9/22- Credentials and Giving-n Neh 7:61-73

61 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:

62 the descendants ofDelaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda 642

63 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).

64 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor, therefore, ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there should be a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.

66 The whole company numbered 42,360, 67 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers. 68 There were 736 horses, 245 mules,69 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. 71 Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. 72 The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests.

73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.

Thoughts: Credentials are important to prove legitimacy.  The priests had a huge responsibility for worship, and their families got free food and shelter.  While they may have been legitimate priests, 42,000+ were excluded from this because of some doubts.  There was no rebellion about this, but it was an important decision.
     This also lists how much people gave to the work.  The governor gave 1%, the wealthy gave about half, and the regular people gave about half.  In our day professional fundraisers say that the top 20% will give 80% of the gifts in a capital campaign- and in this recession it could be closer to 90%.  What this means is that the wealthy didn't have a whole lot more than the regular people in Nehemiah's day, but it also means everyone was plugged into the project.  

    After the wall was completed, the people settled outside the wall.  They may still commute into Jerusalem to work (it probably was more sanitary for day to day living to live outside the gates).  But the wall was there in case of invading enemies and shelter for even people outside the gates.
   So what can we learn from this?  It is not wrong to have credentials for ministers- to make an effort that the best are doing the Lord's work.  We also can learn that leaders and the wealthy can give more than a per capita share to do the Lord's work, but it is important that everyone take part as much as possible.  It also is nice if people from outside the community take part and they should be allowed to do so.  

Prayer:  Lord, You make me legitimate more than any genealogy or education. Help me to have a heart to take part in the calling you put before me- whatever that may be- to build up your kingdom here.