“And from among the priests:
the descendants of
Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).”
Nehemiah 7:63
Last time we saw those who had returned from Jerusalem and Natophah, remembering He Himself is our Place of Bread. Today we see some descendants of priests listed. Let’s take a closer look together.
The first priest (kohen) is Hobiah (Chabayah) which means “Yah has hidden,” from chabah – to hide, withdraw, conceal.
There is a wonderful, God-given hidden in which we learn to rely on Yahweh, His strength and not our own. And there is a false hidden, a timidity in which we are not living in the Spirit of power, love, and self-control He has given us. Ladies, I’m looking at us. Can we who love God’s Word and desire to have a gentle, quiet spirit also lean into His Spirit of power? Can we boldly set boundaries and speak up without sacrificing respect for men or appropriate authority in our lives? We, too, are of those who do not shrink back, friends. Let us not throw away our confidence. May we stand firm, hidden in His righteousness, and bold in our love.
The second priest from whom the exiles were descended is Hakkoz, from qots meaning “thorns.” Ah, thorns. Such imagery in the Holy Scriptures. The ram hidden in the thicket, a substitute sacrifice for Abraham’s son, his only son, whom he loved. And the thorns our Savior wore when God’s perfect, unfailing love would not rescue His son, His only Son, Whom He loved from the ultimate sacrifice. And, of course, our Paul’s famous thorn in his flesh, teaching him to rely not on himself but the grace which is sufficient to do the impossible.
What thorn in your life drives you back, over and over, to His sufficiency? Let’s not fear it or avoid and run from it. It is a gift if we let God do His sovereign work through it. Our character matters more than comfort, and each time we experience sufficient grace it is a tender joy.
The final priest listed in today’s verses is Barzillai whose name means “man of iron” from barzel – iron, axe, chains. He got this name, interestingly, from his father-in-law. This priest had married Barzillai the Gileadite’s daughter and, thereafter, was called (qara – proclaim, become, summoned, famous, invited) by that name (shem – renown, repute, fame, defame).
Doesn’t this make you curious? Why would a man take his father-in-law’s name? Does it point to something more significant? Had they made some sort of an agreement? And is it just me, or does this name associated with chains and an axe sound unappealing?
Fortunately, whatever the situation, we do not have to worry about God’s heart toward women or His intentions for marriage to display an intimate covenant between Jesus and the Church. The way a man leaves his father and mother and becomes one flesh with his wife is the best earthly picture we have of how Jesus left His Home of glory, absolute perfection to win His Bride. To give it all so we could take His Name, the Name above every other, the One from which demons have to flee and at the sound of every knee will bow and tongue confess.
We are invited, summoned to become like the One Whose Name we bear. As His Spirit changes us, it becomes clear it is other-worldly: a cooperation with His work in our lives. Our growth makes Him famous – the only One Who is worthy and can handle such worship.
Indeed, in the most freeing way possible, Yah has hidden.