“From the Levites:
Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni…”
Nehemiah 11:15
Last time we saw the final descendants from our associate to the priests, Amashai, in order to remind ourselves what we have to offer is God. Today we dive into the Levites who helped populate and serve in Jerusalem.
First up is Shemiah which mean “Yah hears” from Yah and shama – to hear, listen with intent to obey. Because I haven’t been obedient with sugar this week, I’m not excited about this one today. But I want to listen closely and hear what He’s saying to me, even when I mess up. And I’m glad that Yah is the One Who hears in this name. He listens, and in perfect obedience, follows through. That I, that we, might do the same with His help.
Shemiah’s father is Hasshub, which comes from chashab – intelligent, to think, account, calculate, consider, determine, devise, esteem, intend, meant, mindful, planned, plot, regard, scheme, skillful, think, cunning, fabricate, contrive in malicious sense. Yeesh, some strong words in there. While intelligence, consideration, intention, and planning are good, calculating, plotting, scheming, and maliciously cunning should never define children of God.
I’ve thought several times in the past few months what it means to practically live out being shrewd as snakes, innocent as doves. It seems this definition touches upon some of the paradox, this seeming contradiction. I happened upon an old notebook while sorting through school stuff this week. I was struck by the phrasing David used in the Psalms I had listed:
Do not let me be put to shame
For I take refuge in You…
Free me from the trap that is set for me
For you are my refuge…
You are my hiding place…
For Your Name’s Sake, preserve my life;
In Your righteousness, bring me out of trouble…
I cry to You, seek Your help, need Your protection…yet I will take refuge, I will hide, I will seek to be brought out of trouble and freed from a trap. I do, and yet I rely on You to do. Shrewd in the verse above from Matthew implies prudence and wisdom, understanding and intention, to observe and set your mind. The Greek root is from phren, the root of the English word diaphragm. It means midriff, heart, mind…”the parts around the heart…visceral opinion; what a person ‘really has in mind;’ inner outlook…that regulates outward behavior.”
So, perhaps this is our answer to the difference in the more negative definitions of chashab with its positive. What is overflowing in our heart will come out in our lives. If we are storing up goodness, joy, faithfulness, self-control on the inside, prudence, wisdom, intention, and consideration will pour forth. If, however, we are calculating, scheming, and maliciously plotting against others, what gushes from our lives will poison our relationships with God and people.
Hasshub’s father is Azrikam whose name means “My Help has Risen” from ezer (helper) and qum (to arise, stand up, accomplish, brighter, build, confirm, endure, establish, fulfill, grown, prepared, raised, restore, rouse, strengthen, surely take stand, abide.)
Ezer has recently been a more discussed term as we look at Genesis, naming Eve as Adam’s helper. While getting into controversy over women’s roles is not my intention, I can appreciate how we talked to a friend whose wife of decades is working through stroke rehab at a care facility. He’s scared and misses her and mused about it all putting life into perspective.
We all need help, don’t we? We need each other in our lives, healthy community on this often arduous journey. But only One Help will rise, prepare, eternally restore and strengthen us. He is Who accomplishes more than we can ask or imagine as we abide.
Azrikam’s father is Hashabiah which means “Yah has taken account” from Yah and chashab, the same mindful/cunning word from above. But don’t you love that when it’s Yah Who has taken account, there will not be any trace of deceit, maliciousness, or evil scheming involved? But He considers, regards, and is mindful of His children and the affairs of this world in a perfectly holy and just way.
The final descendant listed is Bunni which comes from banah – to surely build, rebuild, construct, fashion, fortify, have or obtain children, restore. Our second word of the day to mean build or restore, one which we’ve rightfully seen in a book about rebuilding a city, the wall, and its people.
Are you grateful we serve a God in the business of rebuilding and restoring? Life tears us down, and sometimes life requires we tear down: lies, strongholds, injustice. But God is ever a builder, fortifying His Church and fashioning disciples who know from where their Help comes.