Nehemiah

Nehemiah 12: Joy heard far away

Begin in prayer

Before the wall is given to God with songs, let us ask the LORD to fill our family with thanks. Please ask Him to show us the joy that He gives, and to lead us to Jesus.

Let Israel rejoice in him who made them. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Psalm 149:2

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us the joy that You give to Your people, and help us to see Christ, who cleanses all who come to Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The chapter begins with a record of the priests and Levites who came back with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. When the wall is finished, the Levites are brought to Jerusalem to keep the dedication with gladness, thanks and singing. The priests and Levites purify themselves, and then they purify the people, the gates and the wall. Nehemiah brings the princes of Judah up on the wall and forms two great companies who give thanks. One goes to the right toward the Dung Gate, the other goes the opposite way, and both stand in God's house. They offer great sacrifices and rejoice, for God made them rejoice with great joy, and the joy of Jerusalem is heard far away.

As you read Nehemiah 12, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God made His people rejoice with great joy, and they thanked Him together.

Chapter 12 has a record of priests and a great celebration. The record shows worship in God's house going on from one family to the next, as David the man of God commanded (verse 24). When the wall is finished, it is set apart for God. The priests and Levites purify themselves first, and then the people, the gates and the wall (verse 30). Two great companies then walk in procession on the wall, giving thanks with trumpets and the instruments of David (verses 31 to 42). They offer great sacrifices that day and rejoice, “for God had made them rejoice with great joy” (verse 43). The joy is a gift, and women and children rejoice too, so that “the joy of Jerusalem was heard even far away” (verse 43). The sacrifices looked ahead to Christ, whose one offering ends the need for more (Hebrews 10 verses 11 to 14). In Jesus, God gives joy to sinners who trust Him, and He says His people's joy can be full (John 15 verse 11).

How does Nehemiah 12 show us that God made His people rejoice with great joy, and they thanked Him together?

Priests and Levites serve, as David commanded.

The lists name priests and Levites generation after generation (verses 1 to 26). They keep thanksgiving and praise “according to the commandment of David the man of God” (verse 24). Every name stands for someone who kept watch or sang in God's house.

The people and the wall are purified before they sing.

The priests and Levites purify themselves first (verse 30). Then they purify the people, the gates and the wall. Things given to God are set apart for Him. Only the blood of Christ can cleanse a conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9 verse 14).

Two great companies give thanks, and the whole city rejoices.

The two companies walk on the wall, one each way, with trumpets, cymbals, harps and singing (verses 27, 31, 38 and 42). They offer great sacrifices that day (verse 43). Women and children rejoice too. “The joy of Jerusalem was heard even far away” (verse 43).

Memorise

for God had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women and the children also rejoiced; so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even far away.

Nehemiah 12:43

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where do I find joy, and have I asked Jesus to cleanse my heart?

The priests purified themselves, then the people, the gates and the wall. After that they offered great sacrifices, and “the joy of Jerusalem was heard even far away.” Joy came after cleansing.

We need a cleansing that stones and water cannot give. Our hearts are stained with sin. Jesus took the death His people deserved on the cross, and by His blood He cleanses sinners from all sin. He was raised to life, and He sits at God's right hand. His one offering fully pays for sin, and no sacrifice is left to add.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him is made clean and given a joy that no enemy can take away.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God gives joy to His people, and that Jesus cleanses sinners by His blood. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for the joy He gives, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, and each one may say what they are glad about.

Yahweh is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.

Psalm 28:7

Lord, thank You for the joy You give to Your people. Thank You for Jesus, who cleanses sinners with His blood. Please lead each of us to trust Him, and fill our family with thanks this week. Amen.