Ezra 2:43-54. A listing of the temple servants as the people are returning to Jerusalem after the exile and rebuilding the temple. These men are not listed by their own names, but by the names of their fathers ("the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha," etc.).

When I got this reading today I thought "Oh no, another list of names!" and I thought about skipping it. But my whole reason for doing this is to trust God to show me and teach me what he wants me to see and learn. So I read and I started writing. What I noticed right away is that the men are not named, only their father's names are given. Since the Babylonian exile lasted 70 years, their fathers must have been original inhabitants of Jerusalem who were taken into captivity. The importance of place, and genealogy, and history is reinforced to me by this reading then.

The temple servants have been in exile - they were not born in Jerusalem - they are not yet part of salvation history, but their fathers were. So the fathers' names are used, since this ties these men to the place. Jerusalem knows the fathers' names, they have been here before. Now their sons are here and ready and willing to do service. Their role in salvation history will begin now and Jerusalem will get to know these men. Then their names will become known, and spoken, and handed down.

The naming by fathers' names is a lovely reminder that God keeps his promises and always brings his children home.