Global Church of the Nazarene DAY 38 OF 40 - Better Together Through Prayer And The Word

Global Church of the Nazarene DAY 38 OF 40 - Better Together Through Prayer And The Word

Nehemiah 12:31

31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate.

Nehemiah 12:38-40

38 The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, 39 and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Gate of Yeshanah, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. 40 So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me;

DAY 38 – A MARCH OF THANKSGIVING, A CONCERT OF PRAISE

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 12:31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah on the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in procession. One went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate;

38 The other company of those who gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people, on the wall, above the tower of the furnaces, even to the wide wall, 39 and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate: and they stood still in the gate of the guard. 40 So stood the two companies of those who gave thanks in God’s house, and I, and the half of the rulers with me;

Have you ever been in a parade? Was it a good experience? Were you on a float, marching in a band, walking with a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troupe, walking as a clown passing out candy? Some will look on their experience as a truly great time; but others of us will see it as, “I wish I could blot that afternoon out of my mind!”

The Israelite people were so excited this day. Nehemiah divided them into two groups. One group went to the right and marched on the wall; the other group went to the left, also marching on the wall. Some feel that the leader of the first group going right was the priest Ezra, while the leader going to the left with the other group was Nehemiah. There were other leaders with them, but the best were the two choirs. They sang songs of praise and thanksgiving and played their instruments…the cymbals, the harps, and the lyres. What a beautiful sound this must have been!

One thing that would have encouraged the choirs to sing their very best was knowing what the destination was. They were not going to someone’s home or even to a great hall for a party; they were going to the House of God. As we read in Psalm 48:12-14, Walk about Zion…that you may tell of (what is in it) to the next generation. For this God is our God forever and ever…

When the choirs arrived at the House of God, the scripture tells us that they took their places in the House of God.

LIFE APPLICATION: Where is your place in your church? Is it being a pew warmer only, or do you have a special place in the choir, in a SS class, in a small group, a greeter, an usher, do you play an instrument? Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise (Psalm 100:4a).

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