June 23, 2023

Nehemiah 12:27-43 (HCSB)
Dedication of the Wall 
27 At the dedication of the wall  of Jerusalem, they sent for the Levites wherever they lived and brought them to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.  28 The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,  29 from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for they had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall. 31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large processions that gave thanks. One went to the right on the wall, toward the Dung Gate.  32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 and some of the priests’ sons with trumpets, and Zechariah son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph followed 36 as well as his relatives—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God.  Ezra the scribe  went in front of them. 37 At the Fountain Gate  they climbed the steps of the city of David  on the ascent of the wall and went above the house of David to the Water Gate  on the east. 38 The second thanksgiving procession went to the left, and I followed it with half the people along the top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens  to the Broad Wall,  39 above the Gate of Ephraim,  and by the Old Gate,  the Fish Gate,  the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate.  They stopped at the Gate of the Guard.  40 The two thanksgiving processions stood in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials accompanying me, 41 as well as the priests: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. Then the singers sang, with Jezrahiah as the leader. 43 On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy.  The women and children also celebrated, and Jerusalem’s rejoicing was heard far away.

Patrick Raley
Time to celebrate. Remember the analogy a few days ago about the parade for champions? Well, now it’s time for Jerusalem to host a celebration. While this is certainly a happy story to read as the people have come a long way from their days in captivity, it’s important to remember the celebration is for the Lord - not the people. The reading this week is a wonderful story of how when we follow God’s plan for our lives (reading his Word, worship, humbling ourselves and repenting of sin, committing our lives to Him, and living out that covenant in our daily life), He will fill us with so much joy it will be seen and heard by those around us. Take some time today and tell God how thankful you are for His grace and mercy, and celebrate all He has done.