Nehemiah 12:27-43 - Homiletics

The dedication of the wall.

As soon as possible after the completion of the wall, a joyful celebration of the event was made, in which all the people participated. As Jerusalem was "the holy city," this took the form of a "dedication."

I. THE SOLEMNITIES WITH WHICH THE DEDICATION WAS MADE .

1. The preparations. The gathering of the Levites, especially the singers and musicians, who were to take a leading part in the ceremonies ( Nehemiah 12:27-29 ).

2. The purifications ( Nehemiah 12:30 ). The priests and Levites first purified themselves, and then the people, the gates, and the wall. By what rites is not recorded.

3. The processions ( Nehemiah 12:31-42 ). Two processions were formed, Ezra accompanying one, and Nehemiah the other. One company marched on the wall to the right, the other to the left, both to the sound of trumpets, singing, and instruments of music; and meeting over against the temple, they united their praises.

4. The universal rejoicing (verse 43). Many sacrifices of thanksgiving were offered, of which the people, men, women, and children alike, partook with many and loud expressions of joy.

II. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE SOLEMNITIES . They were—

1. An expression of ardent gratitude to God. He "had made them rejoice with great joy," and it was meet and right that they should praise him for—

2. A consecration to God's service of the wall and all it was to guard.

3. A committal of all to his care and protection. As conscious that without him strong walls are vain. They may well have remembered—it is not unlikely that they sang—the song in Isaiah 26:1 , or the promise given in Zechariah 2:5 .

Lessons:—

1. For success in every good work praise should be offered to God. The joy it awakens should be directed heavenwards in thanksgiving. For however active we and others may have been, it is to God the good issue m to be ascribed. The power and the will to work, the favouring circumstances, the assistance of others, etc; all are from him.

2. All should join in thanksgiving for mercies common to all. For signal national blessings, national thanksgiving should be rendered.

3. The best expression of gratitude for Divine gifts is to dedicate them to the Divine service. All that we are and have should be thus devoted to God.

4. Purity is necessary for, and may be secured by, those who engage in religious services ( Proverbs 15:8 ; Isaiah 1:15 , Isaiah 1:16 ; 1 Timothy 2:8 ; Hebrews 10:22 ). The last-quoted passage, with the previous verses, shows how the needful purification is to he obtained. Not from merely human priests, but from the great High Priest, who needed not, like the priests mentioned in verse 30, to purify himself before purifying others (see Hebrews 7:26 , Hebrews 7:27 ).

5. Children should be associated with their parents in the worship of God