The Joy of The Lord | Nehemiah 12:27-43 | Dr. Brian Lee

Good evening. It's my joy and privilege to serve the Lord and to serve this local body here tonight by bringing the word of God. The passage that will be the focus of our study tonight is from the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah chapter 12 verses 27 through 43. When one thinks about the book of Nehemiah, the first thing that might come to mind is the building of the wall in Jerusalem.

But what precedes that, what surrounds that, the context is just as important, if not more important than the building of the wall itself and the dedication of the wall that begins our passage tonight. You see, before the building of the wall, it is the temple, the house of God that is built and its foundations laid. Remember that the first temple was destroyed about seven years prior during the Babylonian invasion and subsequent exile. And the context of the book of Nehemiah is really the context of two books, Ezra and Nehemiah, which originally were one book. It spans about a hundred years, sometime between the sixth and fifth centuries before Christ.

And while the book of Nehemiah begins with the report of the wall Of Jerusalem being broken down, its gates destroyed by fire, one that we are told brought great trouble and shame to the people of God, and it brought Nehemiah to mourn and weep for days. In spite of that beginning, the book culminates with something that we all desire in this life, and that is joy. Joy. Our passage in Nehemiah 12, where there is public worship with singing instruments, marching at the wall, is a scene of gladness and joy, even what is described as great joy. Who doesn't want great joy?

What does it mean to have this kind of joy when we gather together as God's people like here tonight? What does it mean to have joy, even great joy, as we live this life? As many of you know, the Bible speaks of joy throughout its pages, even a type of joy that the wicked and unsaved experience and also for the believer in times of weakness, backsliding, or sin. In Job 20 verse four, it says this, do you not know this from of old since man was placed on earth that the exalting of the wicked is short and the joy of the godless, but for a moment. For a moment.

An exciting exalting type of joy that the Bible tells us is temporary, shallow for a moment. But if you are among the redeemed and ransomed here tonight, you know where true joy comes from. The Bible proclaims over and over again that there is no joy apart from knowing God. There is no joy apart from knowing Christ. Psalm 16 ends with these glorious words in verse 11.

You make known to me the path of life. In your presence, there is fullness of joy. Without God, without Christ, without his presence, joy is incomplete. It's hollow, even empty. In fact, the word joyful, if you think about it, means full of joy.

There's no room for anything else. And the verse in Nehemiah that talks of a God filled joy is one you may have heard of before. The joy of the Lord is our strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength. It's found in Nehemiah eight verse 10.

What brought the people of God in Nehemiah? This joy, even great joy that we're gonna read about. So let's begin. Nehemiah 12 verse 27. It says this, and at the dedication of the Wall Of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites in all their places to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.

And the sons of the singers gathered together from the districts surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netafathites, also from Beth Gilgal, and from the region of Gevar and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall. There are three repeated words we're gonna highlight here as we look at this portion of our text. The first is the mention of Levites. Throughout Ezra and Nehemiah, the Levites play a central role out of all the exiles that come back to Jerusalem and Judah.

Ezra himself was of the Levitical line, not just a scribe, but also a priest. And remember, all priests are Levites. At least they're supposed to be, but not all Levites are priests. Some of them were musicians like the singers we just read about and others who served in the house of God. The Levites played a critical role in the reestablishment of worship at this time in the lives of God's people.

And, you know, when we read this, this might seem somewhat ordinary or routine that they would establish the Levites, you know, par for the course. But we have to acknowledge something here that this is an act of obedience. This is faithfulness unto the lord. Nehemiah 12 is a picture of joy in the context of obedience. In fact, continued obedience.

If you go back to Ezra chapter three actually, if you go back to Ezra chapter two, there's a verse there that says, as they made a beginning you know, the exiles returned, they made a beginning. And it says there that they obeyed the Lord. They obeyed obeyed the law of Moses when they laid the foundations of the temple, the altar in worship. There was a desire to obey right from the beginning. And in Ezra chapter three in verse eight, we read the following.

Ezra three eight says, they appointed the Levites from 20 years old and upward to supervise the work of the house of the Lord. These are God's commands that are found all the way back to the wilderness journey in the book of Numbers, even its roots in the book of Exodus when the tabernacle was being established. We see David do this also. At the end of his life, knowing that his son Solomon would build the first temple, he organizes the Levites as an act of obedience. We are told in first Chronicles 23 verse 27, that for by the last words of David, the sons of Levi were numbered from 20 years old and upward.

So establishing the priest and Levites by God's people at this time after coming back to the land was was obedience to God. And this is no small thing. Remember, as we read the Old Testament, we read about rebellion after rebellion after rebellion. And examples of that by God's people and by those in leadership positions. False prophets, false kings, those who may have the title of prophet or king, but are severely compromised, even apostate at times, not faithful to the Lord.

And it's the same for priests. We see priests being set up for the worship of idols and false gods in the high places we read about in first and second Kings or in the Chronicles. And there's a verse in the book of Jeremiah who prophesied about the coming Babylonian exile, and he lived to witness it in the destruction of Jerusalem. He declares in Jeremiah 23 verse 11 that during his time, both prophet and priest are ungodly. Even in my house, I have found their evil, declares the Lord.

And it is the same today across the landscape of the church, and the Lord grieves. We have some today who hold the title of pastor or elder or hold a position or platform who have yoked themselves to worthless idols of ideology to diverse and strange teachings. We have those who hold the title of pastor or elder but are not qualified according to the word of God, which instructs us that the office of pastor and elder are set apart from men. And for godly men, ones whose life testimony and pure character are reflected in their very lives, their marriage, in their children, their household, family life, public life, other qualifications that must align with the word of God, obedience. We do not get to dictate the terms and conditions of how a local body is to function, to worship, how it's organized.

Only God does, whether we like it or not, through his commands, through his word. But let's look at another example of this obedience in Ezra concerning the Levites, one that might be even more remarkable given the circumstances, and it's in Ezra chapter eight. Ezra here is in the middle of a long journey from Persia to Jerusalem with a wave of exiles. The text says that they are at the river that runs to Ahava where they camp three days. And it says in Ezra eight verse 15 that he found among the exiles none of the sons of Levi.

And he requests leading men, men of insight, which shows Ezra's godly character. Right? Because he, chooses this kind of person, one with insight, godly insight. He calls him to go to a place called Kasefia and bring back Levites for the house of God. This is obedience in the middle of difficulty, in the middle of a long and trying journey.

Even with threats from enemies on the way, if you remember this chapter, this is where Ezra fast and prays for a safe journey. Obedience in the midst of trials that brought God's greater blessing and greater joy that was yet to come. Brothers and sisters, may this instruct us tonight, may it encourage us tonight to obey that there's joy in obedience even when things are difficult, when there are trials and challenges in our lives. In our relationships and ministry work, God's blessing and his perfect joy comes with our trust and obedience in him. As we have sung that refrain before, trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but trust and obey.

There is happiness and joy that comes from obedience. And the Levites in this portion of our text is a picture of joy in the context of walking in obedience. The second word that is repeated that we're gonna highlight is a word I'm sure you noticed as we read it, and it's the word Jerusalem. Again, look at Nehemiah 12 verse 27. And at the dedication of the Wall Of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites in all their places to bring them to Jerusalem.

Verse 28. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem. And verse 29, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. This is a beautiful picture. A picture of the people of God drawing near to the presence of God in Jerusalem.

We are told all the way back in Ezra chapter two that the singers were among the priests, the Levites, and others that lived in their towns and all the rest of Israel in their towns. In other words, they went back to their towns, the towns of their families. And this is confirmed at the end of Nehemiah seven. And even in our passage here tonight in verse 27, it says the Levites were in all their places. But there is now a desire to bring these worshipers to Jerusalem, to gather those surrounding Jerusalem, and acknowledge those around Jerusalem.

The bible declares that he is the God who is in Jerusalem. Even Cyrus yes. That's Cyrus that was prophesied by name in Isaiah 45. Even this pagan Persian king declares at the beginning of Ezra, Ezra chapter one, a chapter that mentions Jerusalem no fewer than seven times. At the end of Ezra one verse three, Cyrus declares as he is stirred up by the Lord that he is the God who is in Jerusalem.

And while God's presence dwells differently in the new covenant for those that are born again, in the temple of our bodies, the Jerusalem of our hearts, one might say, the principle is still the same. No matter where we are in our lives, we must draw close to the presence of God. This is joy in the context of drawing near to God. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

James four verse eight. And notice what our passage says. They sought the Levites to bring them to Jerusalem. The singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. It takes our initiative, brothers and sisters, a conscious, continuous commitment to seek the Lord, both in private and in the public life of the local church.

Remember, this is a scene of public worship. May we always be committed to seeking the Lord's presence in private and public. May we be like these singers. We all sing here after all, right, when we gather on Fridays and Sundays. It's not just the praise team.

And while those of us on the praise team have a higher responsibility in leading the singing, may we all be like these singers to have a desire to be close to the presence of God as we gather together to sing and worship. Again, the context of joy here is that they were drawing closer to the presence of God, excited to be around Jerusalem, excited to approach Jerusalem. It often gives me joy to know that a Friday night here is just around the corner when I'm driving here on Sundays, looking forward to worshiping together in his presence, and I know many here feel the same. Let us always be committed in the joy of meeting together in seeking the presence of God. As the writer of Hebrews says, let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Hebrews ten twenty four and twenty five. He is the God who is in Jerusalem. But I believe this portion of Nehemiah 12 also points us to the Jerusalem to come, the place where Christ will return to rule and reign on earth. That alone should give us a bolt of joy tonight in the midst of what we are seeing in our city, in our nation, in Europe, Middle East, around the world. Jesus will reign for a thousand years from Jerusalem.

And there will be a new Jerusalem in the eternal age to come. And Jerusalem is often called Zion in the Bible, and the Bible has a lot to say about a place called Zion. It is personal to God. Psalm two verse six, God says, as for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. As for me, God says, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.

It's personal to God. Psalm one thirty two declares the following beginning in verse 13. For the Lord has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his dwelling place. This is my resting place forever.

Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provisions. I will satisfy her poor with bread. Now listen to the next verse and how it might connect with our passage tonight. Verse 16, her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy.

I wonder if Nehemiah 12 is a glimpse, a shadow of this glorious future for the saints in Zion. When was the last time you thought about a place called Zion? There's an astounding verse in Hebrews, the famous chapter that lists those who had faith, the hall of faith, as some have called it. It's the chapter that begins this way. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, Hebrews 11 verse one.

And in verse 10 of that chapter, it says this about Abraham. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Abraham, who did not have the law, who did not have the Psalms or the New Testament or the New Covenant. If he was looking forward to a city like this with foundations, how much more should we look forward to this city to have that kind of faith whose architect and builder is God himself? And the bible promises that there is a blessing if you if you have this kind of faith.

Psalm 84, the one that starts, how lovely is your dwelling place, oh lord of hosts, says in verse five, blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. Somehow blessing and strength in the Lord is connected to having the GPS of your heart set to a destination called Zion. A homeland as Hebrews 11 calls it. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. And do you know what awaits that destination for those in Christ?

Everlasting joy, eternal joy. And with singing, like our passage in Nehemiah twelve, one of my favorite verses about Zion is Isaiah 51 verse 11, which says, and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing. Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. When was the last time you thought about and look forward to a place called Zion?

I'm reading the book of Psalms right now, my own personal reading. And I was so blessed and encouraged this morning when I opened it up and I was at Psalm one twenty, which begins the song of ascents. And I had forgotten how much in those songs, those songs talks about Zion, a home. And it just really encouraged me this morning, knowing what we would talk about tonight. And so if you ever need your heart to be stirred, that's a good place to go.

The song of ascents, Psalms one twenty through one thirty four. So the gathering of Levites, a picture of joyful obedience. Jerusalem, joy in drawing near to the presence of God. A picture of our everlasting joy in Zion. And there's another word that's repeated that we'll highlight here in our portion of our text.

Let's go back to Nehemiah 12 verse 30. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall. I'm sure you caught the order. The priests and Levites purified themselves first before they purified the people or anything else. Reminder for leaders in ministry, and really all the saints, to prioritize holiness and purity themselves before serving others.

As one commentator put it, those that would be instrumental to sanctify others must sanctify themselves and set themselves apart for God with purity. The priest and Levites purified themselves personal devotion to holiness, and not just a one time occurrence, but continual sanctification. But what does it mean to purify the gates and the wall? I think when we read through the Old Testament, we see pictures of this, right, where water or blood is sprinkled on objects to purify them. But why purify the gates and the wall?

Well, perhaps if we ask another question, we might get some insight. And the question is this, what is the main purpose of a city wall? In many ways, its main function is to protect, to buffer a city and its inhabitants from surrounding enemies, to guard people and property, to prevent an attack from an outside enemy, to be pure from any infiltration, one might say. If that is the case, how much more true should it be for the walls and gates of a redeemed soul to protect from any infiltration of deceit or sin, for the walls of our souls to be purified, sanctified. Believer, are you staying pure in your life?

Are the gates to your soul, namely your eyes, Are the gates to your soul, namely your eyes and your ears? Do they honor the Lord in what they see and listen to, especially in this day and age of ideologies and images, words, videos, sound bites, you name it. Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things and give me life in your ways. Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things and give me life in your ways. Psalm one nineteen verse 37.

The bible proclaims that one of the first signs and one of the consistent signs of a godly man or a godly woman, a person that fears the Lord, is in what they reject. Not in any legalistic way, but in a genuine desire to honor him and to fear the Lord by living a life that is pure, to have a clean heart. In fact, our joy is compromised if the walls of our souls are compromised. What does it say in Psalm 51? Create in me a clean heart, oh god, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing heart. I think those are verses most of us recognize, but do you remember how the Psalm ends? Verse 18. Do good in do good to Zion in your good pleasure.

Build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings, and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will be offered on your altar. Build up the walls of Jerusalem. Protect a clean heart.

Protect the joy of salvation from any infiltration of impurity or compromise. And it's notable in Ezra and Nehemiah, where we see a city wall and its gates destroyed, the main sin highlighted in those books that compromises purity in the people of God is the intermarriage with foreign wives, yoking with foreign gods and unbelief. Do you know what's amazing about how Ezra is introduced to us? He is not introduced to us until Ezra chapter seven, where we are given a genealogy of Ezra. And among those listed among those in the genealogy are the following.

In Ezra seven, starting in verse five, it says that Ezra was the son of Abishua, the son of Phineas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, the chief priest. The son of Phineas. Yes. That Phineas in numbers 25 who saw a man where we see a man of Israel who had yoked themselves to Baal of Peor, who came to a public gathering with a Midianite woman. And as the Lord in his righteous anger and mercy told Moses to kill those who had done this, we are told that Phineas took a spear in his hand and pierced both the man and woman through the belly.

A picture of killing sin. Thus, the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. God's mercy. Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty four thousand. God's holy wrath and judgment.

And we have to read the subsequent verses. Look at what God says in numbers 25, beginning in verse 10. And the Lord said to Moses, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel and that he was jealous with my jealousy among them so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy. Therefore, say, behold, I give to him my covenant of peace. And it shall be to him and to his descendants after him, the covenant of a perpetual priesthood because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.

We are told in Psalm one zero six in verse 31 that this was counted to Phineas as righteousness from generation to generation forever. Son of Phineas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, the chief priest, this Ezra went up from Babylonia. And, you know, it's interesting to see the placement in Ezra and Nehemiah of highlighting this sin of intermarriage. In Ezra and Nehemiah, it is highlighted at the end of both books. In the last two chapters of Ezra, chapters nine and ten, and in the last chapter of Nehemiah, chapter 13.

Almost as if to remind the reader and to remind the believer as a warning that after we have victories in fighting the enemy, victories in fighting sin, we are to stay on guard. Build up the walls. Stay pure. Keep watch against the enemy, lest we fall. And one of the main themes of Ezra Nehemiah is how opposition comes immediately after obedience and victory.

Stay on guard, watch by watch. We do not have the luxury of taking off days in the battle against the enemy, the war against sin. And there's a beautiful picture of this in Nehemiah four in verse 17, which tells us that as they were rebuilding the wall, that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. What a wonderful picture of our labor and work in life and ministry, while at the same time being ready to fight Satan, to fight our flesh, to fight sin. And as as we know, we have the sword of this book.

We have the weapon of prayer to wage war, weapons that should be exercised and practiced daily. There is no such thing as a boring day in the life of a Christian. We are at war with a spiritual realm that is real. And as we fight the good fight, we get to fellowship with the living God. Hear from him, talk to him, Labor with one hand, weapon in the other.

It is the most exciting and joyful life one can have. May we live it to the fullest. And as we all know, we're living in amazing times where biblical prophecy is playing out before our eyes. May we be alert. May we be pure.

May we be ready at all times, equipped for every good work. Let's look at the next portion of our text now, and it's a lengthier one. It takes us all the way just before the last verse of the passage and will reserve that on its own. And this will be more of an overview, more of an overview as we read together now and see what the Lord might show us. So Nehemiah 12 starting in verse 31.

Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the dung gate. And after them went Hosiah, and half of the leaders of Judah, and Azariah, Ezra, Meshalam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah. And certain of the priest's sons with trumpets. Zechariah, the son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mataniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph, and his relatives Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Ma Ai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God.

And Ezra the scribe went before them. At the fountain gate, they went up straight before them by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the water gate on the east. The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people on the wall, above the Tower Of The Ovens, to the broad wall, and above the Gate Of Ephraim, and by the Gate Of Yeshana, and by the Fish Gate, and the Tower Of Hananel, and the Tower of the 100, to the Sheep Gate. And they came to a halt at the gate of the guard. So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of god, and I and half of the officials with me.

And the priests Eliakim, Mesiah, Minaamin, Micaiah, Elionai, Zechariah, and Hananiah with trumpets. And Mesiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Utzi, Yochanan, Malkia, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Yesrael as their leader. I somehow survived the reading of all those names. There's a lot to take in here.

There are many specific names of people, names of gates, and names of towers as we read. And Ezra Nehemiah records a lot of names, a lot of individual names. A reminder to us as the people of God that God sees it all. Every time we gather, even now, God sees every individual heart and what our posture is before him. And we know his eyes are also on a local church as a whole.

Right? When we read about the seven churches in Revelation, two and three. But even there, I believe he names individuals, so he sees each heart as we gather. But out of all the names that we just read, we're gonna highlight just one. And we're gonna go back to Ezra, so we're gonna highlight Ezra himself again.

We've already seen his connection to Phineas and Aaron and the significance of that, but look at what it says when the first choir starts in the southern part of the wall. Actually, they start on top of the wall. It's a verse that seems rather ordinary, but some of the most ordinary verses in the Bible are some of the most powerful ones, and I believe this is one of them. It says at the end of Nehemiah 12 verse 36, and Ezra the scribe went before them. And Ezra the scribe went before them.

Why is this significant? Actually, let's ask another question first. Why is it in this chapter where the priest and Levites are gathered and listed? Why is why is Ezra mentioned here only as a scribe but not as a priest? And if you remember from the genealogy of Ezra seven actually, we're gonna go back to that.

If you can go to Ezra seven verse six, let's read a portion of that. It says there, this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel had given. Ezra knew God's word. A scribe, someone who knew the law of the land, but this Ezra also knew the law of God.

And not only that, he preached and taught and lived the word. Later on in Nehemiah eight, which is a pivotal chapter in the book, we are told that Ezra brought the book and he read from the book and to the people for hours. Look at Nehemiah eight verse three. And he read from it facing the square before the water gate from early morning until midday in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. From early morning until midday, who says twenty minute sermons are too long.

For hours, Ezra the scribe read from the book. And it says that all the people paid attention, which tells us that we should pay attention when we encounter God's word, lest we miss out on something, or we miss out on the joy of receiving his word in full. Take a look at verse three again from Nehemiah eight. And he, Ezra, read from it facing the square before the water gate from early morning until midday. In the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand.

And the years of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And later on in verse seven, at the end of that verse, you see that the people remained in their places. Remained attentive, still, focused, undistracted. May that be us every time we gather in this place, be when we come before God's word. Are you attentive every time the word of god is preached and taught?

Attentive when the word of god is sung? Attentive when you read god's word for yourself? If not, we compromise a joy that can be given to us by God. Listen, this is the chapter that actually says the joy of the Lord is our strength. It's connected to the word of God.

May we delight in his word always. And Ezra the scribe went before them. And remember, this is a scene of public worship. The word of God must always go before any local body. Lead the preaching, lead the singing, lead all the ministries.

But we cannot help but think of Christ in this moment. Jesus who is the word, who is our great high priest, the greater Ezra, must lead us always, must always go before us. And I think this familiar passage aligns well with our text from Nehemiah. So this is Hebrews four starting in verse 12. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the son of God. Let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

That brothers and sisters is cause for joy tonight. A reason to be joyful every time we gather in this place. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. And Ezra, the scribe, went before them. It's no accident David's name here is mentioned three times around that very verse, ultimately pointing us to the son of David.

And with all the names we are given of the different gates and towers in this passage from Nehemiah 12. It would be a fascinating study to see how many of them point to Christ. And an example of this is the Fish Gate. We are told in Zephaniah one verse 10 that when Christ returns on that day, declares the Lord, a cry will be heard from the fish gate. But we won't look at every single name.

We're just gonna look at one. We're gonna highlight one gate from our passage because I believe it stands out from the text. Our passage tells us there there's one choir and half the people that start on the southern point, on the wall near the Dung Gate. And the other choir with half of the people start on the wall, on the opposite side, on the northern gate. So look at verse 38 again of Nehemiah 12.

The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north and I followed them with half of the people on the wall above the tower of the ovens to the broad wall. Now see if you can picture this. You have two choirs, one half of them and half the people on the northern end, the other half on the southern point, and they are processing around Jerusalem on top of the wall, from gate to gate, tower to tower, the names of which we are given. And they all eventually end up in the temple. It says in verse 40 that both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, the temple.

But now look at the previous verse, verse 39. The last part of it anyways. Just before they entered the house of God, it says, and they came to a halt at the gate of the guard. Came to a stop at the gate Of The guard. The march to the different gates and towers stopped and culminated at a place called the Gate Of The Guard.

The New King James version, I believe, calls this the gate of the prison or prison gate. But this gate also has different names. Some people believe that this is the same gate that we find in Nehemiah three, named the Muster Gate. And to muster something means to collect, to assemble. The Hebrew word we find in that text for muster is the word, which is the same root word that means to number.

Perhaps this was the place to number the prisoners at the gate of the prison or gate of the guard. And this Mifkad gate on the Wall Of Jerusalem opened to a road where there was a place of tax registry, an area known as the Mifkad at some point, where people were numbered or counted. You can say where heads were counted. It is quite possibly the same area and place which name in Aramaic means head or skull, a place called Golgotha. John 19 verse 16 through 18.

So they took Jesus and he went out bearing his own cross to the place called the place Of A Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him and with him two others, one on either side and Jesus between them. And they came to a halt at the gates of the guard. Perhaps, we don't know for certain, but perhaps this was a moment to remember what God had done up to this point for those two choirs as they came to a halt. Remembering what God had done in bringing back exiles.

Remembering what God had done in building the temple of the destroyed wall that was now rebuilt. Guarding one's steps when you go to the house of God, as Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes five. What about us? Do we take time during the week or during the course of a day before we come to worship in the house of God to stop and consider what God has done? To think upon the cross where god demonstrated his love for us, where Christ was crucified at a place called Golgotha.

From what I understand, there is some dispute or debate as to where the actual location of Golgotha is to this day. But some believe that it, is somewhere to the north of the ancient city walls. So there was apparently a a road that goes east to west where Golgotha is, is near. And if that is true, this East West Road going east also leads to the place where the bible tells us Jesus will return to the Mount Of Olives. Where in Zechariah 14, it says that Christ will land his feet on the Mount Of Olives and it will split into two.

One to the North and one to the South. Similar to the split of the two choirs in Nehemiah 12, and their starting positions on the Wall Of Jerusalem that day. Alright. Let's come to the final verse. The final verse of our study tonight.

Nehemiah 12 verse 43. 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.

What does it mean for joy to be heard far away? Did they sing praises that day so loudly with a great sound system that people outside Jerusalem and Judah could hear that? What does it mean today for the joy of a local church to be heard far away? I believe looking at a song in the bible will give us some insight. So we're gonna take a look at Exodus 15, a song of joy, a song of salvation.

After God had delivered his people from pharaoh in his army of chariots at the crossing of the Red Sea. It begins this way in Exodus 15 verse one. I will sing to the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider, he has thrown into the sea. The lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.

This is my god, and I will praise him. My father's God and I will exalt him. Now scroll down to verse 14. The peoples have heard. They tremble.

Pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia. Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed. Trembling sees as the leaders of Moab. All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. The peoples, the nations have heard, they tremble.

Do you know who among all the peoples that heard this joyful song trembled? Someone far away. Not just in geographic distance, not just in time passed over some years, but someone far away in background. A gentile, a prostitute woman named Rahab. One who is listed among those with faith in the book of Hebrews.

Rahab said the following in Joshua two verse nine, almost forty years after the crossing of the Red Sea, on the same day she hid the two spies sent by Joshua to Jericho, she said the following. I know that the Lord has given you the land and that the fear of you has fallen upon us and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. Verse 10, for we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, for we have heard. It is not the volume of singing or the volume of preaching or the breadth of platform that is heard far away, especially in our day and age. The joy that is heard far away has everything to do with what we have talked about tonight.

It is what God can only do. What God has done in our very lives that resonates to faraway places. The testimonies of the joy of salvation. The joy in walking in obedience and purity, being protected from the harm of deceit and sin. Joy in drawing near to God.

Joy of having the faith of an eternal home seeking a city to come, joy in his word and being attentive to it, the joy of remembering the cross, the joy in waiting for his coming again, joy in knowing Christ. That is ultimately what resonates and reverberates to those far away and to eternity. Do not underestimate what god can do through a saved and redeemed soul, through a changed life, through the joy of a local church. The verse in Nehemiah 12 says, for god had made them rejoice with great joy. His strength in us can reach someone who is far away from Christ.

Perhaps it's someone in the room tonight. Perhaps it's a spouse, son, or daughter, family or friends, or someone watching online. And this joy of salvation in Exodus 15 reached Rahab, whose entire household was saved at Jericho, where there was another where there was another wall. This time a wall that fell flat. No matter how far away someone is from God, our gracious, loving God is not far away from us.

He is close to those who call upon his name. The apostle Paul told those in Athens in acts 17 that yet he is actually not far from each one of us. Or in Psalm 34 verse 18, which declares that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. He is quick to forgive. He is near if we call upon his name.

So as we close, let's take one more look at the last verse of our passage. Verse 43, 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.

Great sacrifices and great joy. To obtain great joy, it requires great sacrifices. And it was to be a continual sacrifice. It says that they offered great sacrifices that day. What is the greatest sacrifice we can give to the Lord, to the one whose love is great?

You know, there were likely sacrifices of animals and other offerings and worship in the temple that day. And we've seen in our study tonight a sacrifice of praise, sacrifice of obedience, of time, and and so on. But what is the greatest sacrifice we can give to the Lord? And we all know the answer to that. It's our very lives, our whole lives.

In other words, every aspect, every thought, every doctrine, every opinion, every relationship, every step, every plan, every day, everything. True submission. Our whole being, the whole burnt offering, and yes, that is Christ, but it's also us. First Peter two verse 24 says this, he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

There is no greater joy than giving your whole life to Christ. Is that your joy tonight? Or are you hanging on to something or is that a joy from the past, not the present? Are you hanging on to something from the past or in the present that needs to be repented of or perhaps cleansed of, purified of? Is it your joy to give your whole being, your whole existence to Christ?

I stand here tonight testifying to that truth that I did not know true joy until I gave my whole life to Christ not too long ago. And it's a daily battle. May that be our joy and daily commitment until our final breath. Joy in Christ. So here's how we'll end.

We're ending. Do you remember that passage we looked at in Hebrews 11 where Abraham was looking forward to a city with foundations where God is the builder and the architect, the designer? It's the very place that Abraham in fear the Lord, went to sacrifice his son Isaac. It's the place that we've been looking at tonight where the wall was dedicated with great joy. It is the place where Christ died on the cross at a place called Golgotha, and where he will return to rule and reign for a thousand years.

And Revelation 21 tells us that it will be a holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. A city described with a great high wall with 12 gates. So we will end by reading the last portion of Revelation 21 of the city to come starting in verse 18. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel.

The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the 12 gates were 12 pearls. Each of the gates made of a single pearl and the street of the city was pure gold like transparent glass. And I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations, but nothing unclean will ever enter it nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the lamb's book of life, everlasting joy. I am excited to worship together at the conference next week, to hear God's word together, sing praises together, fellowship together. And may we pray and hope that we hear testimonies of joy that come out of the conference, testimonies of joy of changed lives. And also in our weekly gatherings.

I mean, we pray week to week as we gather here that we would receive God's great joy every time we gather. And may our joy be heard far away. May the Lord be our joy. The joy of the lord is our strength. Let's pray.

Father, we thank you for gathering us tonight. We thank you for every person here, and we believe, father, that you're sovereign and you brought everyone here for a purpose and for a reason. We thank you for your word, which gives us light, which gives us life. And we thank you for this passage in Nehemiah that points us to so many wonderful truths that only you have revealed to us in your mercy and grace. Father, help us always think of Christ.

Help us think and meditate on his word on eternity. Help us, Lord, be alert and sober minded in these days. And father, help us always know where true joy comes from. Help us seek you and pursue you and hunger after you in your word to receive the great joy that you desire to give us. You are a loving and gracious father, and we love you, father.

Thank you for your word. Thank you for this time tonight. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.