Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Friday, October 31, 2014

31 October 445 B.C. Old Testament Believers, the Gracious Covenant and Governor Nehemiah.


31 October 445 B.C. Old Testament Believers, the Gracious Covenant and Governor  Nehemiah.

By 445 B.C., Nehemiah received permission from the Medo-Persian King, Artaxerxes I (B.C. 465-423), to return to Israel and rebuild.

The Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem (c.) 142 years earlier. Nehemiah returned to his homeland.  We’ve covered the larger story elsewhere, but we give it in brief and, of course, with the perspicuous Scriptures. The wall was rebuilt and the gates hung in 52 days (cf. Neh. 1.1-6.16).   But more than the rebuilding of the wall was needed.  Minds and hearts needed to be steeled by the Word of God. This is why we include “all the names.”  Nehemiah is the hero of the story, but it takes all of God’s people believing, standing and doing their duty.  Hence, the list of names.

Nehemiah 7:4-8:18


1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

Now the city was large and great, but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.

And my God put into mine heart, and I gathered the princes, and the rulers, and the people, to count their genealogies: and I found a book of the genealogy of them, which came up at the first, and found written therein,

These are the [a]sons of the province that came up from the captivity that was carried away (whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel had carried away) and they returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city.

They which came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, [b]Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. This is the number of the men of the people of Israel.

The sons of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.

The sons of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

10 The sons of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.

11 The sons of [c]Pahath-Moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen.

12 The sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

13 The sons of Zattu, eight hundred and five and forty.

14 The sons of Zaccai, seven hundred and three-score.

15 The sons of Binnui, six hundred and eight and forty.

16 The sons of Bebai, six hundred and eight and twenty.

17 The sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and two and twenty.

18 The sons of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.

19 The sons of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.

20 The sons of Adin, six hundred and five and fifty.

21 The sons of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

22 The sons of Hashum, three hundred and eight and twenty.

23 The sons of Bezai, three hundred and four and twenty.

24 The sons of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.

25 The [d]sons of Gibeon, ninety and five.

26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.

27 The men of Anathoth, an hundred and eight and twenty.

28 The men of Beth Azmaveth, two and forty.

29 The men of Kirjath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and three and forty.

30 The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and one and twenty.

31 The men of Michmas, an hundred and two and twenty.

32 The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred and three and twenty.

33 The men [e]of the other Nebo, two and fifty.

34 The sons of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred and four and fifty.

35 The sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

36 The sons of Jericho, three hundred and five and forty.

37 The sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred and one and twenty.

38 The sons of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

39 The Priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.

40 The sons of Immer, a thousand and two and fifty.

41 The sons of Pashur, a thousand two hundred and seven and forty.

42 The sons of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

43 ¶ The Levites: the sons of Jeshua of Kadmiel, and of the sons of [f]Hodevah, seventy and four.

44 ¶ The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred and eight and forty.

45 The porters: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, an hundred and eight and thirty.

46 ¶ The [g]Nethinim: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,

47 The sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon,

48 The sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai,

49 The sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,

50 The sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,

51 The sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,

52 The sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephishesim,

53 The sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,

54 The sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,

55 The sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Tamah,

56 The sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha,

57 The sons of Solomon’s servants, the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,

58 The sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,

59 The sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, the sons of Amon.

60 All the Nethinim, and the sons of Solomon’s servants were three hundred, ninety and two.

61 ¶ And these came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not show their father’s house, nor their seed, or if they were of Israel.

62 The sons of Delaiah: the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and two and forty.

63 And of the Priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was named after their name.

64 These sought their writing of the genealogies, but it was not found: therefore they were put from the Priesthood.

65 And [h]the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy, till there rose up a Priest with Urim and Thummim.

66 All the Congregation together was two and forty thousand, three hundred and threescore,

67 Besides their servants and their maids, which were seven thousand, three hundred and seven and thirty: and they had two hundred and five and forty singing men and singing women.

68 Their horses were seven hundred and six and thirty, and their mules two hundred and five and forty.

69 The camels four hundred and five and thirty, and six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.

70 And certain of the chief fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure, a thousand [i]drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty Priest’s garments.

71 And some of the chief fathers gave unto the treasure of the work, twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred [j]pieces of silver.

72 And the rest of the people gave twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pieces of silver, and threescore and seven Priest’s garments.

73 And the Priests, and the Levites, and the porters and the singers, and the rest of the people and the Nethinim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities: and when the [k]seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

2 Ezra gathereth together the people, and readeth to them the Law. 12 They rejoice in Israel for the knowledge of the word of God. 15 They keep the feast of Tabernacles or booths.

And all the people assembled themselves [l]together, in the street that was before the water gate, and they spake unto Ezra the [m]Scribe, that he would bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

And Ezra the Priest brought the Law before the Congregation both of men and women, and of all [n]that could hear and understand it, in the first day of the seventh month,

And he read therein in the street that was before the water gate (from the morning until [o]the midday) before men and women, and them that understood it, and the ears of all the people hearkened unto the book of the Law.

And Ezra the Scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood which he had made for the preaching, and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and on his left hand Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

And Ezra opened the book before all the people: for he was [p]above all the people: and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

And Ezra praised the Lord the great God, and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed themselves, and worshipped the Lord with their faces toward the ground.

Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites caused the people to understand the Law, and the people stood in their place.

And they read in the book of the Law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Then Nehemiah (which is Tirshatha) and Ezra the Priest and Scribe, and the Levites that instructed the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God: mourn not, neither weep: for all the people [q]wept, when they heard the words of the Law.

10 He said also unto them, Go and eat of the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part unto them, for whom none is [r]prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: be ye not sorry therefore: for the [s]joy of the Lord is your strength.

11 And the Levites made silence throughout all the people, saying, Hold your peace: for the day is holy, be not sad therefore.

12 Then all the people went to eat and to drink, and to send away part, and to make great joy, because they had understood the words that they had taught them.

13 And on the second day the chief fathers of all the people, the Priests and the Levites were gathered unto Ezra the Scribe, that he also might instruct them in the words of the Law.

14 And they found written in the Law, (that the Lord had commanded Moses) that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month,

15 And that they should cause it to be declared and proclaimed in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and bring olive branches, and pine branches, and branches of [t]myrtle, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

16 So the people went forth and brought them, and made them booths, every one upon the [u]roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street by the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.

17 And all the Congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity, made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the [v]time of Jeshua the son of Nun unto this day, had not the children of Israel done so, and there was very great joy.

18 And he read in the book of the Law of God every day, from the first day unto the last day. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.

Footnotes:


  1. Nehemiah 7:6 That is, the inhabitants of Judah.
  2. Nehemiah 7:7 Azariah in Ezra is called Seraiah, and Raamiah, Reelaiah, Ezra 2:2.
  3. Nehemiah 7:11 Or, the captain of Moab.
  4. Nehemiah 7:25 That is, the inhabitants of Gibeon.
  5. Nehemiah 7:33 For there were two cities of this name.
  6. Nehemiah 7:43 Or, Hodaiah.
  7. Nehemiah 7:65 Meaning, Nehemiah: for Tirshatha in the Chaldean tongue signifieth a butler.
  8. Nehemiah 7:71 Or, minas.
  9. Nehemiah 7:73 Which containeth part of September and part of October.
  10. Nehemiah 8:1 Hebrew, as one man.
  11. Nehemiah 8:2 Which had age and discretion to understand.
  12. Nehemiah 8:3 This declareth the great zeal, that the people had to hear the word of God.
  13. Nehemiah 8:5 To the intent that his voice might be the better heard.
  14. Nehemiah 8:9 In considering their offences against the Law. Therefore the Levites do not reprove them for mourning, but assure them of God’s mercies forasmuch as they are repentant.
  15. Nehemiah 8:10 That is, remember the poor.
  16. Nehemiah 8:10 Rejoice in the Lord, and he will give you strength.
  17. Nehemiah 8:15 Or, goodly branches, as Lev. 3:40.
  18. Nehemiah 8:16 For their houses were made flat above, read Deut. 22:8.
  19. Nehemiah 8:17 Which was almost a thousand years.
    Upshot: what good is the rebuilding of the walls without the rebuilding in the Word of God?
    Also, repentance and confession of sin attended the event, suitable and useful then like now.

Nehemiah 10:29


1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

29 The chief of them [a]received it for their brethren, and they came to the [b]curse and to the oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his judgments and his statutes:

Footnotes:


  1. Nehemiah 10:29 They made the oath in the name of the whole multitude.
  2. Nehemiah 10:29 Whereunto they gave themselves if they brake the Law, as Deut. 28:15.
    The covenant was reaffirmed, renewed and refreshed on 31 October 445 B.C.
    The book of the Law was read aloud, audibly and perspicuously.
    Nehemiah 9.1-4.

Nehemiah 9:1-4


1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

The people repent, and forsake their strange wives. 5 The Levites exhort them to praise God, 6 Declaring his wonders, 26 And their ingratitude, 30 And God’s great mercies toward them.

In the four and twentieth day of this [a]month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them.

(And they that were of the seed of Israel were separated from all the [b]strangers) and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.

And they stood up in their place and read in the book of the Law of the Lord their God four times on the day, and they [c]confessed and worshipped the Lord their God four times.

Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the Lord their God.

Footnotes:


  1. Nehemiah 9:1 Meaning, the seventh.
  2. Nehemiah 9:2 Hebrew, strange children.
  3. Nehemiah 9:3 They made confession of their sins, and used prayers.
    The oath of allegiance, affirmation and confirmation was taken.

Nehemiah 9:48-10:29


1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

10 1 The names of them that sealed the covenant between God and the people.

Now they that sealed, were Nehemiah the [a]Tirshatha the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,

Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,

Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these are [b]the Priests.

¶ And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui, of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel.

10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanun,

11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.

14 ¶ The chief of the people were Parosh, [c]Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,

19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,

22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,

24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,

25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,

27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

28 And the rest of the people, the Priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the [d]Nethinim, and all that were [e]separated from the people of the lands unto the Law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all that could understand.

29 The chief of them [f]received it for their brethren, and they came to the [g]curse and to the oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his judgments and his statutes:

Footnotes:


  1. Nehemiah 10:1 Or, butler.
  2. Nehemiah 10:8 Which subscribed to keep the promise.
  3. Nehemiah 10:14 Or, captain of Moab.
  4. Nehemiah 10:28 Which being idolaters forsook their wickedness, and gave themselves to serve God.
  5. Nehemiah 10:29 They made the oath in the name of the whole multitude.
  6. Nehemiah 10:29 Whereunto they gave themselves if they brake the Law, as Deut. 28:15.
    Questions:

  1. Why all the names?  Why did Nehemiah or the author/scribe for Nehemiah view the listing of the all the names as significant?
  2. Is there a place for a public ceremony of congregational and/or denominational repentance and reaffirmation of the faith?
  3. If #2 obtains, what may this say to the LACNAs?
  4. Is there a pattern for some churches in 2014?

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