RECAP: Neh 10 - The nation made a binding agreement before God, in writing.
• Committing themselves, and the generations to come, to SUBMIT to God’s Word (obey Him), to SEPARATE themselves as God’s people (to be a good testimony), and to SUPPORT the Lord’s ministry in the Temple.
(1) We commit to God because commitment REFLECTS the character of God.
• God is faithful and true to us, even if we are unfaithful and disobedient.
(2) We commit because it helps us stay on the RIGHT track
• We want to “bind” ourselves to the truth of God’s Word. We want to bind ourselves to the obligations or responsibilities that are right, true and good.
(3) We commit because it helps us stay FOCUSED on God.
• Heb 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”
• When everything around you crumples, hang on to is Jesus. He alone remains steadfast; He is our refuge and strength.
Nehemiah 11-12 shows us how the people were ready to dedicate themselves to God.
I called it their OFFERINGS to God:
(1) their presence in the city; (2) the praise to God; and (3) the possessions for His house.
Chapter 11 – they need some to move in and stay in Jerusalem.
• 1Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. 2The people commended all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
3These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon's servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on his own property in the various towns, 4while other people from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem)…
They need to re-populate the city. They need to restart the ministry of the Temple of God. They need people.
• Some were drafted, others volunteered, but they were willing to come back.
• It would take some sacrifices, it would mean leaving their comfort zones, but they came. This was the place God needed them.
• So here we have a list of the people, a list of unpronounceable names – who are prepared to settle into Jerusalem, and near to the Temple where they served.
The Temple ministry itself requires the priests, Levites and temple workers.
• The priests officiated at the altar (822 men, v.12), and the Levites assisted them (284, v.18). We need gatekeepers, and the singers who minister in the Temple.
• God’s city and the house of God need people. So the people moved into the city.
(1) We see the people offering their PRESENCE in the city
They wanted to be back where God needed them. They are prepared to build up the community, to be the people of God.
• Jesus did the same when He came into this world, and “made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:14)
• He did what was necessary, He did God’s will, so that His plan can be fulfilled and we can be saved.
• It would meaning forgoing heaven (moving out of His comfort zone), taking on human flesh, and dwelling in a sin-filled world.
• It would take sacrifices but the rewards are significant and eternal.
Are you willing to be where God wants you to be?
• Warren Wiersbe: “Never under-estimate the importance of simply being physically present in the place where God wants you. You may not be asked to perform some dramatic ministry, but simply being there is a ministry. They men, women, and children who helped to populate the city of Jerusalem were serving God, their nation, and future generations by their step of faith.”
[p.144 in Be Determined, OT Commentary of Nehemiah.]
• Are we willing to move out of our comfort zone, to make some sacrifices, to adjust our normal routine, and do the will of God?
Be wiling to be where God wants you to be.
• We are called to build up this community of faith called the church, the family of God.
• All of us have a part to play in this. God is counting on us. Our presence is a blessing to the Body.
(2) We see the people offering their PRAISE to God
They had this DEDICATION service for the wall.
It is an acknowledgment that this is the work of God, not man; this city belongs to God.
• The wall is not a monument to the strength of Jerusalem, but to the faithfulness of God and the glory of His Name.
• 6:16 “…this work had been done with the help of our God.”
• Read Neh 12:27-31, 36b-40, 43. [See map].
• The possessions started probably from the Valley Gate on the West side.
Ezra led one group of singers down one direction, and Nehemiah led a second group in the other direction.
• They sang and praised God, with all kinds of musical instruments, circling the wall and end with a grand service in the house of God.
• 12:43 “And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.”
The walk around the wall was a testimony to a watching world that God had done the work, and He alone should be glorified.
• The enemy had said that the walls would be so weak that a fox could knock them down (4:3), but now the people were marching on the walls!
• It is a testimony of God’s faithfulness and His power and the reality of faith in God.
The details of what took place were less important than the SPIRIT in which they were conducted.
Two important things stand out – they SING and they REJOICE:
(1) They SING (praise God)
They were two choirs, with instruments like cymbals, harps, lyres, and trumpets. They praise God with their voices and instruments.
• They were organized, not formed haphazardly. In fact, verse 42 tells us when they were in the house of God, the choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. There was a conductor.
The important thing here is not the ritual or the process, but the joyful praise that comes from everyone, from the leaders to the children, from the religious to the ordinary people.
• This is what makes worship truly worship. It is not so much the order, the ritual, and method, but the joyful outpouring of praise and thanksgiving that flow from the hearts of everyone present.
• All of us need to be engaged, and be participants in worship, not spectators.
• We must not allow the organized ministry of worship team to take the place of our own spontaneous celebration of God’s goodness. We are not here to watch but worship!
• Let’s come each week, prepared to praise God. Someone said, “There is always a way to glorify God in every situation.” Let us praise God by faith.
(2) They REJOICE
The people “celebrate joyfully” (v.27) and in verse 43 alone, the root word for joy appear 4 times.
• They were very happy. But notice that the writer did not simply say they were joyful, but that they were “rejoicing BECAUSE GOD HAD GIVEN THEM GREAT JOY.” (v.43)
• It was a spiritual thing, not just emotional. It was exactly what Paul says in Phil 4:4 “Rejoice IN THE LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
• Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is a gift from God.
Is your heart heavy today? Are you sad? Come to the Lord and draw from Him.
• Only God can give us true joy. The world can give us momentary happiness, but God can give us joy in every situation.
• In worship, we experience His joy. And “the joy of the LORD is our strength.” (Neh 8:10)
I like to share with you something interesting here.
• David was mentioned a few times - Neh 12:36b, 45 and 46.
• He was the one who had organized the worship proper in the Temple, written many of the songs for the choirs (the psalms). He had also devised musical instruments for use in worship (cf. 2 Chron 29:26-27)
• It was also David who had provided the blueprints for the Temple, and the wealth needed to build it (1 Chron 28:11-19)
• For a man who had been dead for over 500 years, David’s work lingers. He had served his generation faithfully (Acts 13:36) and in doing so, he had in a sense also served every generation that followed!
Isn’t it wonderful? To be able to do something and brings about such significance?
Let us live to make a difference!
(3) We see the people offering their POSSESSIONS to God.
Read Neh 12:44-47.
• They gave towards the work of God’s Temple – their contributions, firstfruits and tithes.
• This was their promise in Chapter 10 – in the binding agreement they made before God – that they “will not neglect the house of our God.” (10:39c)
This is an expression of worship to God.
• Paul called the gifts from the Philippians church – “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” (Phil 4:18)
• Jesus accepted Mary’s gift of the precious ointment as an act of worship.
• Our material gifts are sacrifices of worship to God.
These are our offerings to God – ourselves, be where the Lord wants us to be.
• We offer our presence, our praise and our possessions.
What can you joyfully offer to God today?
What are some things you would gladly want to offer Him?
