Read Nehemiah 12:27-43
Who doesn’t like a good party? The opening scenes to this reading are filled with the anticipation of what is to come. The day has arrived when the completed wall will be recognized and celebrated. When parties have a purpose, they are even more enjoyable. When that purpose is to celebrate God’s faithfulness and love, imagine the great expectation!
The celebration appears to circle the city wall with songs of thanksgiving being sung and instruments being played. That sounds a lot like worship to me. How fitting the people would use the worship element to further honor God in this moment. What God had done among them already, and promised to do forever, was so generous. If only they could stay true to God alone. People continue to struggle with keeping God first in their lives today.
We like to blame our busy lives. But I’ve seen plenty of busy people who never missed an opportunity to serve or spend time in God’s word. It’s like we are given an abundance from God when he needs us to be moving for him. The place we start is recognizing what it is that God wants us to be doing.
God certainly doesn’t expect that we’ll just go through the motions of life, doing all the “normal” things without him. Does he? Normal things like going to college, getting married, getting a good job, buying a house, having a family. Do we let God be part of all those life decisions?
That’s something to ponder, but let’s focus for now on how this reading ends. “[T]he joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far away.” That’s the picture of the celebration we should imagine when we think of this wall’s dedication. It was a big deal, and the people were happy. Joyful really. Joy is that beautiful gift from God. God was pleased with the devotion his people were showing and poured his joy out on his children.
People who don’t embrace a faith in Jesus miss out on that beautiful gift of joy. They’ll never truly understand the peace you feel when you realize God has your back. God wanted the people of Israel to know that he was looking out for them. He had always been looking out for them, even when they were being “disciplined” in exile.
It had only been a moment ago that these returnees had themselves been in that place of exile. They had been away from their “homeland,” now they were surrounded by family memories and inheritance. While much of the land was still in ruin, the wall and the temple both stood strong because of smart leadership who made sure to secure those two things first when reclaiming Jerusalem, the holy city.
This was such a satisfying and uplifting passage. We see the people’s response now that the wall was done. What a procession! Such a joyful, musical party, or a “fiesta” as we’d say here in Mexico. It was at this moment that the rest of the town and surrounding areas could begin to rebuild and dream about the future, at last in their homeland.
In moments when you are celebrating a milestone or perhaps just realizing how God is moving in your life, honor God and enjoy the joy that returns to you. Worship God and his generosity, celebrating what he has done for you. Never forget that “joy” bubbling up inside when you think about eternal life and what a gift that is! I’d like people to see the joy of the Lord on my face. How about you and your joy?
Who do you know who is missing out on the joy of having a faith in Jesus? Somebody needs your prayers to open up opportunities for ears to hear, listen, and obey.
Let’s pray. Lord, your love amazes me, and I now seek to honor and obey you with my life choices. I am so grateful for the joy in my heart. I know you put it there, Lord. It always amazes me how I still have joy even when my heart is breaking. I don’t want people to miss out on that joy. I pray for those whom I love that maybe don’t quite know how much they are missing. Open a way for your joy to fall on them, too. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
