Secondly, The Levite Service. These had the oversight of the outward business of the House of God (v. 16). Thirdly, The Singer's Service. The Sons of Asaph were over the singers to start the thanksgiving (v. 17), and lead the service of song (v. 22). This service was SO important that the King of Persia allowed the singers a daily portion. Fourthly, The Porters' Service. These kept guard by the gates. The Lord's Watchers. 23. The Workers' Joy. Nehemiah xii. 27-47. FOR centuries Jerusalem had been known as the "Holy City." Not because of its inhabitants, for, instead of being holy, many of them were sunk in wickedness and impurity. Jerusalem was called the "Holy City" because it was the dwelling-place of God, and His presence there made it what no other city on earth could be. "The Holy City" (Ps. lxxvi. 2 and Ps. cxxxv. 21). Through the sins of Israel, God had to withdraw from Jerusalem, and the place was left desolate and deserted; but in Nehemiah's day Jerusalem, in spite of her sins, was still the "Holy City": we find it twice called so in chap. xi. vv. 1 and 18. As such, it was God's House, God's Home on earth, His special property, His dwelling-place; and Nehemiah felt it was only right, so soon as all was put in order within the city, that the wall should be dedicated to God. It was nearly thirteen years since the wall was finished, and the gates set up before the wall was dedicated. How was it the dedication did not take place before? It was perhaps that Nehemiah wished to have the people right with God, or he wanted to see the city made secure, or possibly he wished to get permission from Persia. Nehemiah called together all the Levites and Singers from the country-places where they dwelt, for they all had an interest in this unique ceremony. They trooped in, in obedience to the call, full of joy and gladness, singing and playing and praising God, very likely chanting the cxxii Psalm. This, no doubt, clearly expressed their feelings. They were glad to go to Jerusalem, stand within her gates, see her strength and security, to know there was the centre of all Truth and Justice, and glad to join with the various tribes in testimony and thanksgiving to the God of Israel. They had before gathered together for service for defence, for reading the Word, and now they gather to rejoice together. Because the work was finished and now it has to be crowned. Because the Lord had brought them through it all, and there is a special inspiration about universal joy. We may note several features of this solemn service. The Purifying Service, Processional Service, Praise Service, and Practical Service. 1. The Purifying Service. "And the Priests and the Levites purified themselves and purified the people, etc., etc." We are not told how this was done, but no doubt all was according to the Law of Moses: By Water and Blood (Num. viii. 7; Num. xix. 17 and 18; Heb. ix. 21). How the Water and Blood were applied on this particular occasion we know not. It was a solemn act of separation unto God. The Water and the Blood both prefigured Christ, and both figures are explained in Heb. ix. 13-21. The wall and the gates were purified as well as the people and the priests, from which we can learn that not only we ourselves, but also all our Service, needs the cleansing which only Christ can give us. The Blood of Christ makes us clean (1 John i. 7), and the Water (Word of God) keeps us clean (John xv. 3). 2. The Processional Service. After the purification came the dedication. God had graciously helped and prospered them, and it was right to publicly dedicate all to Him. "Then I brought up the Princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two companies of them that gave thanks." The first company "went on the right hand.” In the ranks were Priests and Singers and many leading men of the city. "The other company of them that gave thanks proceeded in an opposite direction, and Nehemiah very humbly puts it, And I after them, bringing up the rear. This wonderful procession met in the vicinity of the Temple, and then, unitedly, "gave thanks in the house of God ” (v. 40). They all united in joyful Praise, Thanksgiving, and Worship. This is the spirit which should always pervade the life of every Redeemed one. We should offer the sacrifice of Praise continually (Heb. xiii. 18). 3. The Praise Service. This Service of Song was a very hearty one, and brought great joy to Israel, as well as glory to God. Many took part in it, all enjoyed it, and great was the testimony for the Lord. "So that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off." It was the great Song of Triumph over long difficulties. It was with Thanksgiving-expressing their gratitude. It was with Instruments-expressing their Testimony. It was emphatically "The Joy of the Lord." The Singers sang, the Players played, the Priests offered sacrifices, and the People worshipped. It was a great day in Israel. We all have our special times of Joy and Praise-great days in our spiritual life and service. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the fruit is Love, Joy, and Praise. Hence the exhortation of the apostle, "Be filled with the Spirit." "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,” give thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. v. 18, 19, 20). Salvation, Song, and Service are the fruit of our Joy in the Lord (Neh. viii. 10; Phil. iv. 4; Thess. v. 16). 4. The Practical Service. "And at that time were some appointed over the chambers," etc. After the lively scenes of the dedication, these happy people had to settle down to practical work. The Priests, the Levites, the Treasurers, the Singers, and the Porters all had their appointed task allotted them. To every man his work. "Both the Singers and the Porters kept the word of their God” (v. 45). All was to be done to the glory of God, and this practical service was, in fact, continuing the Thanksgiving according to the will of God. The lesson for us is, "Be ye doers of the word." The Lord says, "If ye these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John xiii. 17). As one worthy writer has wisely remarked, "It is easy to be Christians on parade; but difficult, humanly speaking, to march step by step, dusty and footsore, along the path of daily life. Let us see to it that we are everyday Christians; and that, whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we do all to the Glory of God." 24. The Worker's Reward. Nehemiah xiii. 14, 22, 31. know WE come now to the closing scenes of Nehemiah's wonderful work, and the close is like the whole service, full of distinctive marks of faith, courage, devotion, and faithfulness to his God; and the striking threefold prayer given us in vv. 14, 22, and 31 is worthy the Man of Grace, Grit, and Goodness. There seems to have been an interval of about twelve years between the completion of the building of the wall and its dedication or the final restoration of the city and people, This we gather from chap. ii. 1, chap. v. 14, and chap. xiii. 6. Nehemiah, it seems, went back to Persia during this interval; some say to see the King, and get his furlough extended, or to answer questions, and clear up misunderstandings raised by the enemies of the Jews. Be that as it may, Nehemiah seems anxious to finish the work he had so well begun, so he tells us, "After certain days obtained I leave of the King, and I came to Jerusalem,” etc., (vv. 6 and 7). "When Nehemiah returned to Persia he left the people penitent and devoted, the temple restored, the Priests and Levites at their posts. All loyal to conscience and God. When Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem he found Tobiah in the temple, Levites in the fields, tithes in the people's hands, the house of God forsaken, and the Sabbath of God desecrated." This was So he had to begin his reformation work again. most trying, disappointing, and depressing, but he set to work most earnestly; and looking up to God for strength, he swept away the evil and the evildoers, and in the Name of God separated the wheat from the chaff. In the midst of opposition, abuse, and anger of his enemies, he went on with the work of God, till he could say, "Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the Priests and the Levites everyone in his business" (v. 30). It was whilst in these trying circumstances he appeals to God in that wonderful repeated prayer, "Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God" (v. 14.) "Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy" (v. 22). "Remember me, 0 my God, for good" (v. 31). The true light and interpretation of these prayers are as follows: "Remember me, O my God," and Record |