Nehemiah 11:1-12:30; Psalms 120-124
And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.
Nehemiah 12:27
God’s people rightly celebrate the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. In our own culture, with our supposed “wall of separation between church and state”, we might view this event as a purely secular activity, but that is not the case. In fact, there is no such thing as a “purely secular activity”! (Think about it. Is there any part of your life that is outside God’s purview? Is there anything in your life that does not affect everything else in one way or another? I think not…) So it is entirely fitting that Nehemiah and Ezra bring in the worship leaders, the Levites, to assist in the dedication of the wall with singing and musical instruments, offering thanksgivings to the LORD for His faithfulness and blessing. We cannot know the songs sung at this dedication, but the psalms designated as “Songs of Ascents” probably give us a good idea.
See also:
Hmmm, I am impressed by the first two verses of today’s reading:
I’m not sure if anyone else put themselves in the place of those who were chosen to leave their homes and live in the city of Jerusalem, but I did. And my heart rebelled at the thought…
But it says the ones who went did so “willingly” and “offered to live” there.
May I be as willing to do whatever is required of me in the service of God and his people, even if it means leaving my home.