Nehemiah 11:1

Nehemiah 11:1 says, And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.   The people next cast lots to see which ten percent of each family of Israelites would live in Jerusalem while the rest would live in other cities.  Jerusalem was known as the Holy City of God, and we would think people would want to live there, but they didn’t.  The church today is made up of God’s people, and we would think that people, especially those who call themselves Christians, would want to be involved in it, but they often don’t. Matthew Henry says this may have been for a few reasons, the first being that they would be expected to live stricter lives under God’s guidance, the second being that there was less commerce going on there, and the third being that the rest of the world was often out to destroy Jerusalem.   I think these same reasons may apply to why people don’t want to be associated to closely with the church today.  Verse two adds, And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.  Not all the people had to be made to live in Jerusalem by lot.  Some volunteered to live there, and the people blessed them.  They may not have wanted to live there themselves, but they blessed those who did, maybe because it meant that they would not be required to live there.  If we call ourselves a Christian, we should want to be associated with the local body of believers and to be identified as such and not for the praise of people but for the glory of God.  Verse three continues, Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.  These were the ones who were to live in Jerusalem, the ten percent or tithe of the people we could say, starting with the chief of each province.   As Christians, wherever we live is a part of God’s kingdom and we should live as though we believe that.  The rest of the people lived throughout the country.  We have no Holy City to live in here in this world, but we should acknowledge that wherever we reside that God lives there with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit indwelling us as followers of Christ.