Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Nehemiah begins chapter seven in the same way that he concluded chapter six — framing the context with the completion of the walls.

At this time he also begins to provide the details of the final completion and the elements of transition — he does this highlighting not only the details of the immediate elements, but frames them in the larger sweep of the return of the exiles to their land and the beloved city.

A Completed Wall & Established Leadership;

A Completed Wall & Established Leadership;

As you know from the conclusion of our time last week the walls have been completed in their perimeter of the city.

At this time he also begins to provide the details of the final completion and the elements of transition — he does this highlighting not only the details of the immediate elements, but frames them in the larger sweep of the return of the exiles to their land and the beloved city.

There was one thing that remained unfinished that would not permit the title of “Complete” to be cast upon the work.

In verse 1 we see how they set up the doors.

This clearly indicates that the wall is not able to handle the title of “Complete”

Sidebar:

You guys know well and good that I love to talk about our justification, sanctification, and our glorification right?

Well, much like this wall our sanctification is made up of a bunch of different portions of our life that once comprised together, compose who we are.

We have gone through so much in our upbringing and our childhood that affects the way we look at things.

God created the universe and has each planet, each star hung in the balance.

Even down to the smallest cell, they all show reference to Him and his vast excellence.

He has created more beings with more cells than anything any man could begin to imagine.

Much less to understand what the purpose of each cell does.

Take our DNA for example, we know more about DNA right now than we ever have in history.

Did you guys hear Dr. Rob Carter a month or so ago when he came?

Ive known Rob for probably 10 years, both of my parents used to work at Creation Ministries and if I were to guess his favorite subject to study is DNA.

DNA is a glimpse into how God works inside of our bodies.

God has a beautiful picture painted inside of us and there is also a spiritual realm as well.

One we know about through His Word.

Talk about it!

God is constantly taking us through experiences and situations in our life where we are learning more and more about His sovereignty and His vastness with all that he has created and how He is working all things together for His glory.

We need to be reminded though that like the wall, we still have things that need doing in our own lives.

We need to be steadily reaching for the grace and demonstrating that grace to all that we come in contact with.

Our prayer should be that Christ would stand our gates and find us complete in Him.

His mercy is infinite to those that are His children.

The Gatekeepers in Nehemiah

We know that the gatekeepers were the sons of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai.

The gatekeepers did not all live in Jerusalem, many of them commuted to the city.

Much like those of us who live in suburban areas and travel into the city.

It appears that one of the tasks of the gatekeeper was to serve as a guard over the city and be a representative of the town to its inhabitants.

The Singers in Nehemiah

The singers referenced in the first wave of returned exiles appear to have come from the sons of Asaph.

Do any of you remember who the Sons of Asaph were?

Many of the psalms which were in biblical times songs which the churches would sing.

Most reformed churches today use what is called a psalter to sing aloud the songs.

This is an excellent practice in my opinion.

Like the gatekeepers the singers did not all live in Jerusalem.

It says the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, and some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel lived in their towns.

The singers were a part of Temple worship

They were also supported bt the people for their service.

To me it is important for us to support those who serve within the church.

Not always support them financially but often times to support them with gifts or acts of service.

By the way, thank Brian for his gift of service to our church.

It does not go unnoticed.

Sidebar: Excellent Music

An element that is consistently striking to me is that from King David forward there is a high priority placed upon music and Temple worship.

It is not as though music were lacking in worship before King David, but the punctuated and codified emphasis that he established remained a prioritized element.

a high priority placed upon music and Temple worship.

It is not as though music

were lacking in worship before King David, but the punctuated and codified

Now, consider our contemporary culture and its music intensive saturation (in our homes, vehicles, stores, places of business, in the background to all produced media, etc.).

emphasis that he established remained a prioritized element.

Now, consider our contemporary culture and its music intensive saturation (in our

homes, vehicles, stores, places of business, in the background to all produced

With these two elements in view we are worshipers of God who are seeking to appreciate and properly value the biblical value of music and worship and also understand our contemporary culture’s extreme saturation.

So, we are left to wrestle with some matters:

media, etc.).

With these two elements in view we are worshipers of God who are seeking to

appreciate and properly value the biblical value of music and worship and also

Do we prioritize high quality music in worship because we love the music and aesthetically desire having high quality production and participation or because our music is at its core worship and therefore deserves to be the very best that the world has ever heard?

I sincerely hope we are and will aggressively strive toward the later element, but we must be ever vigilant to guard our hearts lest we stray here.

So, by God’s grace may we worship with excellence in prayer, preaching/teaching, and music!

understand our contemporary culture’s extreme saturation.

So, we are left to wrestle

with some matters:

Do we prioritize high quality music in worship because we love the music and

aesthetically desire having high quality production and participation or because our

music is at its core worship and therefore deserves to be the very best that the world

has ever heard?

I sincerely hope we are and will aggressively strive toward the later

element, but we must be ever vigilant to guard our hearts lest we stray here.

So, by

God’s grace may we worship with excellence in prayer, preaching/teaching, and

music!

The Levites in Nehemiah

The Levites helped the people understand the Law and taught the people as it was publicly declared.

The levites participated in the leading of public worship.

declared.

Some of the Levites were over the outside work of the house of God.

There were a group of Levites assigned to sing songs of praise and thanksgiving - watch by watch.

The Levites were regarded as an important element of the celebration of the wall and specifically the music accompaniment of the occasion (singing and instruments).

The Levites also served in auxiliary roles as they were needed.

As observed this unit of persons/positions were valuable to the reconstituting of Jerusalem’s life as an active city of the Jewish people.

The gatekeepers had an obvious value as so much emphasis has been on the rebuilding of the walls; therefore, keeping and protecting the access points through the wall must by necessity be a priority for any like city.

As observed this unit of persons/positions were valuable to the reconstituting of

Jerusalem’s life as an active city of the Jewish people.

The gatekeepers had an obvious

However, this was not just any city, but the holy and beloved city of Jerusalem.

value as so much emphasis has been on the rebuilding of the walls; therefore, keeping and

protecting the access points through the wall must by necessity be a priority for any like

To this end the Levites and singers received special emphasis and attention because at its heart Jerusalem was a city centered on the worship of The LORD, and therefore their positions and responsibilities were also of a critical nature.

city.

However, this was not just any city, but the holy and beloved city of Jerusalem.

To this

end the Levites and singers received special emphasis and attention because at its heart