[The list of the men of Israel]…
the men of Bethlehem and Netophah — 188…
The musicians:
the descendants of Asaph — 148…
Nehemiah 7:26, 44
Last time we looked closer at a returned exile, Ater, and his forefather, Hezekiah, and what we can learn from the positive and negative aspects of his reign as king. Today we jump to the next specified section of returned exiles: those from Bethlehem and Natophah.
The city name Bethlehem is from two Hebrew words, Beth Lechem, meaning “a place of bread.” I find that phrase so interesting in our gluten-free, low-carb culture. But let’s take that lens off for a minute and think of what bread meant for our friends in Old Testament Judah. First of all, bread was their staple. It represented, literally, their bread and butter. What satisfied their hunger daily and helped stretch a stew or fish for a large family or a crowd.
Second, bread was a daily ritual. Fresh ground grain, hand-kneaded loaves are not what most of us picture as bread in the 21st century. It was easily digested, a loving provision from Yahweh. So a city with the name A Place of Bread surely represented provision and satisfaction.
Of course when speaking of bread in God’s Word, one verse we know well is how man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. I think this a necessary starting point when talking about God being our everything. There is no way to give up our pet sins, our idols and indulgences and hoarding tendencies without facing seriously our reluctance to trust God’s character toward us. Will He really give us this day our daily bread or do I need to wring my hands in worry? Can God and the life He gives me genuinely satisfy the desires of my heart? Or must I provide for myself what I think best makes up the good life, holding back my heart for fear He won’t come through?
Indeed, shaming ourselves into giving up all these other things can turn into picking up a couple more. But starting at a place of need and asking Him to become our everything gives Him the space in our hearts to gently pry our fingers off such lesser treasures. The beauty is when He is our Place of Bread, we can share in gratitude with many of these provisions without putting them on the pedestal of our hearts. His design is to take over our lives from the inside out.
The other city listed here is Natophah – from nataph – to drip, discourse, speak, or spokesman. Have you ever had a message you would do anything He allowed in order to share with others? Are we who believe in Jesus as the Messiah – the One Who came to rescue the world – being spokespeople for the ways He went about loving and rescuing it? Do we sound like Jesus? Does His word drip from our mouths, our very words embodying His Spirit, love, and redemption?
If not, why not? Where do we need to start in our own hearts? What about the soul of our nation? Just as we as individuals are resistant to a culture of shame, blame, and scapegoating, as a nation we cannot thrive in such a manner. Whenever God’s Word is used to promote hatred, His Spirit is not leading. When we are at one anothers’ throats rather than washing each others’ feet, we need to step back and ask ourselves where we need to go from here.
There is one other group represented in our verses for today: the musicians (shir – singers, song leaders). You may remember learning about this group from the first time around. King David was the one to set apart this family and their descendants:
“David…set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals…all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD…” 1 Chronicles 25:1, 7b
This family line took the charge seriously and, in fact, eleven psalms are included in our Bible labeled, “A psalm of Asaph.” (Psalm 50 and 73-83.)
The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
Psalm 50:1-2
And my personal favorite:
“Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:23-26
The name Asaph means “gatherer” from asaph, meaning “all together” and “victim,” “assemble” and “reaper.” Both “gather in” and “destroy.”
Don’t you find those synonyms interesting and almost at odds with one another? Victim, reaper, and destroy have such an ominous tone. I suppose whatever it is we are gathering will focus the direction of our outcome. Are we passive either in ourselves or in the defense of genuine victims? Are we sowing darkness or deceit, greed or jealousy? Being a reaper in such a situation will not end pretty. It simply cannot with a loving Creator and good, good Father at the helm. How about gathering destruction? How will that turn out in our lives?
What about all together, assemble, and gather in? Ah, yes, darkness flees and light breaks forth with such words. Drawing those from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets is God’s glorious mission in His Body in our day. From His generous provision and our soul satisfaction, we join Him with open arms to those who seek to know Him. We have the honor of being His spokespeople to a weary, watching world. Truth can drop from our pleasant words like honey. Our joy gently interrupting discontent with conversations seasoned with salt.
And when it doesn’t, our lament and sorrow can gather in those wounded and aching to know of a compassionate Creator, defender of orphans and widows, and righteous Judge. One Who chases down a lost coin and throws a party, heals the sick on the Sabbath, and runs to meet the son who squandered it all. What a Savior, in good times and bad.
He is Our Place of Bread. Gather in.