RPG Adults
ELEMENTS OF CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE (XVII)
LORD’S DAY, MARCH 22
Nehemiah 12:27-43
Deuteronomy 20:1-7
“What man is there
that hath built a new house,
and hath not dedicated it?”
ELEMENTS OF CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE (XVII)
The completion of the wall was a great feat. It was done with the help of the Lord, and with great commitment and dedication especially in view of the opposition and threats. It was also done in very difficult times of oppression and famine. They did not forget to dedicate the work to the Lord. Like the nine lepers (in the account of Jesus healing ten lepers), it is easy to get carried away when our prayers are answered, and to rejoice in our accomplishments and not return with thanksgiving to worship the Lord for His grace and mercy extended to us. But they did not forget. They had spiritual leaders who led them in the dedication service.
And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places (Neh 12:27). The people once again gathered together as they had done in Nehemiah 8 and again in Nehemiah 9 and 10. They came together “to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps” (Neh 12:27). It is vital that in everything we give thanks to the Lord. It is equally vital that, as people who are consecrated and committed to the Lord, all our achievements too are dedicated to the Lord. If we are to do all things for the glory of God, then we should be able to dedicate all things to the glory of God. We should be very wary of pursuing and doing things that we, upon completion, cannot dedicate to the Lord and give thanks to the Lord. As we set ourselves apart for the Lord, and for His use and glory, can we afford to pursue and spend time, effort, talents and resources on things that we would be ashamed to attribute to the Lord, or to give thanks to the Lord for? Can we, upon completion of projects, call upon our ministers and Christian brethren to join us in a session of thanksgiving to God for our accomplishments? Upon completion of the wall, the Levites (Neh 12:27), the singers (Neh 12:28-29), the princes (Neh 12:31-34), the priests (Neh 12:35-36), and Ezra (Neh 12:36) were gathered for thanksgiving (Neh 12:38-40) and sacrifices (Neh 12:43) with joy, led by ministers who had “purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall” (Neh 12:30).
THOUGHT: It is a blessing to be able to rejoice and sanctify our works.
PRAYER: Grant me, Father, grace to rejoice and give thanks for Thy mercies.