2The people commended all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
In order to provide for the protection of Jerusalem, people had to volunteer to move from their home towns and relocate in Jerusalem. This sounds like what our military do. They volunteer to move to a different location and live there to protect us from our enemies. Those who are not part of the military have no idea the toll this moving takes on the families and soldiers. Imagine have to pull up roots, switching schools, churches, stores, favorite restaurants, shopping centers, and friends, and moving across the country or around the world every two years! And very few places in the Army are the ideal places to live. Most Army posts are in the middle of nowhere. Most have a limited civilian population to support the military communities adequately. This is what the Israelites had to face as they returned from exile. Jerusalem had been destroyed and now they had to rebuild. Someone had to do it, and some people volunteered to do the task. Could you imagine volunteering to go to Germany or to Hiroshima after the Second World War? These people volunteered for this difficult duty. When was the last time you volunteered for a difficult and unpleasant duty? When was the last time you said, let me change that really stinky diaper? Or let me wash the dishes. Or let me go away to a combat zone for a year in order to keep you safe? It is easy to wave a flag and say “Thanks” to a soldier in uniform in the airport. But when was the last time you made real sacrifice for someone else?
The Arnold Journey 