Establishing the City of Jerusalem

INTRODUCTION: The work of rebuilding the wall is not fully completed until the city is inhabited with a sufficient population and the wall is dedicated to the Lord. If you have done a work for the Lord, make sure that you finish the work by making sure that it set on a firm foundation and by dedicating it to the Lord and to His service.

1. THE POPULATING OF JERUSALEM (Nehemiah 11:1-2)
1. The Problem
1. Few people in the city (Nehemiah 7:4)
2. Inadequate protection (Nehemiah 4:19); Note: The wall was almost four miles long. Some have estimated that at least 20,000 inhabitants would have been needed to protect a city this size.
2. The Cause (compare Philippians 2:21)
1. Less profit could be made in the city
2. More danger would be faced in the city
3. The Solution
1. A tithe of the people to dwell in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:1)
1. The rulers to dwell in Jerusalem
2. The casting of lots (concerning lots, see Proverbs 16:33)
1. One of ten to dwell in Jerusalem
2. Nine of ten to dwell in the other cities
2. A group staying in the city (Nehemiah 11:2)
1. The blessing on them
2. Their willingness to offer themselves (2 Corinthians 8:3-5)
2. THE CHIEF PEOPLE OF JUDAH (Nehemiah 11:3-36)
1. Those Dwelling in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:3-19)
1. Minus those dwelling in the cities (Nehemiah 11:3)
2. The children of Judah (Nehemiah 11:4-6)
3. The children of Benjamin (Nehemiah 11:7-9)
4. Of the priests (Nehemiah 11:10-11)
5. Of the chief of the fathers (Nehemiah 11:12-14)
6. Of the Levites (Nehemiah 11:15-18)
7. Of the porters (Nehemiah 11:19)
2. Those Dwelling in the Villages (Nehemiah 11:20-36)
1. Of the priests and Levites (Nehemiah 11:20-24)
2. Of the children of Judah (Nehemiah 11:25-30)
3. Of the children of Benjamin (Nehemiah 11:31-36)
3. THE RECORD OF PRIESTS AND LEVITES (Nehemiah 12:1-26)
1. Those Who Came with Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 12:1-9)
2. The Descent of the Priests (Nehemiah 12:10-21); Note: Eliashib was the high priest at the time (Nehemiah 12:10; 3:1; Nehemiah 13:4)
3. The Chief of the Levites (Nehemiah 12:22-26)
4. THE DEDICATION OF THE WALL (Nehemiah 12:1-43)
1. NOTE: A dedication was a religious service by which something was dedicated or consecrated to the service of God. Thing dedicated in the Bible include altars (Numbers 7:10-11, 88), houses (Deuteronomy 20:5; Psalm 30, title), silver and gold (2 Samuel 8:11), the temple (Ezra 6:16-17), and the wall of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 12:27). We should dedicate ourselves to the Lord (Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15) and also all that we have or possess (2 Corinthians 8:3-5).
2. The Gathering of the People (Nehemiah 12:27-30)
1. Their gladness (Nehemiah 12:27)
1. The Levites brought to Jerusalem
2. To keep the dedication with gladness (Ezra 6:16; Nehemiah 8:10; Philippians 4:4)
1. With thanksgivings
2. With singings
3. With musical instruments
1. Cymbals a percussion instrument
2. Psalteries and harps stringed instruments
2. The singers (Nehemiah 12:28-29; 1 Chronicles 9:33; 1 Chronicles 15:16-19; 2 Chronicles 5:12-13)
3. The purification (Nehemiah 12:30; 2 Chronicles 29:5; compare 2 Corinthians 7:1)
1. Purified themselves
2. Purified the people
3. Purified the gates and the wall
3. The Company of Ezra (Nehemiah 12:31-37); going on the right hand upon the wall
1. Two great companies to give thanks (Nehemiah 12:31)
2. The company on the right hand toward the dung gate (Nehemiah 12:32-36)
3. The arrival of the company at the fountain gate (Nehemiah 12:37)
1. Up the stairs of the city of David
2. Above the house of David
3. Unto the water gate eastward
4. The Company of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 12:38-39); going on left hand upon the wall
5. The Celebration that Followed (Nehemiah 12:40-43)
1. The thanksgiving of the rulers (Nehemiah 12:40)
2. The trumpets of the priests (Nehemiah 12:41)
3. The singing of the singers (Nehemiah 12:42)
4. The rejoicing of the people (Nehemiah 12:43)
1. With the offering of sacrifices
2. With their wives and children
3. The joy of Jerusalem heard afar off (Ezra 3:13)
5. THE APPOINTMENT OF THE OFFICERS (Nehemiah 12:44-47)
1. The Chambers for the Treasures (Nehemiah 12:44)
1. The gathering of the tithes and offerings
2. The giving of portions to the priests and Levites
1. The rejoicing of Judah
2. For the priests and Levites that waited (1 Chronicles 23:28; 2 Chronicles 13:10; Psalm 123:2)
2. The Singers and the Porters (Nehemiah 12:45-47)
1. They kept the ward of their God (Nehemiah 12:45)
2. They sang songs of praise and thanksgiving (Nehemiah 12:46)
3. They received their portions daily (Nehemiah 12:47)
4. They sanctified holy things to the Levites (Nehemiah 12:47)

CONCLUSION: The job of rebuilding the wall was not finished until a foundation was laid for the continuance of the wall into the future. If care had not been made, the wall could have either fallen from lack of care or from attack by enemies. Two things are done to insure the continuation of the wall. First, an adequate population is secured for Jerusalem. Second, the wall is dedicated to the Lord.

Memory Verses:

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

Nehemiah 11:2 – And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 8:3 – For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;