Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community: The Dedication Nehemiah 12:1-47

Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community
The Dedication

Nehemiah 12:1-47

 

The Priests & Levites (v. 1-26)

• A list of the priests & Levites:
  • Under Zerubbabel (v. 1-11) (c. 538 BC)
  • Under Joiakim (v. 12-26) (c. 444 BC)
    • During the time of Ezra & Nehemiah (v. 26)
    • References the Book of Chronicles as a source (v. 23)
  • To show the continuity of the family lines for proper worship

 

The Dedication of the Wall (v. 27-43)

• Shortly after its completion, all of Israel dedicated the wall
• They saw it as God’s work
  • And they made no distinction between the “sacred” and the “secular”
• The people marched around the city on top of the wall, which was 9 feet wide
  • Half went clockwise, half went counter-clockwise starting at the Valley Gate
  • They sang praises as they went
  • They met in the Temple
    • Where they offered sacrifices and more praise

 

The Temple Service (v. 44-47)

• The people committed to take care of the priests & Levites
• The people dedicated some to serve as professional singers in the Temple
  • And committed to taking care of their needs

 

So What?

• When the work was done, they praised God
  • And they promised to continue to praise and serve Him
• Do we see the work of rebuilding our community as God’s work that we get to share in?
  • Making no distinction between ‘sacred’ and ‘secular’
• Do we have a commitment to serve Him as a testimony to those around us?

Meditation Verse: Nehemiah 12:43