Nehemiah – Chapter 12

And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall. Nehemiah 12:30 – What a special day this was for the people! The wall was rebuilt and now was a day to dedicate it with worship. Worship leaders from all around in the Jewish community were brought into the city, choirs were made, and everyone from men, women, and children were allowed to be a part of this special day of worship to the Lord. We ever read in verse 43 that the worship and joy expressed was heard from far away that day. Yet see what took place before even the first note was sung. There was a purification that took place. The Levities, who were the worship leaders in that day, first purified themselves so they were in the right posture to lead the worship. Then the people were purified and even the surroundings where the worship was to take place was purified. In this we see a truth that is essential to our worship, having a clean heart before the Lord is key to worship that is pleasing to Him. Understand if we step in to church on Sunday and sing our hearts out in worship, but have active, unconfessed sin within our life, what we just gave to the Lord in worship was not honoring to Him. When we have unreconciled relationships with church family, when we have secret sin that is being entertain behind closed doors, when we are in relationships that go against what the Lord commands, all such things taint our worship with sin and it no longer is pleasing to the Lord. As we see done in the chapter, take time before the first note is sung to confess and set aside the sin. Whatever is defiling your life, find purification in it by confession and repentance. Worship that comes from a heart that has turned from it’s sin is a worship that blesses and honors the Lord greatly. Let’s be sure to give the Lord that type of worship each day. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3409

And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away. Nehemiah 12:43 – The joy of God’s people was heard far away. God today has already given us ample reasons to rejoice in Him with everything we have. The life we woke up with today, the blessings surrounding us, and especially the eternal life we’ve been given through Jesus. It’s deeply important that we choose to rejoice today over the amazing works that God has done in our story. Yes because God deserves the praise and yes because it’s even an encouragement to us when we do. Yet another big reason is that others will hear it, even from far away. They will hear our rejoicing, wonder where it’s coming from and what it’s all about, and they’ll come searching for answers. We then get the opportunity to share with them all the amazing things God has done in our story and share with them God wants to do them same in their story. So rejoice today, even if it’s not easy to be grateful today we have more than enough to be grateful for. Let your praise honor God, fill you, and spark the curiosity of those far away. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1294

And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron. Nehemiah 12:47 – This giving of daily portions like we see here, and the people of Israel serving and giving like we see in the other verses of this chapter, was the rhythm of obedience God commanded. It may not seem flashy, but it was holy unto the Lord. Yet as simple as giving daily portions of food for the singer and gatekeepers may be, what an effort it was to get to that point. Being exiled for decades, returning home to a destroyed city, and rebuilding in the midst of enemy attacks. Sometimes the most simple acts of obedience to the Lord on the outside require a long journey of difficult faithfulness first. Here in Ezra and Nehemiah we get a small understanding of the difficult journey that came prior to their rhythm of obedience we see in chapter 12, but in the lives of those around us we may not get that inside look. We may just see someone choosing to show up on Sunday for church, or give a few dollars, or even just show up for dinner with their family. Simple, yet pleasing things to the Lord, yet also possibly coming after a very difficult journey in their life. Let us then always be supportive of our brothers and sisters when they make the choice to be obedient to the Lord. Let’s celebrate with each other when we choose a faithful life over a life of disobedience to the Lord. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2515