A MARCH OF THANKSGIVING—A CONCERT OF PRAISE We usher in God’s presence when we worship God in abandon, forgetting about ourselves and lifting our eyes, hands and voices to our Creator. In a large, carefully orchestrated thanksgiving march, Nehemiah, the priests and the people pay homage to God with songs, music and shouts of praise. The Scriptures say, “Shout praises to the LORD, everyone on this earth. Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the LORD!” (Psalm 100.1, 2) The people of Jerusalem offered God a concert of praise! Were these the wall builders, the brick layers, the plasterers, the sanders, the tilers…? Yes, they were. Whoever we are, God can use us. Is there anything we can offer God? Let’s give him praise! Why do you think it was fitting that the people went to the top of the city wall and stood in a circle? Why was it important for them to praise God in community rather than each person offering praise in their individual homes? Work with local churches and para-churches to pray about and plan a campaign that would revitalize neighboring communities. Pray: Lord, you are the one who unites us in ways we cannot comprehend. Make us a community of believers whose aim is to show others the way to you, so together, we can give you praise. I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. (Nehemiah 12:31 NIV) The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped. The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, (Nehemiah 12:38-40 NIV)
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 06:10:49 +0000
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