Some would say it was "off the wall", but in truth it was atop the wall.
The setting is ancient Jerusalem, late fifth century B.C. The city had been sacked and destroyed years earlier, and its inhabitants captured and exiled. Nehemiah had been instrumental in rebuilding the ruined walls, and the time for dedication and celebration had arrived. Note the narrative:
"Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps and lyres. So the sons of the singers were assembled from the district around Jerusalem ... Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs,the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall ... The second choir proceeded to the left ... Then the two choirs took their stand in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials with me ... And the singers sang ... and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar." (Nehemiah 12:27,28,31,38,40,42,43)
It's easy to visualize this great top-of-the wall celebration. Two great choirs, in ornamental robes, process left and right atop the wall. They converge, and a great singing and worship celebration commences; so joyous that it "was heard from afar." The surrounding countryside reverberated with joyful praise!
Psalm 66:2 admonishes us to "Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious." Our God, Yahweh, is deserving of praise and worship reminiscent of the praise of two great choirs in the days of Nehemiah. There is nothing better than the combined voices and efforts of God's people in exuberant praise!
Singing may not be your forte. Praise isn't synonymous with music; it can be expressed in a multitude of ways. The key factor is a heart swelling with gratitude to our Father Yahweh for what He has done.
May we reflect on His great acts of mercy, provision, and deliverance in our lives, and be guided to "top-of-the-wall" exuberant praise from the heart.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
The setting is ancient Jerusalem, late fifth century B.C. The city had been sacked and destroyed years earlier, and its inhabitants captured and exiled. Nehemiah had been instrumental in rebuilding the ruined walls, and the time for dedication and celebration had arrived. Note the narrative:
"Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps and lyres. So the sons of the singers were assembled from the district around Jerusalem ... Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs,the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall ... The second choir proceeded to the left ... Then the two choirs took their stand in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials with me ... And the singers sang ... and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar." (Nehemiah 12:27,28,31,38,40,42,43)
It's easy to visualize this great top-of-the wall celebration. Two great choirs, in ornamental robes, process left and right atop the wall. They converge, and a great singing and worship celebration commences; so joyous that it "was heard from afar." The surrounding countryside reverberated with joyful praise!
Psalm 66:2 admonishes us to "Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious." Our God, Yahweh, is deserving of praise and worship reminiscent of the praise of two great choirs in the days of Nehemiah. There is nothing better than the combined voices and efforts of God's people in exuberant praise!
Singing may not be your forte. Praise isn't synonymous with music; it can be expressed in a multitude of ways. The key factor is a heart swelling with gratitude to our Father Yahweh for what He has done.
May we reflect on His great acts of mercy, provision, and deliverance in our lives, and be guided to "top-of-the-wall" exuberant praise from the heart.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
posted by steve @ 8:41 AM
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