A GENEALOGY OF THE RETURNED EXILES

Reading from 1 Chronicles Ch. 9 vs1-34

How do we start and are we dedicated as we go along? We pray for things and at some point or in some way we might not expect God does answer and that’s great but how often do we think about the start? How we begin or continue with these added things or even how we initially started before needing these extras? I’m basically referring to the statement we hear a lot about putting God first and that might of course look different whether it’s with tithes, our time or even our prayer. Basically the question is are we really starting with God first and as our foundation as we step into all the things we ask for or are doing? The people of Israel were taken into captivity because they sinned against God and worshipped idols. The bible in this passage mentions how Judah was taken into captivity because of their breach of faith which is based on the same thing and so they got the consequence. Now this passage is on the return from exile and how it started.

The first people to return or come back to their land were not warriors or mighty men but rather the priests, the Levites and the temple servants. There were some people still living in Jerusalem but those were the first to return. I found that interesting because after all those years they would need to probably have to fight for the land from whoever took possession it. But the priests, Levites and temple servants were first and what jumped at me was starting over or just starting with God. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like the sane thing to do especially when you’re coming from a situation where things were bad or where there was scarcity or lack. It often feels like when the opportunity shows itself it’s about being on defence, saving and just making sure to protect whatever has come to you but what about God who answered? Some might think to not tithe because after so long without the work you need all the money or now that the work is here you’re too busy to go to fellowship.

It’s interesting but there’s something very powerful about putting God first or starting with him and letting him be the foundation, he is the one who gives us all things and beginning with him helps us understand who actually holds everything. It helps us truly see and even acknowledge that its him who gave whatever the things are and is the one who can sustain them and help them grow or be built. It helps us be fully reliant and dependant on God because when you start with something you know is the important thing or the thing with the most priority and so it doesn’t quite matter what he has answered, if circumstances come that take it away you know who you’re grounded in and he who brought it can easily replace it. But it all starts with our actions and how we choose to start and for the Israelites they started with the mighty men just not the fighters we think. It was the mighty priests, the ones that could help everyone start over with a mind of God and him being the important thing because if at your start or low point you learn to see and prioritise him and make that a part of you, as you grow it won’t be something difficult.

Now they weren’t just priests and Levites but also the men who were temple servants, one large group mentioned were the gatekeepers, men who were guarding the thresholds of the tents, the entrances, some the chambers and treasuries. It doesn’t seem like a lot but it needed them dedicated, sometimes we look at tasks and they don’t seem very important, there could be other things we could be doing yeah but even the small things mattered plenty. If they could be dedicated to making sure the tent was safe and everything going okay even when there were few people coming by, when the times changed and the rest of those in exile returned it wouldn’t be something difficult but routine. Sometimes we don’t pay attention to how our dedication and consistency in the simple tasks is like training for whatever we often are asking for. How can you be trusted with those great things when the small things in your life currently can’t be completed? Everything matters and it won’t always be in the way you think.

The bible mentions something about a man called Phinehas, he was the son of Eleazar and was the chief officer of them in times past and it says that the lord was with him. I find such statements in scripture very interesting especially in the Old Testament because then you needed to go to the priest to speak to God or even get forgiveness for your sin. But when it says the lord was with someone it stands out because it was something people noticed, they could see that difference in the person’s life and you look at the guy just being the head of the men guarding. Even in the little task or the work that doesn’t seem so important God will be with you and really thinking about this for us today and just understanding how cool it would be that people can look at your life and work and just see how God is with you. Isn’t that something nice, that our lives can show the love of Jesus and in a sense be a ministry for him and its just cause of how we walk with him. We should want that for our lives, it’s like a cheat or easy evangelism, if people can see it without you speaking about it they might ask and you get to talk about Jesus.

So then you look at the different tasks from those who guarded the different entrances to those who were entrusted to guard the chambers and the treasures and them needing to not only be dedicated but trust worthy. To those who had charge over the utensils and had to count them or those over the furniture. Some were over the I’d say storerooms watching over the fine flour, oil, wine, incense etc. and others in charge of mixing spices and others making the flat cakes and others preparing the show bread. The tasks seem so simple but they had to be done every day and for some even through the night, they had to be dedicated, every part mattered even though they seemed so small, it affected how people would worship God. It makes me think of service at church and how others sing, some usher, some teach the children, some make sure everything is safe and others make sure the cars are parked safely outside. They all seem so simple but they make church or our worship better.

My point is just that these little things we do whether at church or in our lives are learning spaces. Are we dedicated in what seems like it’s not that important, can we put God first now in the life you’re in or living and not only in the thing you’re hoping for? It will show and it’s something we should pay attention to. These little things make all the difference and maybe God is seeing how you take even the mundane before he gives you whatever it is. So do think about how you start and know you can start over and as you carry along be dedicated even when it doesn’t seem like something great or important and remember Jesus loves you always!