How to Occupy the City

Jerusalem's walls were built and her temple was operational. The work of Ezra and Nehemiah in guiding the exiles back to the Holy City was accomplished. There was just one very important event that needed to happen. They had to live there. 

Now you can imagine that the "idea" of living there seemed grand from Babylon, but to actually live there knowing how it was destroyed a century ago had to be scary. Nebuchadnezzar had starved the city out, ripped open the pregnant women, and slaughtered their children. The city had also experienced several attacks from the outside before and several troubles from inside since. In other words, this was a fearful place to be. 

So Nehemiah 11 opens by telling us who goes in:

Nehemiah 11:1–2 (ESV) Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

The leaders live in Jerusalem and 1 in 10 are taken in by lottery. You can sense this was no lucky strike for any of them. But the people blessed them and they settled in. 

Why is this important? Because it is our calling - to occupy our cities. That is, we who live for God are seeking rest from our spiritual exile and we are to live without fear in this world that God will keep us safe.

Now, this chapter contains a lot of names and we meet yet another genealogy of ancient Israel. If there is one thing the Jewish people remembered to do, it was to keep tabs on who was around. I think there's a lost truth in our day wherein we almost find it virtuous to forget or reject the past. The Jews did not do this. Read Nehemiah 11 and your eyes might glaze over. But I can tell you who it mattered to in ways we cannot comprehend - those who were named. 

Interestingly, Jesus promises to remember our names and keep them written down for the last day. 

Revelation 3:5 (ESV) The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

In the list we also pick up some keys to occupying the city. 

Nehemiah 11:6–8 (ESV) All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men. 7 And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, 8 and his brothers, men of valor, 928.

Verse 6, 8 and 13 number the valiant men - those who fought well for the sake of the nation. Those who work are also mentioned by name and clan. But there's one other particular group counted specifically for the habitation of the city:

Nehemiah 11:22–23 (ESV) The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God. 23 For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, as every day required.

The singers are named. And notice, there was a "command from the king concerning them." They were to be well cared for in the city. Why? Because praise and worship are key to the church's endeavors. Song produces strong memories and strong hearts. When we sing, the Lord is magnified and the enemy flees.

When the Church wants to occupy its city, we can lean into the truths of this often neglected chapter. Keep a record of whose involved, take note of those with valiant hearts and those who put their hands to work, and most of all - make sure the house is full of worship. I believe those elements make for a mighty church no matter where it's located.