The Singers: The Children of Asaph - Nehemiah 7:44

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city.” Nehemiah included the children of many of the people of Israel in his census, and he added several of the men such as “the men of the other Nebo, the other Elam” and “the children of Harim, Jericho, Lod, Hadid, Ono and Senaah.” He also counted, “the priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three”, and “the children of Immer, Pashur and Harim” and “The Levites; the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and the children of Hodevah seventy and four”, and in chapter seven and verse forty-four of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about, “the Singers: the children of Asaph”, where we read,

The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight.

The verse reads, “The singers: the children of Asaph ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “The Singers” or “the ones making music with their voices” “the children” which means “the offspring and progeny” “of Asaph” or “belonging to Asaph whose name means gatherer”. Nehemiah added the makers of music with their voices which included the offspring of “Asaph” to his census of the people of Israel. 

The verse continues, “... an hundred forty and eight.” Nehemiah added the words, “an hundred” or “one hundred offspring plus” “forty and eight” which means “forty-eight more”. Nehemiah shared how one hundred and forty-eight of the progeny who descended from “Asaph” were included in his list of the people of Israel who returned to Jerusalem and Judah to the rebuilding of the barrier wall. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Nehemiah added “the singers” to his list of the people of Israel who came to Jerusalem after being held captive in Babylon, and they continued there to the reconstruction of the wall that surrounded Jerusalem. God's worship team for ministry in the temple was assembled, and all these things pointed to His salvation plan for mankind. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (See John 3:16), and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and use us in His Kingdom whether it be as a “singer” or other ministry He chooses. 

Next time Nehemiah shares about, “the porters: the children of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".