Game Statistics

Of course, with all sport shown on TV you don’t just have the privilege of watching the games but you also have to listen to the commentators!

Nehemiah 7:4-73

Reference:  v.5b  I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return.  This is what I found written there… (NIV Bible)

Explore:  The Australian Open has just finished.  This is an international tennis tournament played in Melbourne.  I was fortunate enough to go for a day of the competition and watch courtside but most of my viewing was done at home on the television.  Of course, with all sport shown on TV you don’t just have the privilege of watching the games but you also have to listen to the commentators!  I was amazed at how the commentators were able to draw up all these random statistics to compare the current game with previous matches.  “This match has held more forehand winners than any other game in history”; “We haven’t seen this many volleys since the grand final match back in 1978”; “This player wins 73% of sets that go to a tie-breaker.”  Sometimes the previous records held information that was interesting and helpful, but sometimes it just seemed a little excessive.
Here we read that Nehemiah found the genealogical records of those who had already returned to Jerusalem.  While we look at this long passage and just see lists and lists of names, they actually held important information pertaining what role the new inhabitants could play.

Application:  In one sense, the whole Bible is a previous record for us to draw upon.  We can look back and see what God has done for His people and know that He loves and cares for us just the same.  It’s also good for us to look back at more recent history and see what God has done in our own lives.  It’s often only in retrospect that we see His movement and so it’s important for us to pause, every now and again, and see where God has had His hand in our own lives.  We may not need to make a record of it, we may not even want to journal it, but it’s good to make a note of it in our own minds and acknowledge where God has been at play for us.

Prayer:  Lord, the Bible is a great way for us to see that you do play an active role in people’s lives.  Thank you for showing so much interest in us.  Amen.

Where has God been active in your life lately?

Nehemiah