Nehemiah 12 Verses 27 to 47 Time to Celebrate September 21, 2025

Nehemiah 12 Verses 27 to 47 Time to Celebrate September 21, 2025 Lesson 12 The Relentless Pursuit of Obedience Class Presentation Notes AAAAA

Background Scriptures:

Nehemiah 12:1-39

Main Idea:

· By God’s grace, the people of Jerusalem completed what appeared to be an impossible task when they rebuilt the walls. They celebrated the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving, and with song.

Study Aim:

· To understand that obedience to God’s kingdom assignment led to opportunities of genuine worship, praise, and singing.

Application:

· Our study prompts Christians to reflect on the importance of remembering and celebrating God's faithfulness in their own lives. It encourages the community to come together in gratitude and to mark significant moments of God's provision with joyful worship, fostering both individual and collective faith.

Teaching:

· Through this passage, we learn that celebration is a vital aspect of our faith life; it reinforces communal bonds and acknowledges God’s role in our successes. The act of dedicating the wall serves as a model for marking significant achievements and God's blessings with gratitude and joy.

Created Interest:

· We are to regularly praise God and manifest His glory as we continually dedicate our lives to serving God and one another.

· The children of Israel dedicated the finished wall with a great service of praise and adoration. For miles around, the enemies of Israel could hear their musical instruments and singing.

· Today, there are momentous occasions in the Christian community that call for special services of dedication and praise. However, every time we meet, we should be manifesting God’s glory as we dedicate our lives in service to Him and one another.[1]

Lesson in Historical Context:

· It was time for a celebration. We need to remember that the edited account continues from 11:1–20, and what intervenes is a compilation of supplementary material. The first half of chapter 11 briefly told the story of the repopulation of Jerusalem and enumerated the families who were involved in it. It used a source other than Nehemiah’s memoirs—one that focused on the role of the people and their leaders, not Nehemiah.

· In verse 31 we return to the memoirs, although the lists of priests and Levites in verses 33–36 and 41–42 reflect the other source or independent archival information available to the editor.

· The ceremony of the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem marks the climax of Nehemiah’s two-part mission, just as the dedication of the completed temple in Ezra 6:16–17 signaled the climax of the first mission in Ezra 1–6. The ceremony seems to have involved only the people who had moved to the capital and the leaders who already lived there (11:1).

· It is significant that only extra Levites, not the whole people of Judah, were summoned from outside the city (vv. 27–29). The ceremony celebrated not just the completion of the wall but also the program to repopulate “the holy city” (11:1, 18). That is why this ceremony could not have been placed immediately after chapter 6. It had to be placed after the second part of Nehemiah’s mission in chapters 7 and 11 had been accomplished.[2]

Bible Study:

Nehemiah 12:27–30 (NASB95)   Preparation for Praise

27     Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompanimentof cymbals, harps and lyres.

28     So the sons of the singers were assembled from the district around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites,

29     from Beth-gilgal and from their fields in Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built themselves villages around Jerusalem.

30     The priests and the Levites purified themselves; they also purified the people, the gates and the wall.

· Nehemiah summoned all the religious personnel together to prepare for the dedication celebration (vv. 27–30). The Levites were summoned throughout Judah to assist in the ceremony.   

o The Levites, descendants of Levi, played a crucial role in the priesthood and the maintenance of the tabernacle and temple in ancient Israel. They did not possess a specific land allocation but were distributed across 48 cities, supported by tithes and offerings from the Israelites. This distribution allowed them to serve as a unifying force among the tribes.

o The repopulation of Jerusalem, along with the establishment of the priests’ and Levites’ ancestry, provided the backdrop for the dedication of Jerusalem’s wall. By itself the wall was nothing more than stone, but in conjunction with the orthodoxy of the religious leaders and the renewed city life, it symbolized Israel’s purpose and distinction. For such a meaningful event, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem.

o Many Levites had settled in towns and villages around Jerusalem. They came into the city only when it was their turn for temple duties. But for such a grand and significant occasion, as many Levites as possible were recruited to celebrate joyfully the dedication.[3]

· They were to provide the choir and music. A special invitation was also sent to the Levites within Jerusalem itself and its surrounding villages (vv. 28–29).

· After gathering together, the priests and Levites cleansed themselves ceremonially (v. 30).

o Ritual cleansing included the following activities: bathing, changing into clean clothing, offering sacrifices, praying and rededicating one’s life to the Lord(Ge. 35:2–3; Le. 16:30; 22:4–7; Nu. 8:21–22; 2 Chr. 29:15; 35:6; Ezr. 6:20; Ne. 13:22; Mal. 3:3).

o Following their cleansing, the priests and Levites dedicated and purified the people, the gates, and the wall itself. Obviously, some of the same ritual activities would have been performed for each of these (1 Chr. 23:28; 2 Chr. 29:15).[4]

Thoughts to Consider:

· Note the scene for the dedication ceremony as Nehemiah gathered the Levites and musicians.

· This point highlights the intentional preparation required for worship and celebration, emphasizing unity and purity in approaching God.

· Perhaps we could learn that preparation for worship, both personally and communally, is crucial as it aligns our hearts with God's expectations and underlines our commitment to honoring Him through organized praise.

· Why did Ezra and Nehemiah organize this kind of a dedication service? Why not just meet at the temple area, let the Levites sing and offer sacrifices to the Lord, and send everybody home?

o To begin with, it was the walls and gates that were being dedicated; and it was only right that the people would see and touch them.

o The people were bearing witness to the watching world that God had done the work, and He alone should be glorified. The enemy had said that the walls would be so weak that a fox could knock them down (4:3), but here were the people marching on the walls!

· What a testimony to the unbelieving Gentiles of the power of God and the reality of faith. It was another opportunity to prove to them that “this work was wrought by our God” (6:16).

Nehemiah 12:31–39 (NASB95)   Processional of Praise

31     Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs, the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate.

32     Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed them,

33     with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,

34     Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah,

35     and some of the sons of the priests with trumpets; and Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,

36     and his kinsmen, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them.

37     At the Fountain Gate they went directly up the steps of the city of David by the stairway of the wall above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east.

38     The second choir proceeded to the left, while I followed them with half of the people on the wall, above the Tower of Furnaces, to the Broad Wall,

39     and above the Gate of Ephraim, by the Old Gate, by the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate; and they stopped at the Gate of the Guard.

· By marching on the walls, the people had an opportunity to see the results of their labors and realize anew that the work had not been done by one person.

o True, Nehemiah had been their leader, and they needed him; but “the people had a mind to work” (4:6). Various people and families had labored on different parts of the wall (chap. 3), but nobody “owned”the part he or she had worked on. The wall belonged to God.

· We see in verse 31 that the wall is large enough for the leaders to go up on it and stand on it.

o Back in 4:3 Tobiah had taunted the rebuilders that “if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!” But now Nehemiah has these two large choirs up on the wall with him.

o Back in 3:5 there was a shameful statement that “their nobles did not bring the backs of their necks to the service of their Lord” (my trans.). Evidently when Nehemiah came back and called the people to work, there were nobles who thought the work was beneath them. They thought it was going nowhere, that it wasn’t the path to prosperity or significance. They didn’t know who this upstart was who had come back from Persia, but the little project on the wall, they thought, would lead to nothing. Now in 12:31Nehemiah brings the leaders of Judah up onto the wall.[5]

· Big Point to Note:  No matter how much work or money we have put into a building program, this does not earn us the right to claim and control some area of the building. It all belongs to God and must be used for His glory.

o As the Jews marched around the walls, they were symbolically saying just that. “Yes, we all had part in the work and a place to serve, but now we are giving it all to the Lord that He alone might be glorified!”

Thoughts to Consider:

· Let me suggest another reason for this march around the walls: It was a symbolic act by which they “stepped out by faith” to claim God’s blessing.

o In that day, to walk on a piece of property meant to claim it as your own.

§ God said to Abraham, “Arise, walk through the land … for I will give it unto thee” (Gen. 13:17); and

§ He said to Joshua, “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you” (Josh. 1:3)

§ This joyful march around the walls was their way of saying, “We claim from our God all that He has for us, just as our forebearers claimed this land by faith!”

Thoughts to Soak On:

· Visualize the procession on the wall, where two choirs walked in opposite directions. This symbolizes encompassing Jerusalem with praise, showing how worship surrounds and protects the community.

· Consider our congregation’s view of worship as not just an inward act but as something that strengthens and upholds the community of believers.

· Our collective praise can serve as both spiritual fortification and a testament of faith to those outside the church.

Nehemiah 12:40–43 (NASB95)   Proclamation of Joy

40      Then the two choirs took their stand in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials with me;

41     and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah, with the trumpets;

42     and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam and Ezer. And the singers sang, with Jezrahiah theirleader,

43     and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.

· The most important thing about this dedication service was not the march around the walls was the expression of joyful praise that came from the choirs and the people.

o “By Him [Christ] therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15).

o “I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs” (Ps. 69:30–31).

· This joy produces radiance in life that has its effect far beyond the bounds of one’s local environment and immediate circle of friends and associates.

o The joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off (43).

o The flood of divine joy that comes to the soul who utterly commits himself to the will of God has a marked effect upon the lives of men near and far. Its influence may reach the end of the world, and will certainly have its impress upon hearts throughout eternity.[6]

· This special service of dedication would have been a failure were it not for a man who had been dead for over 500 years. That man was King David.

o It was David who had organized the priests and Levites (v. 24; 1 Chron. 24:7–19) and written many of the songs for the temple choirs (Neh. 12:46).

o He had also devised musical instruments for use in worship (v. 36; 2 Chron. 29:26–27). David had served his generation faithfully (Acts 13:36), but in doing so, he had also served every generation that followed!

o In fact, it was David who captured the Jebusite city of Jerusalem and made it his capital, the City of David (2 Sam. 5:6–10). It was also David who had provided the blueprints and much of the wealth for the building of the temple (1 Chron. 28:11–19). “He who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17, NKJV).

· It was not only the “professional musicians” who expressed praise to God, for the women and children also joined in the singing (Neh. 12:43).

o They had heard the Word at the Water Gate (8:2), so it was only right that they now express their worship; for learning the Word and worshiping the Lord must go together (Col. 3:12).

o We must never permit the accomplished ministry of worship leaders to take the place of our own spontaneous celebration of the Lord’s goodness.

§ Otherwise, we will become spectators instead of participants; and spectators miss most of the blessing.

· Vs. 43:  So great was the people’s praise that “the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off” (Neh. 12:43). This was now the third time in Israel’s history that their shouting was “heard afar off.”

o The soldiers shouted when the ark of the covenant came into their camp (1 Sam. 4:5), but that eventually led to shameful defeat.

o When the temple foundation was laid nearly a century before, the workers shouted for joy; but their joy was mingled with sorrow (Ezra 3:8–13).

§ The shout from Jerusalem during this dedication service was unalloyed joy, to the glory of the Lord; and because of this record in the Word of God, that shout has been heard around the world![7]

§ We [too will] pay our vows to the Lord in the midst of Jerusalem in the sight of all his people when, in the heavenly homeland, after the whole multitude of saints has congregated, we offer those praises of thanksgiving to Him whom in this present life we sigh for and thirst for with daily desire.[8]

Thought to consider:

· The culmination of the dedication was when the joyous processions came together in praise, filling Jerusalem with sound that could be heard afar. This unity in worship reflects the ultimate joy found in Christ.

· We should appreciate how collective celebration reinforces their identity in Christ. The harmonious chorus of voices illustrates how our shared faith and joy become a powerful witness of God's faithfulness and love, echoing into the world beyond.

· This should inspire our church family to see every worship service as a collective procession of gratitude.

Nehemiah 12:44 (NASB95) Choose Committed Caretakers

44     On that day men were also appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served.

· It is one thing to shout on a great occasion, but another to offer the sacrifice of praise continually and to make realistic provision for the church’s needs. The expression, On that day (44), suggests that no time was lost in attending to this; and it would be typical of Nehemiah to strike while the iron was hot, gaining something practical from this moment of elation and goodwill—for Judah’s enthusiasm over the clergy (44c)was nothing to be counted on, as 13:10ff. would show.[9]

· Judah rejoiced]: Judah’s satisfaction with the priests and Levites took the shape of increased offerings, more ample tithes, and the like, from which the appointment of treasuries and treasurers became necessary.[10]

· Once again, Nehemiah’s interest in godly order was in evidence, and nothing was left to chance. Men were appointed to look after the storehouses where the produce was gathered and to ensure that it was distributed to the priests and the Levites.[11]

· Note the choosing of leaders to oversee the offerings, illustrating the value of stewardship in God's work. This passage invites reflection on appointing servants who ensure resources are managed faithfully, symbolizing Christ as our ultimate provider.

o Pray for your own opportunities to steward your gifts and resources joyfully.

Nehemiah 12:45–47 (NASB95) Celebrate Continuous Commitment

45     For they performed the worship of their God and the service of purification, together with the singers and the gatekeepers in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon.

46     For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times, there were leaders of the singers, songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God.

47     So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated portionfor the sons of Aaron.

· This was a day of giving; people brought their offerings, first fruits, tithes to the storehouse of the Levites, and they did it with joy because they enjoyed supporting the priests and Levites ministering on their behalf.

o This was a day of purity; it was an ongoing concern, not a one-time ceremony.

o It was a day of consecration, holy things were set apart for the Levites, speaking of the separation unto God).[12]

Thought to Soak on:

· Today we should emphasize Christ as the fulfillment of God’s promises.

· We should participate joyfully in communal worship, looking to Christ’s sacrifice for us as the reason for our celebration and service today.

A Spiritual Celebration in closing:

· 12:27–43 tells of the ceremonial procession and praises with which the rebuilt wall was dedicated to God. It was a day of uninhibited delight, with thanksgiving as its keynote. “On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away” (12:43).

o Do we praise God like this when he blesses us? Exuberance, carnival-style, can easily become carnal and unspiritual, but surely the exalted intensity of this day of worship, an exalted intensity that finds expression in many of the Psalms, has something to say to us today.

o Discuss

· Two choirs, specially gathered for the occasion and trained by choirmaster Jezrahiah (12:28, 31, 42), walked the walls singing and met in the temple for more songs of praise and thanks, backed now by cymbals, harps, lyres, and trumpets (12:27, 41).

o Singing was the order of the day. So, it is constantly in the worship prescribed in both Testaments.

· Christianity is itself joyous. It is a response to the great acts of God on our behalf, particularly in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which secured our salvation.

· “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly … as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God,” writes Paul (Col. 3:16).

o Do we sing enough? Enough to sustain our own joy in salvation? Enough to give God the honor and appreciation that is his due? How much singing to God have we done today—did we do yesterday—shall we plan to do tomorrow?[13]

· We are to regularly praise God and manifest His glory as we continually dedicate our lives to serving God and one another.

· The children of Israel dedicated the finished wall with a great service of praise and adoration. For miles around, the enemies of Israel could hear their musical instruments and singing. (See Ps #152: Freedom in Form, p. 827.)

· Today, there are momentous occasions in the Christian community that call for special services of dedication and praise. However, every time we meet, we should be manifesting God’s glory as we dedicate our lives in service to Him and one another. The apostle Peter wrote,

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1Pt 2:9) (See 1Pt #5: A Holy People, p. 1744.)[14]

· This passage also reminds us of the great celebration that awaits all the redeemed. We will one day enter that glorious city of rest, dwelling in the presence of our Lord forevermore.

o The question is: have you made preparation to enter the gates of the city? Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. All of the saved and only the saved will enter there.[15]

§ John 14:6 (NASB95)

          Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

§ 1 Timothy 2:3–6 (NASB95)

                              3This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

          4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

          5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

          6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

Shalom Shalom

Grace and peace

[1]Gene A. Getz, Life Essentials Study Bible: Biblical Principles to Live By (B&H, 2011), Ne 12:27–43.

[2]Leslie C. Allen, “Nehemiah,” in Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. W. Ward Gasque, Robert L. Hubbard, and Robert K. Johnston, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012), 154.

[3]Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 258–259.

[4]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2004), 203.

[5]James M. Hamilton Jr. et al., Exalting Jesus in Ezra-Nehemiah (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), 208–209.

[6]C. E. Demaray, “The Book of Nehemiah,” in Joshua through Esther, vol. II, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1965), Ne 12:27–43.

[7]Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Determined, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 133–138.

[8]James Stuart Bell, ed., Ancient Faith Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bibles, 2019), 562.

[9]Derek Kidner, Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 12, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979), 140.

[10]Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament: I Samuel to Esther, ed. F. C. Cook, J. M. Fuller (London: John Murray, 1879), 482.

[11]C. T. Lacey, “Nehemiah,” in Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther, What the Bible Teaches (J. Ritchie, 2009), 360.

[12]David Guzik, Nehemiah, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2000), Ne 12:44–Ne 13.

[13]J. I. Packer, A Passion for Faithfulness: Wisdom from the Book of Nehemiah (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1995), 163–164.

[14]Gene A. Getz, Life Essentials Study Bible: Biblical Principles to Live By (B&H, 2011), Ne 12:27–43.

[15]Chris Benfield, “The Consecration of the City # 29,” in Pulpit Pages: Old Testament Sermons(Mount Airy, NC: Chris Benfield, 2015), 495.Nehemiah 12 Verses 27 to 47 Time to Celebrate September 21, 2025