Nethinims- Used one Time In The Whole Bible Who Were They, What It Means to The Christian

NOTE: I added more to this message tonight so read the extra parts I added.

Ezr 7:7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

Hawker;

We read of the Nethinims in 1Ch_9:2 and in Ezr_2:43; Ezr_2:58 etc. and Neh_3:26, etc. but no where else in Scripture. Perhaps the name is derived from Nathan, gift; and it is probable, that as we are told, (Ezr_8:20) David had appointed them for service to the Lecvites, who were of the lower order of those who ministered in the temple. But we know nothing more concerning them. Many will be found at the last day, it is to be hoped, among those who, when upon earth, were but "as hewers of wood, and drawers of water, to the sanctuary," whom Jesus will own for his Nethinims, the gift of the Father to the Son, who lived and died unnoticed, and, for the most part, unknown to men, like some sweet fragrant flower of the mountain, but in everlasting remembrance in the sight of God.

Ezra 7:6-10

We ought to pause over this account, short as it is, of Ezra’s character.

A scribe was one conversant with the Scriptures; and as Ezra was a ready scribe, and had dedicated himself particularly to this service, no doubt the thing was of the Lord. For as the Holy Ghost hath caused his writings to be so faithfully preserved and handed down to us, and as from their great importance in this part of the church’s history they form so interesting a portion of God’s sacred word, we cannot be at a loss to discover the work of the blessed Spirit accompanying all his labours with success.

Reader! think if Ezra was so earnest in the study of the books of the scripture which were extant in his day, and in which Jesus was so little known, compared to our vast privileges in this gospel day in which we live; how ought we to be alive in searching those precious scriptures, where Jesus forms the sum and substance of every book and chapter!

Dear Lord! grant me grace to be unceasingly enquiring after thee in the word of thy truth, that I may be made wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus!

As Hawker said;

Concerning the Nethinims,

We know nothing more concerning them. Many will be found at the last day, it is to be hoped, among those who, when upon earth.

These would be the unknown ones, the men under the stage, the people with the NT gift of Helps.

1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

It is fitting as the gift of helps also is only spoken of one time in the NT as the Nethinims is mentioned only once.

Note: Like it or not, and many will not agree, today we have no real NT Apostles, the qualification for an Apostle, they had to be on earth and listened to, hear Jesus, aside from Paul, but he was around and heard Jesus and he was the true 12th Apostle that replaced Judas. 
Peter on his own decided to have a board meeting , Jesus said terry, not have a board meeting, and they caste lots, and chose Matthias  we never hear of that name again, but we do Paul.

The qualifications for a true Apostle is clear in the bible;

 Act 1:21  Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

Act 1:22  Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

Act 1:26  And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.  

What Jesus told them to do;

 Act 1:4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 

Nothing about choosing an Apostle, it s the way of Peters character , bold, and at times a tad half hearted. They were praying and next Peter stood up and did the following;

 Act 1:15  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

Act 1:16  Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus

Act 1:20  For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

 See how Peter tried to justify his haste by using the bible itself, this can be done very easy if we are not careful, I mean it was a bible truth, but Jesus never said to do this. This is off topic, but I had to add this. I have many students from Africa that call themselves Apostles, most of these men are not meaning they are NT Apostles, the NT Apostle was also known my extraordinary gifts and miracles. I have come to learn in many Churches in Africa , esp the Apostolic denominations, they call people Apostles, this is in the doctrine, not so much a NT Apostle, but ones who plant Churches, over see them and such.

I have seen some even in America that call themselves an Apostle, self ordained Apostles.

In American Church History the African Americans and some white Churches called church planters and over seers Apostles, in the African American Churches it has always been that way, but they do not even think they are NT Apostles, but those that do the work OF an Apostle, this is just semantics and not a creed that they are NT Apostles. 

 The Manifest Sons of God, now they think they are Super Apostles and we must have them to teach us and explain to us the word, this is their apostate doctrine , started by Peter C Wagner, lets just say this camp has no NT Nethinims and their apostasy is a clear sign of this. They have so called Female Apostles that is blasphemy in the highest order.

Strive to be a NT  Nethinim and not a super Apostle. If we saw more servitude and less people wanting to be served, we would have a better , closer, true NT Church.

One way to cultivate this is by a great two book's called, 'Improving your Serve" and 'Hand me another brick' by Chuck Swindoll, both books were required reading for any one in my ministries all these years.

O' Beloved, we are in days when so many are so absorbed with self, so in need of being seen, heard, have followers, take up your cross, follow Jesus, deny yourself and death to the flesh daily this helps keep biblical balance, your name may never be known on earth, but it will be, and is, well known in heaven, that matters much more than what people think of you on earth, just serve, be a NT  Nethinims

Moving on;

Barnes:

Helps - (ἀντιλήμψεις antilēmpseis). This word occurs no where else in the New Testament.

It is derived from ἀντιλαμβάνω antilambanō, and denotes properly, “aid, assistance, help;” and then those who render aid, assistance, or help; helpers. Who they were is not known. ( Note again who they were is unknown , just like the Nethinims.

They might have been those to whom was entrusted the care of the poor, and the sick, and strangers, widows, and orphans, etc.; that is, those who performed the office of deacons. Or they may have been those who attended on the apostles to aid them in their work, such as Paul refers to in Rom_16:3. “Greet Priscilla, and Aquilla, my “helpers” in Christ Jesus;” and in 1Co_12:9,” Salute Urbane our helper in Christ;” see note on Rom_16:3. It is not possible, perhaps, to determine the precise meaning of the word, or the nature of the office which they discharged; but the word means, in general, those who in any way aided or rendered assistance in the church, and may refer to the temporal affairs of the church, to the care of the poor, the distribution of charity and alms, or to the instruction of the ignorant, or to aid rendered directly to the apostles.

There is no evidence that it refers to a distinct and “permanent” office in the church; but may refer to aid rendered by any class in any way. Probably many persons were profitably and usefully employed in various ways as aids in promoting the temporal or spiritual welfare of the church.

Are you one with the gift of helps, if so you are a NT Nethinim, or like them. I was in study on this and found it extraordinary the OT and NT has both used one time, and we know nothing about them.

Many want to be center stage, in front of people, seen and loved by people, beloved that is not NT theology.

Each persons call is different, each one, is for each person.( Aside from an Apostle) These lesser known ones may well have more crowns than the well known preachers, well known writers and TV personalities.

Maybe if more sought after the high and unique call of being a N.T. Nethinim, the bride of Christ would be making more of an impact on the world today.

Think on this