Today we are looking at a passage of scriptures in the book of Nehemiah. It is found in chapter twelve. First, let’s share a little about the background of Nehemiah.
“In 458 b.c.—a second group of Jews returned, led by Ezra (Ezra 7:1-10). Arriving on the scene, they found the Jews in Israel in a state of spiritual and moral degradation. (decline, decay, ruin, loss) They had intermarried with the unbelieving peoples of the surrounding nations and were participating in their pagan practices. However, through Ezra’s faithful teaching ministry, the majority of these people turned from their sins and once again followed God’s will for their lives.
In 446 b.c. Nehemiah is a high official in the Persian court. He is distraught when he hears of conditions in Judea (1:1-4) and prays fervently for his homeland (V. 5-11). Nehemiah also determined to act. When King Artaxerxes (464-424 b.c.) notices his distress, Nehemiah offers a quick prayer and requests permission to rebuild Jerusalem (2:1-8). The king makes Nehemiah the governor of Judea (v. 9-10). Nehemiah makes a nighttime survey of Jerusalem, examining its fallen walls (v.11-16). Only then does he share his vision of a rebuilt Jerusalem and reveal his royal commission (v. 17-18). The response of the Jews is enthusiastic, but the pagan officials who rule the larger province ridicule the notion of rebuilding and charge that the act constitutes rebellion (v. 18-19). Nehemiah answers them bluntly. This is the Jews’ city, of which they have no part. With God’s help, its walls will rise again (v. 20).”Bible Reader’s Companion.
“The walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. The walls were still in ruin 140 years later when Nehemiah came to Jerusalem. Upon hearing that the wall of Jerusalem was down and destroyed, along with the gates being burned down, Nehemiah cried. Chapter one describes the situation and Nehemiah’s heart-Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NKJV)
3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” 4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Unwalled cities in ancient times had no defense against enemies. More significant at this time, unwalled cities were dismissed as insignificant. Thus, for Jerusalem to lack walls was a disgrace to the city God had chosen—and brought dishonor to the Lord! The Jews had tried earlier to rebuild the walls ( Ezra 4:7-23 ), but had given up. Nehemiah saw this as a continuation of the Jews’ historic pattern of sinning against God by lack of dedication to His laws ( Neh. 1:5-11-.”Bible Reader’s Companion.
We see in the life of Nehemiah that he had a heart for Jerusalem and the rebuilding of walls. He had such a heart that he was willing to do something about it. It wasn’t just all talk. It went beyond sympathy. That is good advice for us today. We can see a lot of broken things. How about broken lives that need to be rebuilt? How about broken churches, broken people, broken relationships, and broken marriages? Are we willing to do something to bring change for the better? Do we have a vision for something greater? Nehemiah rebuilt physical walls but those involved in the building process were spiritually rebuilt.
God is in the rebuilding process. How does He do it? By using people with a heart to rebuild. Nehemiah was a great strategist, a person of vision. One who could motivate people. He had a great ability to rally people to a great cause. Through his great leadership, a miracle was performed. The walls and gates were completed in record time. There will always be opposition from the enemy when it comes to rebuilding lives. Are you broken in some area of your life? Do you need home improvement? Have your spiritual walls seen better days? Walls and gates keep bad things out and good things in. Your mind, heart, ears, and eyes are walls and gates. God gives them to you for your protection and preservation.
While building the walls, Nehemiah gives some unusual advice. Nehemiah 12:31 (NKJV)
31 So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse (dung) Gate. Again in Nehemiah 12:38 (NKJV) -38 The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad Wall. Finally inNehemiah 12:43 (NKJV) –43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.
There is something infectious about people rebuilding. The joy of accomplishing something together. To make things better or to improve on something. The enemy is always about tearing things down. Some people have the same attitude. They tear down with their words. They discourage and ridicule anything positive. God wants us to be builders. Nehemiah appointed choirs that would rejoice in what God was doing through His people. They would sing with thanksgiving during rebuilding. This Thanksgiving really confused the enemy.
The Jews were accustomed to having workers and watchers on the walls of Jerusalem, but now Nehemiah and Ezra assigned people to be worshipers on the walls. In rebuilding, we need workers, watchers, and worshippers. Singing is mentioned eight times in this chapter, thanksgiving six times, rejoicing seven times, and musical instruments three times. Noitce the position of the choirs. There were those at the gates of refuse or dung. The others were at the tower of fires. Do you know that we go through times when things are crappy or we go through the fires of tribulation, persecution, or fiery trials? We all go through stuff. Especially in times of rebuilding. Jesus said in John 16:33 (AMP) –33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] We wrestle not against flesh and blood but spiritual entities that are there to tear down, hinder, discourage us, and try to cause us to fear. They want us to feel hopeless. The enemy will try to use ignorant and ill-informed people to get in the way of our rebuilding. Even though there is opposition we will eventually overcome and succeed with Gpd’s help. Nehemiah saw the importance of the choir and the people rejoicing and giving thanks. This would encourage the people to continue in their tasks and not give up. It’s easy to complain and to be negative. It’s easy to get our eyes on the problems rather than on the solution. Will you be an answer or the problem?
Thanksgiving is a powerful and spiritual attitude. Praise and worship are key ingredients to a thankful heart. God inhabits the praises of His people. Psalm 22:3 (NKJV) -3 But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. Psalm 27:6 (NKJV) -6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. The enemy hates people praising God. Praise, worship, and thanksgiving are faith in action. The best attitude in rebuilding is thanksgiving. It is mentioned over thirty times in the Bible. Thanksgiving is the attitude of heaven.
- Colossians 4:2 (NKJV) –2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
- Colossians 2:6-7 (NKJV) -6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
- Philippians 4:4-6 (NKJV) –4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
- Psalm 147:7 (NKJV) -7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God,
- Psalm 107:22 (NKJV) -22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.
These are just a few verses. So how thankful are you today? Are you going through some crappy times? Are you going through a fiery trial? How is your Thanksgiving meter? Is it time to join the choir? Thanksgiving ushers in the presence of God in a powerful way. It brings about God’s perspective in the hard times. Thanksgiving turns your heart towards heaven and away from problems. We need to refocus through giving thanks that God is working on our behalf. We don’t thank God for crappy times or fiery trials. We thank Him that He will bring us through. We thank Him for the Word of God, His promises that power us through.
King David was a man after God’s own heart. How so? He was a man who praised God in the good times and in the bad times. Look at Isaiah 51:3 (NKJV) -3 For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places;He will make her wilderness like Eden,And her desert like the garden of the LORD;Joy and gladness will be found in it,Thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Wow, what a promise from our Father in heaven. There is Holy Spirit comfort in the hard times. There is fruitfulness and prosperity when life feels like a barren and dry place. There will be gladness and the voice of melody. It is not a time to sing the blues but to sing the praises of God.
Begin today to let God build healthy walls and gates in your life through the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and healthy, and godly relationships. Above all else have a thankful heart and our prayer time should be filled with more thanksgiving. God gets the glory in the rebuilding of lives! It’s time to take a survey of your heart. It’s time to join the choir! Let the rebuilding begin!
In Christ’s love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
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