Dedication of the Wall

August 18, 2013 Background Scripture: Nehemiah 12:27 – 43 Lesson Passage: Nehemiah 12:27 – 38, 43 After much prayer, sweat, animosity, and deceitful opposition, the wall was completed. This all began with a prayer to God in the midst of what appeared to be the need to make an unusual request. Yes, it was an unusual request. A slave was about to request temporary freedom from a king so that he could leave the province of his captivity and travel to the land of his ancestors to erect a wall to protect the city from future invasions—such as the one that had caused him to be enslaved in Babylon. How’s that for irony? Yet, he prayed and the Lord heard him and answered his prayer. This slave’s name was Nehemiah. The king gave Nehemiah permission to leave temporarily and he was given the leeway to accomplish what he had requested. However, the king’s permission did not stop the enemies of God from attacking Nehemiah and his cohorts both psychologically and emotionally. In fact, they armed themselves while they worked just in case the enemy decided to attack them physically. But through it all, God prevailed and allowed them to claim the victory. Now the time had come to celebrate the goodness of God towards them. This would not be a worldly celebration but a religious one. This would not be a quiet private celebration but a very loud public one. So the priest and the Levites were assembled from all of the villages on the outskirts of Jerusalem. They ceremonially purified themselves, then the people, and finally they purified the wall and gates. The musicians and singers were gathered likewise so they could lead the congregation in praise and worship to the God of Heaven. Nehemiah and the leaders of the people assembled themselves in prominent places in preparation for this glorious worship. Two men were set aside to offer thanks or in other words to lead a prayer of thanksgiving and devotion. When the celebration began, the crowd was heard even from afar off. They were thankful that their God had triumphed again over their enemy and allowed them to come out victoriously. Their battles were not private and neither would their praise to God be. They were grateful to God and they wanted everybody within earshot to know it. The congregation of Israel publically celebrated God’s awesomeness with singleness of praise. They dedicated the completed wall with much thanksgiving and fanfare. The greater the struggle the louder their praise was to reflect it. The task had tested them and now they were shouting their testimony. God had not forsaken them in the midst of their troubles and challenges. God was and always will be true to His word. All of Israel celebrated the triumph. They were mocked, threatened, and even delayed but they still triumphed. God had softened the hearts of kings to make them servants of His people. He had stilled the tongues of the opposition so that His people would not lose courage. God had given Israel again another reason to praise and worship Him. So it was with total joy and jubilee that Israel dedicated the completed wall around Jerusalem. Robert C. Hudson August 6, 2013