Nehemiah 12: Thanksgiving

Joe Vivian

Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

0 ratings

· 189 views

Notes

Transcript

: Thanksgiving

Think on this question:

"How are you devoting your life to Christ?" Sounds like a no brainier; however, when we look at the definition of Devoted-"Solemnly set apart or dedicated."

This truth of being "Set Apart for Christ" is one we will discuss further on Sunday.

So, please read and .

Understanding the Text

The Text in Context

The narrative prior to this passage has described a series of events that together give evidence of God’s fulfillment of his promise to restore a remnant from Israel after the judgment of exile.

He has brought people back to the land he promised to Abraham’s descendants (; ), restored the altar of sacrifice and the temple in Jerusalem (), provided an effective teacher of the law in the person of Ezra (), enabled the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall (), and given his people knowledge of his law and the desire to obey it ().

Each of these acts of God corresponds to earlier promises he made.

Such renewal of divine blessing represents a major milestone in Israel’s relationship with God and holds the promise of more to come in the future.

It is fitting, then, for Israel to celebrate what the achievements recorded in Ezra-Nehemiah signify.

God has worked on their behalf to restore them.

The book does not end here, however, and the closing chapter shows that, as real and good as the fulfillments narrated so far are, in important ways the restoration is not yet complete.

Interpretive Insights

So, let’s read

Nehemiah 12:27–47 CSB

27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sent for the Levites wherever they lived and brought them to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28 The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem, from the settlements of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for they had built settlements for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the city gates, and the wall. 31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large processions that gave thanks. One went to the right on the wall, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 and some of the priests’ sons with trumpets, and Zechariah son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph followed 36 as well as his relatives—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe went in front of them. 37 At the Fountain Gate they climbed the steps of the city of David on the ascent of the wall and went above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east. 38 The second thanksgiving procession went to the left, and I followed it with half the people along the top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 above the Ephraim Gate, and by the Old Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate. They stopped at the Gate of the Guard. 40 The two thanksgiving processions stood in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials accompanying me, 41 as well as the priests: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. Then the singers sang, with Jezrahiah as the leader. 43 On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. The women and children also celebrated, and Jerusalem’s rejoicing was heard far away. 44 On that same day men were placed in charge of the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tenths. The legally required portions for the priests and Levites were gathered from the village fields, because Judah was grateful to the priests and Levites who were serving. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were heads of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for Aaron’s descendants.

Let’s go deeper...

12:27 they sent for the Levites.

Nehemiah 12:27 CSB

The Levites’ special role was to assist the priests in leading the worship activities of the community.

They helped in the care of the temple, provided music and singing for worship, and taught the people God’s word, among other tasks (; ).

The fact that they are intentionally included in what is to follow shows that it is not merely a civic ceremony but has spiritual importance.

thanksgiving and singing.

Thanksgiving is a major theme in this passage.

It appears again in verses 31, 38, 40. In verses 31, 38, the Hebrew word translated “choir” refers specifically to a “thanksgiving choir.”

One of the main purposes of this event is to express thanks to God for all he has done to restore the community.

The rebuilt wall is seen as part of his work and plan.

12:30 they purified . . . the gates and the wall.

Nehemiah 12:30 CSB

30 After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the city gates, and the wall.

Purification in the Old Testament has predominantly to do with making someone or something ready for holy action or holy use.

Most objects that are purified are connected with the temple, such as utensils used in worship.

This is the only place in the Old Testament where a city wall is purified.

It confers a special status on the wall, comparable to that of the temple itself and the people who have also been purified.

In addition, the only other object in Ezra-Nehemiah said to be dedicated is the temple ().

Together, all this suggests that the wall and the city it contains are set apart for God’s use, as in the prophecies of

Jeremiah 31:38–40 CSB

38 “Look, the days are coming”—the Lord’s declaration—“when the city from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate will be rebuilt for the Lord. 39 A measuring line will once again stretch out straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn toward Goah. 40 The whole valley—the corpses, the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Kidron Valley to the corner of the Horse Gate to the east—will be holy to the Lord. It will never be uprooted or demolished again.”

and .

Zechariah 14:20–21 CSB

20 On that day, the words Holy to the Lord will be on the bells of the horses. The pots in the house of the Lord will be like the sprinkling basins before the altar. 21 Every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the Lord of Armies. All who sacrifice will come and use the pots to cook in. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of Armies.

12:31 I brought the leaders . . . up on top of the wall.

Nehemiah 12:31 CSB

31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large processions that gave thanks. One went to the right on the wall, toward the Dung Gate.

The completed wall was probably about eight feet wide, so it would have been easy to have a procession on top of it.

When the wall was under construction, the Judeans’ enemies taunted them that even a fox jumping on it would break it down ()

It is a satisfying part of their celebration to have a large company of people walking around the city on the wall.

Question:

“Do you see this as a prideful act or an act of worship?”

12:36 with the musical instruments of David, the man of God.

Nehemiah 12:36 CSB

36 as well as his relatives—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe went in front of them.

David’s directions concerning musical instruments were specifically for worship at the temple ().

1 Chronicles 25:1–6 CSB

1 David and the officers of the army also set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to prophesy accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals. This is the list of the men who performed their service: 2 From Asaph’s sons: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under Asaph’s authority, who prophesied under the authority of the king. 3 From Jeduthun: Jeduthun’s sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six—under the authority of their father Jeduthun, prophesying to the accompaniment of lyres, giving thanks and praise to the Lord. 4 From Heman: Heman’s sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5 All these sons of Heman, the king’s seer, were given by the promises of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these men were under their own fathers’ authority for the music in the Lord’s temple, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king’s authority.

Their inclusion here is further evidence that this procession should be understood to share characteristics of a temple worship service.

The reference to David’s instructions also shows that the Levites are following the commands given by God in the pre-exile period, since David, as a man of God, or prophet, was speaking for God when he issued these directives.

A similar point is made by the references to David, Solomon, and Asaph in verses 45–46.

12:40 The two thanksgiving processions stood in the house of God.

Nehemiah 12:40 CSB

40 The two thanksgiving processions stood in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials accompanying me,

The procession culminates at the temple.

The scene thus connects the temple, the people, and the Jerusalem wall, each of which has been a focus in the restoration of the Judean community

-Temple,

-People, and

-Wall,

There are also other specific connections with the earlier narrative.

Like this text, the account of the founding of the temple in

includes priests with trumpets (; , )

Levites with cymbals (; )

Thanksgiving (; , , , )

and expressions of joy so exuberant that they can be heard far away (; )

Ezra 3:13 CSB

13 The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away.

Nehemiah 12:43 CSB

43 On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. The women and children also celebrated, and Jerusalem’s rejoicing was heard far away.

Similarly, the report of the dedication of the completed temple in shares the features of enthusiastic joy attributed to God’s activity (, ; )

and large numbers of sacrifices offered (; )

Thus—surprisingly—the wall seems to be treated as virtually an extension of the temple, reinforcing the concept of the entire city of Jerusalem being holy.

12:43 God had given them great joy.

Nehemiah 12:43 CSB

43 On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. The women and children also celebrated, and Jerusalem’s rejoicing was heard far away.

With temple, people, and wall brought together on this day, it is likely that the rejoicing is not merely for the construction of the wall.

It is rather that God has restored the temple and walls to their proper state and the people to the land, and that all three have been dedicated to him for his service.

Great joy comes from both receiving God’s gifts and devoting them to him to use as he pleases.

Let that sink in…(Repeat)

The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

This recalls the similar report in at the founding of the temple, but there is an important difference.

In the earlier scene, the crowd had a mixed reaction, with some shouting for joy and some weeping.

Now there is no evidence of sadness.

This is further proof that any doubts that God has been restoring his people should be put to rest. The process seems to have arrived at completion.

12:44 men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms.

Nehemiah 12:44 CSB

44 On that same day men were placed in charge of the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tenths. The legally required portions for the priests and Levites were gathered from the village fields, because Judah was grateful to the priests and Levites who were serving.

In the Judeans had pledged to contribute the prescribed tithes and offerings for the Levites and priests and have them kept at the temple storerooms as part of their commitment to obey God’s law and care for the temple.

Now they take a further practical step by designating individuals to organize the process and ensure it is carried out.

Enabling and facilitating obedience are themselves part of obedience.

For Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.

The temple personnel were carrying out their duties according to the instructions given by David and Solomon (see v. 45).

The faithful, obedient work of the priests and Levites had a motivating influence on the rest of the people.

Can I just share with each of you how much that statement hit home to me personally…how about any of you?

Are we all not a motivating influence on someone in our lives?

They moved forward with previous obligations because the temple workers were meeting their own obligations.

12:47 They also set aside daily portions.

Nehemiah 12:47 CSB

47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for Aaron’s descendants.

The Hebrew verb translated “set aside” implies that the object is being set aside for a holy purpose.

In contributing these portions, the people and Levites are not just meeting practical needs; they are using their means to do God’s work in the world.

This continues the theme, present throughout the passage, of committing all resources to God.

God Speaking…

Two striking main thoughts run through this passage together.

One is that God’s holiness extends beyond the area normally thought of as sacred—the temple and its courts—to include the wall of Jerusalem and thus the city itself and its people.

The other is that this extension of God’s holiness to what is ordinarily perceived as common is greatly welcomed by his people.

God made it clear at Mount Sinai that he intended Israel to be a nation embodying his holiness among the other nations of the world ()

The purity laws, which determined the conditions under which an individual could be in the presence of sacred things, had the particular effect of reminding the Israelites about God’s holiness daily, in connection with certain everyday experiences.

Yet for much of their history, Israel did not even honor God’s temple as holy, let alone reflect his holiness through their daily behavior and attitudes.

Now, however, among the returned remnant committed to obeying God in the post exile period, there is a new understanding that the whole city, not just the temple, partakes of God’s holiness.

In other words, God intends every aspect of life to be dedicated to Him as holy, for His use.

Remember the question in the email:

"How are you devoting your life to Christ?"

Now, rethink that question with what we have studied this morning…every aspect of life is to be devoted to Him!

The correct response by God’s people to the spread of his holiness is illustrated in this passage.

Rather than seeing it as a limiting inconvenience, they mark the event with celebration and rejoicing.

They understand that this has been God’s purpose from the beginning and that participating in God’s holiness is a great blessing, the capstone of his provision for them.

Land the Plane:

Christians today often misunderstand what leads to the experience of the greatest good in life.

It is relatively easy to see that God’s forgiveness and the promise of eternal life in his presence are great blessings.

The same goes for the peace in our relationships and improved material prosperity that may come as a result of following God’s instructions.

But when it is not so clear how dedicating every part of our lives to God’s purposes will bring recognizable blessing, we are tempted to act in selfish and unholy ways, just as pre exile Israel was.

This passage shows God’s people getting it right.

They thank God for the tangible blessings they have been given, like the return of their ancestral property and the repair of the broken-down city wall.

But they realize these gifts are part of something even bigger.

The very things God gives to his people are themselves to be set apart for him to use for his purposes.

This extends to everything, even those things that our culture considers secular.

It is a big challenge for Christians to think through what it would mean to devote every part of the life God has given us to his use.

Being “Separated to God”

When we understand the value of God’s holiness, however, the process of committing our lives to his purposes becomes a joyful one.

Rather than seeing this as sacrificing the blessings God has given us, we view it as learning to live the life we were created for.

Using our abilities and resources in godly ways produces fulfillment and satisfaction that can come in no other way.

Like the Judeans, we rejoice when we see God’s work in our lives result in holiness in the everyday.

But many Christians may have experienced this only seldom, and the connection may be hard to see.

Worship leaders, like the Levites, need to guide public celebrations of the intersection of God’s holiness with our lives, in addition to prompting thanks to God for gifts we are more naturally inclined to be grateful for.

Once we embrace and desire God’s holiness in every facet of our lives, we actually motivate other believers around us to do the same.

The Levites and priests were faithful in the work of serving God and purifying the community, and this stimulated the rest of the people to ensure the framework was in place for Levites and priests to receive their appointed food and to donate it faithfully.

The laypeople saw their contributions as a holy responsibility given to them by God.

Think on this...As followers of Christ today, we faithfully seek to be holy in all we do, thus providing stirring examples to encourage other believers to be equally dedicated.

Take it Home…

God’s gifts aren’t payment for past obedience; they are resources for new obedience.

Let me explain..In the 2000 movie Pay It Forward, a young boy seeks to make the world a better place by repaying debts forward; that is, rather than reciprocating kindness back to someone who showed it to you, you pass it on to a third party and invite them to do the same for a fourth, and so on. This concept is one way of looking at what God does when he gives gifts to us. His gifts are not a payment given to us in exchange for our own past goodness. Nor are they a loan that he wants back for himself, since it has always been his to start with. He is giving us blessings so that we can be a blessing to the world while knowing, enjoying, and proclaiming him.

Let’s read

Matthew 25:14–30 CSB

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately 16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17 In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’ 21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’ 22 “The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’ 24 “The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 “His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned. 28 “ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

What He gives us to should not lead us to ask, What did I do to deserve this? but rather, How can I obediently use this to spread God’s gospel and kingdom?

There is meant to be no division between faith and the rest of life.

Another picture…

Runners know the power of running alongside faster, more competitive runners. Changing your running partner can vastly improve your speed and energy.

Subtly, imperceptibly, the natural desire to match rhythm, stay together, and keep up starts to stretch your abilities, and the next thing you know, your times and stamina are improving.

Christian discipleship is similar—running our race alongside motivated, sincere Christ-followers inspires us and subtly raises our game until we hunger for God more profoundly and pursue him more passionately.

1 Corinthians 11:1 CSB

1 Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:16 CSB

16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

Choose (and be) good running partners for this great race!

Related Media

Related Sermons