“[The document was sealed with…the following priests:]
Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah.
These were the priests.”
Nehemiah 10:8
Last time we saw how three priests’ names can remind us Yah is our Abba, and blessing and protection come from His right hand. Today we get to explore the final three priests.
First up is Maazyah whose name most likely comes from Yah and uz – to take or seek refuge, gather self, flee for safety, retire – in the sense of protection. How often is this you? Do you ever retire in order to protect yourself? Or head to the bathroom to gather your emotions before resuming time with others?
Yeah, me too. Don’t you then love that this name implies Yahweh being the One to gather us, offer refuge, be our safety net? He never makes me feel I have to do it on my own or “suck it up” when I bring my fears to Him. And His protection is always extended to His children – even when walking through fire.
The second priest today is Bilgai whose name comes from balag – to gleam, smile, cheerful, comfort, recover strength, desist from grief.
Have you ever known a season of deep grief? One in which it seems His protection is taken away and your worst fears have come true? When loss collides into loss and your mind intuitively looks for something to cling to?
These names seem to bleed into one another. We’re invited to let Him gather us and offer refuge in order to be comforted. Even when God was blasting the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah, it reaches the glorious chapter 40 beginning with,
“Comfort, comfort my people,”
says your God.
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem…”
As we receive His comfort, joy comes in the morning. He recovers our strength and our smile returns, this time with a lesson in the kind of joy which does not depend on circumstance. The joy of knowing Who God is in the midst of pain and grief.
Our final name in today’s verse is Shemayah which means “Yah hears” or “Yah has heard.” It is from Yah and shama – to listen with intent to obey, to pay heed, hear with attention; to cause to, to hear with an intent to cause action.
“Because He bends down to listen I will pray as long as I have breath!” Psalm 116:2
“I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.”
Yes, our God hears our cries and intends to act. His unfailing love really won’t fail in our seasons of grief or pain. He only allows the evil of this world or the consequences of sin to do their job of refinement or growth in His children. Then He moves on our behalf that we may desist from grief.
Praise the One Who paid our debt and raised our lives up from the dead!