QT 08/01/2025 Wed. Nehemiah 7. Hardware, software, middle-ware. 硬件、软件、中间件。
QT 08/01/2025 Wed. Nehemiah 7. Hardware, software, middle-ware.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/neh7
Some of you might have taken the keys to your new BTO flat before and renovations had been done. You give thanks for having come thus far in setting up a home, overcoming scheduling and financial challenges, and the challenges associated with decision making. But it is not the end of it, nor the beginning of the end. It is just the end of the beginning. What's next?
Nehemiah and contemporaries were successful in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall (Nehemiah 1–6). Even though they faced formidable opponents from outside (Nehemiah 2, 4, 6) and from within (Nehemiah 7), they now move to the next phase of experiencing God's blessings for these returnees coming home from Babylon: populating Jerusalem and Temple with a selection of qualified and quality people.
The people list of Ezra 2:1–70 and Nehemiah 7:6–73a are virtually the same. With Ezra-Nehemiah being one continuous narrative book in the Hebrew Old Testament Scripture, this give rise to the following interpretation:
(1) The people lists form a bracket around the brick and mortar construction efforts. Therefore, readers today are reminded that while physical construction is important (e.g. newly built BTO flats), the beginning (Ezra 2:1–70) and end of it all (Nehemiah 7:6–73a) involved God's people and for the benefit of God's people.
(2) Temple service and re-population of the rebuilt Jerusalem city must be chosen from those who qualify. For example, those who "could not prove their fathers' houses nor their descent" (7:61) were excluded from priesthood (7:64).
Lesson: We understand that appointed positions are not for everyone. During Nehemiah's time, only those with the proper heritage (priests), attitude and aptitudes, and those who are properly trained should attempt take on these functions. In the same way, while all believers should follow Christ and grow in leadership, there are certain levels of church leadership and positions that aren’t for everyone—only those fully trained and tested should be appointed.
REFLECTION: Are we able to appreciate the need of hardware (buildings and materials), software (music, speeches, processes) and middle-ware (people created in God's image via His invisible breadth and physical dust taken from the ground) as we attempt to rebuild the home that God envisioned?
Nehemiah 7:70 Now some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests’ garments and 500 minas of silver. (ESV)
In some army doctrine, the commanders lead from the back of the troops. Other doctrines dictate that they lead from the front. In Nehemiah 7:66–73, we see the heads of household and governors lead from the front by giving to the work of God by example. The end result of their leadership was commendable: all the people "lived in their towns", "were in their towns" (7:73).
In their history, Joshua divided the land and alloted them to the tribes (see book of Joshua). Now once again, we see the harmony relationship between people and land, a sign of God's blessing on them.
REFLECTION: How are you leading your children/followers by example? Do you wish that they be like you, their example?
QT 08/01/2025 星期三. 尼希米 7. 硬件、软件、中间件。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/neh/7
你们中的一些人可能拿过了新 BTO 组屋的钥匙，装修工作也已完成。你们要感谢自己在安家、克服时间安排和财务挑战以及与决策相关的挑战方面所取得的成就。但这并不是结束，也不是结束的开始。这只是开始的结束。下一步是什么？
尼希米和同时代的人成功地重建了耶路撒冷的城墙（尼希米记 1-6）。尽管他们面临着来自外部（尼希米记 2、4、6 章）和内部（尼希米记 7 章）的强大对手，但他们现在进入了下一个阶段，即体验神对这些从巴比伦回家的回归者的祝福：挑选合格的、高素质的人来填充耶路撒冷和圣殿。
《以斯拉记》2：1-70 和《尼希米记》7：6-73a 的人员名单几乎相同。《以斯拉记-尼希米记》是希伯来旧约圣经中的一本书卷，这就产生了以下解释：
(1) 人们的名单构成了砖瓦建筑工作的括号。因此，今天的读者会被提醒，虽然实体建筑很重要（如新建的 BTO 单位），但这一切的开始（以斯拉记 2：1-70）和结束（尼希米记 7：6-73a）都涉及上帝的子民，都是为了上帝子民的利益。
(2）圣殿事奉和重建耶路撒冷城的人口必须从符合条件的人中挑选。例如，那些 “不能指明他们的宗族谱系是以色列人不是”（7:61）的人被排除在祭司之外（7:64）。
学习：我们知道，任命的职位并不适合每一个人。在尼希米时代，只有那些拥有适当的家谱（祭司）、态度和能力，并经过适当培训的人才能尝试担任这些职务。同样，虽然所有信徒都应该跟随基督并在带领他人的技巧中成长，但教会中的某些领导层次和职位也不是人人都能担任的--只有那些经过充分培训和考验过的人才能被任命。
反思：当我们试图重建神所设想的家园时，我们是否能够体会到 (1) 硬件（建筑物和材料）、(2) 软件（音乐、演讲、程序）和 (3) "中间件"（按神的形像及尘土所造的人）的必要性？
《尼希米记》7:70 有族长为工作而输、方伯输库、金币一千、盂五十、祭司之衣五百三十。
在一些军队理论中，指挥官从部队的后方带兵。另一些学说则要求他们从正面领导。在《尼希米记》7：66-73 中，我们看到户主和治理者以身作则，为神的工作奉献，从正面进行领导。他们领导的最终结果值得称赞：所有的人都 “各居其邑”（7：73）。
在他们的历史中，约书亚划分了土地，并将其分配给各支派（见《约书亚记》）。现在，我们再次看到了人与土地之间的和谐关系，这是上帝祝福他们的标志。
反思：你是如何以身作则引领你的孩子或跟随者的？你希望他们像你一样以你为榜样吗？
