The two verses that open chapter 11 may perhaps surprise us. We might have thought that, Jerusalem now being a walled city, there would have been strong competition among the people for the privilege of dwelling in it, but evidently it was not so. On the contrary, the country towns of Judah were more attractive, and therefore lots were cast, and one in ten of the people, on whom the lot fell, had to dwell in the city, and if any offered themselves willingly to dwell there, the people blessed them, as though they made a sacrifice in so doing. The rest of the chapter puts on record the names of those who did dwell there, and also gives some details of their positions and the services they rendered. Their names may mean little to us, but may be important in the coming day of Israel’s restoration and blessing.
What we may learn from it is surely this, that any sacrifice made or service rendered for God’s work and interests is not forgotten but rather recorded before Him. The names of those who did not dwell in Jerusalem, but had more pleasure in the other places, are forgotten. Malachi tells us that in his day “a book of remembrance was written” before the Lord “for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.” That book was not peculiar to Malachi’s day. It existed in Nehemiah’s day, and exists in our day too. Let us not forget that!
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