X. A Dedication Worth Celebrating (Nehemiah 12:27-47)
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X. A Dedication Worth Celebrating (12:27-47)
12:27-29 The wall was finished in chapter 6, but until now, the walls were right and the people were wrong. For God, the dedication of the people always comes before the dedication of the wall (12:27). God never honors things until the people related to the things are right.
The people prepared to celebrate with thanksgiving and singing (12:27) because everybody knew that God was behind their success in erecting the structure. Something is wrong with the fan who can sit still in his seat when his team scores the winning goal with one second left on the clock. How can we not praise God for all he has done on our behalf?
That they sent for the Levites wherever they lived (12:27) shows that they got religion back at the center of the nation’s life. This detail is important because if you want heaven to intervene in your earthly circumstances, God’s kingdom agenda must become your focus.
12:30 After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the city gates, and the wall. God is absolutely holy—set apart and separate from sinners. He doesn’t tolerate wickedness. When we come before his presence, we must conform to his agenda. That means we confess our sins before him and walk by grace in righteousness.
My dog gets dirty and wants to come into my house, but to do that he must conform to my agenda. Because this is our Father’s world, and we are dirty sinful people, each of us must be made clean to worship God. If you are a Christian, Jesus Christ sanctified you. You are set apart for God.
12:31-42 There were two choirs on the wall, to the right and to the left. In other words, they were stationed in such a way that they got a panoramic view of what God had done. Moreover, they could reflect on their unity in the flow of movement as they all converged on the house of God.
12:43 The people rejoiced because God had given them great joy. Joy is a spiritual tranquility provided by God. When Paul was locked up in chains he said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4). Joy is not circumstantially determined, but rather divinely determined.
According to Nehemiah, Jerusalem’s rejoicing was heard far away. It had been a long difficult road, full of peril. But, the people were able to see the hand of God in their past. Their present circumstances weren’t perfect, but the God who gave them joy was.
12:44-47 When the people got right with God, they prioritized things. They brought in the contributions and tenths (12:44). If modern believers really understood what the church is and the influence that we could make, there would be no problem getting Christians to serve and give and invest in eternal things. Our thinking must be conformed to the divine perspective, so that our actions follow.
Too many Christians are trying to live in two kingdoms. They are trying to serve God and serve the world order at the same time, and you can’t do that. We have a desperate need for people who will put God’s kingdom first.