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Nehemiah 12:27-30 – The Dedication

After all the hard work of building and defending the wall from the attacks of the enemies, the time had come at last for the people to dedicate the rebuilt wall of the city. There was an obvious understanding that they had been building not just to secure their own prosperity, safety, and future, but that they were building for the honour and glory of God and to make sure that the Holy city of Jerusalem would be a safe place in which the people of God would be able to worship their God. Two lessons we can learn from this passage are:

1. The completed wall was to be celebrated with praise and so those appointed by God to lead the praise of his people, together with the singers, were brought from wherever they resided into the city in preparation for the great act of dedication. It is a great blessing from the sovereign God that he gives such gifts to his people to enable them to lead God’s people in praise and these gifts should always be recognised and made a matter of grateful thanks to God. Although there are special people here charged with the responsibility of singing, in New Testament praise the whole of the congregation is to offer the ‘sacrifice of praise’ (Heb. 13:15) – there is no requirement to have a beautiful voice, just a dedicated heart that rejoices in praising the Lord.

2. Before the priests and the Levites could adequately lead the people of God in praise and thanksgiving, they had to first purify themselves and then the people. Here there is a fundamental principle. Without heart purity, no matter how tuneful and majestic the singing of praise might be, it will not please the Holy God. We have been told that the only worship acceptable to God is that which is offered in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). An acceptable approach to God requires clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4).

Questions

  1. Does God require us to have special musical gifts to sing praise to him?
  2. What makes our worship acceptable to God?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray for the preparation of your heart for worship on Sunday.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.