Celebration!!

[31] Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate: ... [35] And certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph: [36] And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. [37] And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward. [38] And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall; [39] And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate. [40] So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me: … [43] Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. [44] And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. [45] And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. [46] For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. [47] And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron. Nehemaih 12:31-47

Nehemiah takes the princes of Judah and divides them into two big groups. The first group walks south while the second group walks north. The groups consisted of many people marching and playing instruments. People came from all over to join in the celebration. There were people from within the walls as well as people who built homes outside the walls participating in the great and wonderful dedication.

Whole families took part in the festivity. Sacrifices were made; singing with accompanying musical instruments filled the air with wonderful sounds and melodies to the Lord. The people were so happy praising and rejoicing that it could be heard far away.

Do we praise and rejoice in the Lord for all His blessings to us? As the song writer wrote, “count your blessings name them one by one.”

Here are some praise and joy verses to get you started:

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psalm 5:11

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. Psalm 32:11

I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. Psalm 35:18

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:3

[1] Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. [2] Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. [3] Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. [4] Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. [5] Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. [6] Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 150

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Preparations for the Dedication

[27] And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. [28] And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi; [29] Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem. [30] And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. Nehemiah 12:27-30

The dedication of the wall begins. Measures were taken by the priests for the dedication; first all the Levites were gathered together, next came the gathering of all the singers, songs and instruments. The third preparation was to purify the priests, Levites, people and the gates and walls.

Everything needed to be cleansed. The cleansing process consisted of sacrifices as well as physical washings. Everything needed to be ready for the great dedication. The wall had been broken down and destroyed for years, now was the joy of getting everything ready for a great celebration.

The purification that is needed today is the cleansing of the soul by the blood of Jesus. The pictures in the Old Testament of cleansing lead into the pictures of the New Testament. In the Old Testament someone needed to die for the sins of the people yearly. In God’s perfect plan He sent His only begotten Son to die for the people once. The sacrifice is finished and complete. Have you been cleansed by the blood of Jesus?

Take a moment to do some “soul searching”. Have you accepted the sacrifice of Jesus? Praise God if the answer is yes. Maybe the answer was I’m not sure or no? Trust Jesus today as your savior and you will be able to answer with an astounding YES.

[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17

Please send me an email/comment if the Lord has touched your heart and you prayed for His Salvation.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Working together

[1] Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,… [26] These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.
Nehemiah 12:1-26

This section starts off with a listing of the priests and Levities. Woven throughout the list is mention of different jobs/tasks which were performed by the priests or Levites.

~ v 8 “over the thanksgiving” – the directing and conducting of the songs in the temple especially the thanksgiving songs

~ v 9 “over the watches” - watched over the temple

~ v 24 “to praise and give thanks” - (I Chronicles 16:4; 23:30)

~ v 25 “porters keeping the ward at the thresholds” door keepers

Each priest/Levite had a job to do. This reminds me of the body of Christ, each one in the body has a job. We cannot all be the head any more than all being the hand. Like a well oiled machine, each part needs to work together.

I Corinthians twelve provide us with a word picture of the body, each part doing its job.

[14] For the body is not one member, but many. [15] If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? [16] And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? [17] If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? [18] But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. [19] And if they were all one member, where were the body? [20] But now are they many members, yet but one body. [21] And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. [22] Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: [23] And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. [24] For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: [25] That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. [26] And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. [27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. I Corinthians 12:14-27

What is your responsibility in the body? Are you doing the job God wants you to do? Don’t compare yourself to others. Pray and ask God want He wants you to do. I praise God for making me who I am.

There was a time (and it still creeps in from time to time) I always worried about not being like this one or that one. Then God spoke to me from Joshua 23:11, “take good heed unto yourself that you love the Lord your God.” When I have my eyes on God and busy doing what God wants me to do, I have no time to look around at others.

Whatever the Lord is speaking to you about, do it! Do the best job you can with what you have.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1Corinthians 10:31

Have a blessed day,
Donna