/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

The Map of

Nehemiah 12 | Dennis Miller, Lead Pastor | November 23 & 24, 2013 Neh. 12:27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The singers also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall. 31 I had the leaders of go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, , Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates— Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments [ prescribed by] the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east. 38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped. 40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away. Before They Celebrated . . . How To Celebrate God’s Goodness made certain that ______had been done 1. People were brought ______in one place, and a ______. special ______was given to bring in those who could — ______was established. ______in thanksgiving and worship. Neh. 12:27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out — The city was ______with people who from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. ______to live within the city. 2. The people ______themselves and their surroundings. — Work was ______to keep the city and temple Neh. 12:30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they running ______. (chapter 11) purified the people, the gates and the wall. Note that Life Was Not Perfect — It is ______to offer praise and thanks when your heart is weighed down with ______and ______. Consider that there were ______things to be concerned about: 3. The people ______got involved with the celebrations. It was a ______, and the leaders led the way. 1. Israel was ______by Persia. They were ______! The people ______and played musical instruments. 2. The walls and temple were ______of Neh. 12:40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of what they had been in the ______days. God; so did I, together with half the officials, Psa. 149:3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with Ezra 3:12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen tambourine and harp. the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. This parade idea was ______from Solomon, but 3. The enemies were still right ______the ______. splitting them into two groups was a ______. 4. There was ______left to do to ______4. The people focused on what ______had ______! Jerusalem and the surrounding areas ______. Neh. 12:43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. We are reminded that life is ______perfect, and that there . . . And notice what ______was heard far away! are always areas of ______. But that shouldn’t keep us Neh. 12:43 . . . The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away. from celebrating the ______things that God has done and is ______in our lives right ______! Psa. 27:3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out Consider: against me, even then will I be confident. We all need to ______our ______when we take time to Do you celebrate in a ______that makes others want to give ______and worship! ______you? Is God ______by your celebrations?