“…Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places.”
Nehemiah 8:7 (ESV)
Last time we examined the names of the first several Levites helping our crowd understand God’s Word, remembering our splendor, authority comes from Yah. Today we see the next six helpers and exactly how they served the people.
The first listed today is Maaseiah whose name means “work of Yah.” This comes from the word maaseh – accomplishment, occupation, vocation, workmanship, art, task, sculptured. I appreciate how this Hebrew word for work is different from melekah meaning a business, cattle, labor, project. While they have overlapping synonyms, the latter implies doing while the former paints a picture of being.
When focused on being in the presence of God, the majority of us are still doing many things. Action continues but it flows from being connected to the Source. And what is produced is a lifestyle, an art, a work of Yah.
Our next Levite is Kelita whose name comes from qalat – to be stunted, to maim, lacking in his parts. Its only use is in Leviticus 22:22-25 when talking about a less-than-perfect sacrifice for a freewill offering:
“Don’t try giving God an animal that is blind, crippled, mutilated, an animal with running sores, a rash, or mange. Don’t place any of these on the Altar as a gift to God. You may, though, offer an ox or sheep that is deformed or stunted as a Freewill-Offering, but it is not acceptable in fulfilling a vow. Don’t offer to God an animal with bruised, crushed, torn, or cut-off testicles. Don’t do this in your own land but don’t accept them from foreigners and present them as food for your God either. Because of deformities and defects they will not be acceptable.” (MSG)
Did you notice the phrase “food for your God?” Obviously God does not require sustenance the way we creatures do, but the act of offering sacrifices for the Israelites was also described as giving “a pleasing aroma” to a God with no nose. The actual animal meat offered on the altar was to be the priests’ share, Aaron and his descendants after him. (see Leviticus 2:10, 5:12, 6:17-18, 7:6, 7:31-32)
But although Yahweh did not use a nose or mouth for consuming sacrifices, ultimately they were to be unto Him. And the repeated command in their instructions ended with, “I am the LORD.” Therefore, they must be acceptable.
How grateful are you the only Acceptable Sacrifice, the Lamb of God without blemish or defect, not only came as the God Man with a nose and mouth and heart that breaks, but took our place so we, stunted and lacking and imperfect folk can not only be accepted by a holy God, but turned into a work of art?
Our next Levite is Azariah whose name means “Yah has helped.” It comes from azar – help, further, supporting, protect, restrains, granted, helper. I’m so grateful Yah’s ultimate purpose is not to further our particular agenda or grant whatever we wish. No, when using such words in relation to a Holy God, we can know perfect motives are behind the helping. He supports and protects us as we surrender our will to His in this harsh world. He grants and supports the ways we are walking according to His Word. He helps and furthers works He begins in and through us for His fame. And He restrains His holy wrath on the kingdom of darkness until it is time. “Yah has helped” can indicate acts accomplished that can only be explained by His involvement. Especially changed hearts.
Jozabad is our next listed Levite whose name means “The LORD has bestowed” or “Jehovah-endowed,” from zabad – to bestow upon, endow with, to confer, endure. Our Heavenly Father is so good at being one. He doesn’t give us stones when what we need is bread. Nor does He say Yes to what would destroy us.
But He does confer on us a kingdom. One that is dominated by selfless love, seeks the bottom, loves even enemies, and dies in order to live. We can know such a kingdom will endure for eternity and whatever we are swept up in now that smells like these things has been bestowed by a good God and matters forever.
Our next Levite is Hanan whose name means “gracious, favor” from chanan – to show favor, be gracious, bend or stoop in kindness, fair, merciful. Have you ever been anyone’s favorite? Perhaps when it was the last thing you deserved? When others are gracious, or stoop in their kindness to love us, we’re getting the sweetest glimpse of a Love so humble and gracious it would make us weep nonstop if we saw it now in all its kindness. New mercies, no strings.
Pelaiah is our final Levite listed. His name means “Yah has distinguished” from pala – to be surpassing, extraordinary, deal marvelously, miracles, monstrous, show your power, wonderful acts, wondrous works, wondrously marvelous. Believers, this is our birthright into this Kingdom. He has set us apart, sanctified us, in this beautiful and harsh world by the Truth living inside us. Because of that – because of His empowering presence we allow to take over more and more of us – we can deal marvelously in the ordinary. He makes it extraordinary, full of miracles visible and invisible to us now. We allow Him to show up as monstrous, give Him a platform to show His power.
“The Levites helped the people (am – folk) to understand (bin – discern, act wisely, carefully consider…) the Law (torah – direction, instruction, teaching) and the people stood in their place (amad – take one’s stand, abide, endure, station, withstand).
I wonder how the Levites felt in this moment of time. After doing what is likely menial tasks historically and in the newly-built temple of Jerusalem, they were now on. Center stage, it was time to take what they knew of both Hebrew (to a Babylon-raised generation) and Torah (to a formerly-exiled audience) and help the people understand (see source).
The Hebrew word for understand here is bin: “to discern, act wisely, carefully consider, explain, gaze, gain understanding, intelligent, interpret, investigate, observe, perceive, show regard, skillful, teacher, turn your attention, to distinguish, to think.”
Yes, please. Let’s all get on board with such prudence of mind. With social media hot takes, a culture of outrage, and enflamed amygdalas abounding, this feels like a sane way forward. That we would all take the time to gaze at situations, gain understanding, and simply think in our focus-fractured days seems a significant improvement. And when we turn such attention, interpreting, and regard to the Holy Scriptures? Nothing but goodness can help but emerge.
As we open His Word and let it open us, a beautiful thing happens: we are able to take our stand (amad – take one’s stand, abide, endure, station, withstand). Regular folk, digging into the banquet of the Word, filling up on precious Truth, enables us to withstand the winds blowing here and there. To abide in love when we experience hate. To endure scorn and slander and a world that can look so unlike its original blueprint.
Let’s trust it together, friends. That believers all over the world, leaning into their specific struggles and suffering, are abiding and taking their stand on the only Holy Law and its Author. Then lean into our stations.