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Nehemiah
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

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Studies in Nehemiah                                                                                                                              Lesson 22

THE DEDICATION OF THE GREAT WALL OF JERUSALEM

Nehemiah 12:31-47

I.     TWO GREAT PRAISE TEAMS ON THE WALL. 12:31-39

       A.    The composition of each team, in order:

               1.    One great spiritual leader, either Ezra Neh. 12:36 or Nehemiah Neh. 12:40.

               2.    A great choir. Neh. 12:31,38

               3.    A civic leader leading half of the lay leaders. Neh. 12:32,38,40

               4.    Seven priests. Neh. 12:33-34,41

               5.    Eight Levites. Neh. 12:35-36,42

                             These teams represent a whole-hearted and unified effort of joy and praise unto the Lord. Nehemiah 12:43 records the fact that enthusiasm for and participation in the great thanksgiving celebration engulfed the entire populace. This was not a spectator matter as worship should never be. With bold and fully committed leadership, everyone joined in this unreserved praise and worship of God.

                      Study notes:

                             What does this say about a platform-oriented mentality versus a pew-oriented mentality in churches today?

                             Can true worship ever be merely a spectator operation? If not, then what should it be?

                             Has worship succeeded in those who merely listen and watch others do it?

                             Discuss the task of worship leaders in getting all of the people involved in worshipping the Lord.

       B.     One team went counter-clockwise. Neh. 12:31-37

               1.    Ezra led this team eastward.

               2.    They started at the Valley Gate and marched upon the wall southward, then along the eastern wall all the way to the Water Gate on the east side of the city. This route encompassed the lower city of David which is built upon an naturally fortified ridge.

                      Study notes.

                             Trace this route on a map of the era.

               3.    As they marched, they played trumpets and other instruments, shouted praises to God and sang with joy. The people below the wall joined the praises.

       C.     One team went clockwise. Neh. 12:38-39

               1.    Nehemiah lead this team westward.

               2.    These started at the Valley Gate and marched upon the wall northward, then along the northern wall before turning southward on the eastern wall to meet the other team. This route encompassed the upper area where the temple was.

                      Study notes.

                             Trace this route on a map of the era.

               3.    Like the other team, these also played instruments, shouted and sang as they marched while the people below followed the team and joined in the praises.

                             Together these teams circled the entire city in an all-encompassing, whole-hearted dedication of themselves as well as the entire city unto the Lord.

II.    THE DEDICATION CEREMONY WAS A TIME OF GREAT EMOTION. Neh. 12:40-43

       A.    The two teams met on the wall were it is near the Temple. They came down from the wall and joined to give "thanks in the house of God." Neh. 12:40.

               1.    Genuine praise to God should be the norm in

                      the house of the Lord. Jesus said in Mat. 21:13, "My house shall be called the house of prayer."

                      Study notes.

                             On a scale of one to ten with ten being a perfect score, rate your church as a house of true praise to God. How consistently do you see true praise occurring in your church?

               2.    These people had personally invested themselves in this wall and for the welfare of this house. Their enthusiasm at its success was spontaneous. The work of God always means far more to those who have had a material and personal part in it.

                      Study notes.

                             Can you give personal testimony to the value of personal involvement in the Lord's work?

                             How personally involved are you? Is there a direct connection between your concern for your church and your personal involvement in it?

       B.     They praised God with great emotions.

               1.    They sang. Neh. 12:41-42

                      a.     Let there ever be a song of praise upon the lips of believers! Those who have been redeemed and who know the sustaining power of God though His Spirit have an inner reason for joy and singing in spite of worldly circumstances. Consider Acts 16:19-25.

                             Study notes.

                                    Is there a song in your heart?

                      b.    Singing should not be confined to the heart; it should often be on the lips of God's people. Psalm 107:2.

                             Study notes.

                                    Is there a song on your lips?

                      c.     This singing was orchestrated. Jezrahiah was the music director. Neh. 12:42 The Bible basis for choirs and group singing is clear here.

                      d.    They sang the songs of David and Asaph. Neh. 12:46 These were songs "of praise and thanksgiving unto God." These are the kinds of songs God's people should sing. They were songs of truth and they are recorded in the Bible book called Psalms. It is hard to imagine why so many of God's people in modern times complain about the singing of Psalms and other scriptures.

                             Study notes.

                                    Name specific Psalms which are commonly sung in our day?

                                    What kind of response have you observed to the singing of these Psalms?

                      e.     These "singers sang loud." Neh. 12:42 Too many of God's people are too timid to let their joy and delight with God and His blessings be known. Proverbs 28:1 says, "the righteous are bold as a lion." All kinds of excuses are offered for our failure to boldly praise and worship our God. We say that we might offend or disturb someone, that someone might get the wrong idea, that folks might think we are doing it for show and on and on. That didn't seem to matter to these folks and it usually doesn't to those whose focus is on the Lord.

                             Study notes.

                                    Do you sing loud? Why not?

                      f.     The singing "was heard afar off." Neh. 12:43 Good singing is a sign of joy and it affects others. God's people should not be naive to the power that godly worship has on the hearts of bystanders. That is especially true of  godly music.

                             Study notes.

                                    Discuss the power of godly music, especially on young people.

               2.     This dedication ceremony was not singing alone; it was far more.

                      a.     "The singers sang loud."

                      b.    "That day they offered great sacrifices."

                      c.     They also "rejoiced."

               3.     It is striking that all that was done was done with great joy and enthusiasm.

                      a.     Read Nehemiah 12:43. Words for joy, enthusiasm and obvious emotion are used five times in this verse. Compare this verse to Phil. 4, particularly verse 4.

                      b.    Too many of God's people are too dry, cold, stoic & unemotional.

                             Study notes.

                                    Rate your enthusiasm and outward evidence of joy at the things of God, especially in praising Him.

                      c.     True joy depends on our inward, not our outward focus. 2 Cor. 10:17 & 1 Cor. 10:13. Consider Matthew 28:18-20, Hebrews 13:5 & Joshua 1:5.

                      d.    Notice in Nehemiah 12:43 how universal and genuine this joy and genuine show of emotions was. It encompassed the men, the women and even the children and there is no record of even one killjoy trying to put a damper on it.

                             Study notes.

                                    Have you ever seen a killjoy in church? Explain.

III.   THEY TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS DURING THE MIDST OF THEIR JOY AND PRAISE. Neh. 12:44-47

       A.    They made sure that proper care was given to all those who served in a full time capacity. Neh. 12:44-45

               1.    They made sure the tithe was to be given and properly distributed to the care of those who served. Compare 1 Cor. 9:14.

                      Study notes.

                             Do you tithe? Why not? Have you considered the effect of your stance on the Lord's work?

               2.    They also "rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited." God's people ought to respect God's spiritual leaders, particularly those who give themselves fully to the ministry. Compare 1 Tim. 5:17-20.

                      Study notes.

                             What is your true attitude toward those who minister full time?

       B.     Giving is central to the welfare of the work of God. Neh. 12:47

               1.    "And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion."

                             The work will not prosper without godly leadership and godly leadership cannot continue where God's people fail to give. Consider Neh. 13:10.

               2.    They not only gave for the personal maintenance of those who served in a full time capacity, their giving made the supplies and needed equipment for the work of God possible. "and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron." In the Lord's churches of today, the same kind of needs exist and are only made possible by the giving of God's people.

                      Study notes.

                             Besides meeting the personal needs of those who serve full time in the Lord's work, what are some of the other expenses of the Lord's church?

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"