“[The document was ratified and sealed with…the leaders of the people:]
..Malluk, Harim and Baanah.”
Nehemiah 10:27
Last time we focused on several leaders’ names, including one which pointed us to clouds – the invisible made visible. Today we see the final three names of leaders who signed our covenant.
First we have Malluk, whose name we have seen in Nehemiah 10:4. It comes from melek – king, royal and malak – become queen, reign, ascend to throne, induct into royalty, take counsel, consult.
I’m particularly in tune with the take counsel part of this definition, as our church is in Proverbs for the year 2020.
“In the abundance of counselors there is victory.”
And I’m considering the difference between yes men and wise counsel. Seems like the latter would be vital for someone whose job it is to lead others.
While our country does not have a king or queen, we can learn much from studying the kings of Israel. In particular, how power can lead to corruption and those in positions of influence will stand before God and answer to how we stewarded such.
But mostly how, based on the meanings of our next two names, the primary goal of reigning is that those under our reign would flourish. Not just those who can bring much to the table, but, in particular, those who cannot. To see a platform as an opportunity to pass the microphone to voices needing elevated and making decisions which benefit the good of all.
In God’s kingdom, to lead is to wash feet, and to ascend to a throne is to emulate the One Who left such heights to serve.
Next is Harim (Charim) whose name means “consecrated.” It comes from charam – cursed, ban, devote, exterminate, utterly destroy, forfeit, have a flat nose, snub-nosed, utterly slay, seclude by a ban, to devote to religious uses (especially destruction). We have seen this name in Nehemiah 3:11, 7:35, 7:42, and 10:5, as a priest signing the covenant.
Of course we know from world history that reigning over others more often leads to an abuse of power. What kills me is the “devote to religious uses…especially destruction.” I can’t think of something more devastating to describe one’s faith practices.
In what ways do we see religion devoting others to destruction in our day? How do we wield our differences in faith – or simply doctrine of the same faith – to exterminate others? To ban from our tribes or slay with our rhetoric?
May the name and its roots only ever describe those who follow Jesus as devoted, consecrated, set apart for Him and His Way in our tenure here. And if we are cursed may we bless. If we’re persecuted or banned, let us endure it. If we are hard pressed or struck down, may our testimonies be we were not destroyed.
And our final leader listed is Baanah as seen in Nehemiah 7:7. This name is a derivative of anah – to be bowed down, afflicted, abase self, defile, browbeat, chasten self, force, humble self, submit self, weaken.
Yeesh, so many things which can point to both positive intentions and not-so-much. If you have ever bowed low, humbled or weakened yourself for the sake of another – ultimately for the work of our God – you know there is nothing more powerful. Genuine submission – when the heart is trusting in the motives of the Ultimate Authority, not folding arms and waiting for everything to fall apart – puts us smack in the current of Yahweh’s rushing tide. In a front row seat at that.
But if we move to defilement, browbeating, and force, my friends, we have neglected the heart behind the Word. And we’ve ignored the imago Dei in others and possibly ourselves. If we chasten or abase ourselves out of a twisted idea of submission, we are not honoring His image in our own being. And if we allow others to do it, we are cooperating with abuse.
The way God is bringing to light such defilement in the Church and the world at large points to another opportunity for an upfront seat in His movement. For Justice will roll, what is whispered in private will be shouted from the rooftops, and those without worldly power have a Redeemer Who is strong.