemplate with pleasure, have vision of.

I think to our twenty-first century perspective, this idea of a seer freaks us out. We’re not sure what to do with it, and, frankly, there have been many to proclaim the title and lead people astray. Seems we should test prophesies while not quenching the work of the Spirit.

But if we’re embracing the Spirit’s work among us in our day, I think this looks like bringing together all – whole, entirely, altogether – those who follow Him. Which means a variety of cultures, expressions, experiences who seek to follow the Spirit’s lead in their lives. It means resisting that the lens through which we read Scripture is the only one, acknowledging that God’s Word is alive and those traditionally marginalized have authority to speak from its oft-marginalized perspective.

And, friends, the glory of this is a real-time life of chazah – beholding His supremacy in our culture, a vision of the Church as a beacon of light and service, gazing at the utter magnificence of His Beauty and Work in our midst. Seeing sons and daughters prophesying as His Spirit is not quenched or grieved, but allowed to work in our midst.

It makes me smile my morning reading out of Numbers was when God allows elders to assist Moses and He “take[s] some of the Spirit that is on [Moses] and put[s] it on [others].” (Numbers 11:17b) Then two men who were not called as elders to the tent, but remained in the camp with the rest of the people, had the Spirit rest on them and they prophesied in the camp (11:26).

It’s almost as if His Spirit cannot be controlled, huh? Once unleashed and allowed to lead in individual hearts and communal structures, a speaking forth of His Word is sure to follow. When Joshua gets mad at these two men prophesying, Moses rebukes him with, “Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them.”

Oh, reader, the brilliance of living in a time in history when that is true. When those who have told Jesus He can have utter control of their lives do have His Spirit – not just on them but inside them. We may not all have the gift of prophesy, but we can all speak forth His Word and let it guide our lives.

And, finally, the beauty of Kol-Hozeh’s father’s name listed in our verse today. It is Hazaiah which means “Yah has seen,” from Yah and that same word chazah, the only instance of this name in the Word.

Don’t you love it? That every seer is the active participle of the Ultimate Seer. A doer of what He has revealed to us from His supreme seeing. We get the joy of living out the Word while recognizing the One Who ultimately sees all – past, present, future – fully. That He alone can contemplate with pleasure the whole of history, the coming Kingdom, and the entirety of the Spirit’s work in our day.

He alone is King, the only wise King. May we bow before Him alone. For Yah has seen.

I’m joining with one of my favorite blogs today to share what’s saving my life right now. And I’ve gotta be honest: I’ve been struggling. I’m not nailing any of this at all. So if that’s you, too, welcome.

Up first for me is Essential Oils. From a peaceful scent in the morning, to one that can cover a multitude of smells at school, diffusing can be a lifesaver.

But I’m also grateful for their topical benefits. This combo below can be helpful when trying to reduce reliance on Tylenol. Along with this and these beauties, I’m seeking to cycle more eco friendly each month.

My Happy Light for those stretches when the sun won’t peek out for long.

Kitchen time. Making delicious things to delightful music is therapeutic for me.

My small group from church. Recently our son asked if we were having a Zoom call or meeting in person for group night. When I said in-person, he goes, “Oh good! You’re happier when you come back.” Point taken.

Once-a-month Book Group. I need others to become brave.

Prayer and Verse Memory, particularly this one right now.

Exercise. Always and forever. We also have our boys in swim lessons right now to fight against fatigue with remote schooling.

Cardboard boxes in the classroom. I love watching my students create and work together. Plus, plan time with colleagues to brainstorm ideas and talk through challenges. And outdoor recess!

Plants – real and fake.

Apparently, even fake ones can help boost our mood!

Keeping in touch by text. It’s the obvious choice while social distancing, and keeps me connected to my friends’ lives and needs and joys.

Anything saving your life these days – big or small? I’d love to hear!