Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 12:27-47, Hebrews 13:15, Revelation 19:1-8
I love parties. Love them. Any excuse to celebrate is good enough for me. New baby, new job, new spouse, new house, renovated house, new car, reupholstered car, birthday, anniversary, church holiday, national holiday—doesn’t matter. I’m here for the celebration. There’s something special about gathering with a group of people for a purpose that isn’t work-related, where the only objective is to have a great time. I have to admit, I’ve walked past a group of strangers having a party at a restaurant and secretly wished I could take part in their merry-making.
In reading today’s passage, I was happy to see I’m not the only one who likes to have a good time. When the wall was completed and the time came to dedicate the fruit of their labor to the Lord, the Jews held nothing back—and they were well within their rights! “On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy” (Nehemiah 12:43).
The wall had been rebuilt despite external threats and internal fatigue. And chile, if those folks didn’t rejoice! There were choirs and cymbals and harps and singers rocking the house with their jubilant praise. The people sang and offered sacrifices to God with great joy—praise that was heard far and wide.
It’s a sincere prayer of mine today that I would learn to look on achievements, victories, and answered prayers with that same exuberance. I don’t want to look back on an answered prayer and think, Welp! I’m glad that’s over with! and quickly rush on to other matters. I want to see every triumph for what it is: a victory won by my great and glorious God. I want to take time to honor God by celebrating His works and plans and victories well.
And Scripture tells us the Jewish people did just that, rejoicing like wild over a wall. They lifted a resounding praise that neighboring cities could hear because of a wall. To those other cities and nations, rebuilding a wall might have been an insignificant accomplishment, maybe something to jot down in a history book for posterity’s sake, but nothing major. But for the people of God, the rebuilding of the wall meant something.
It meant increased protection from enemies who would try to conquer Jerusalem.
It meant that their God hadn’t forsaken them, even though they’d sinned against Him.
It meant that He still dwelt in their holy city and would continue to fight for them.
I’m assuming that, after years in exile, that kind of knowledge was life-giving and joy-fueling for God’s people. I imagine it continued to bring them joy as they remembered it years later. This passage makes me want to do the same, to consider and reconsider God’s hand in my life, to look again and again for His goodness and power at work on my behalf. It also makes me want to learn how to celebrate—really celebrate—those victories, achievements, and even (seemingly) unanswered prayers in such a way that my joy can be heard far and wide.
Because if my joy can be seen or heard coming from a mile away, my neighbors and friends will start to wonder, What’s she so happy about? Which may just lead to, How can I have the kind of joy she has? And when asked, I can confidently point them to the great and glorious God who gives me the victory in Him, again and again and again.
Erin Rose lives and works in vibrant Richmond, Virginia, where she serves as Worship & Teaching Pastor at East End Fellowship. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia, and is currently enrolled as a graduate student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Erin is a member of Urban Doxology, a ministry that is writing the soundtrack of reconciliation for the church. Her greatest joy lies in leading God’s people in authentic worship, and teaching them the truth found in God’s Word. She also enjoys eating delicious food, spending time with loved ones, and indulging in the occasional Netflix binge.
My sister is having the most horrible time….her marriage….her husband’s ongoing mental issues….her job and it’s travel requirements. I often stop and pray for her at random times during the day and give thanks for my own life. It’s not perfect but we’re all safe and healthy and we’re so blessed to have that.
I will pray for your sister and her husband! Blessings to them as they navigate this challenging time. I too am working through some things. I just found these 2 verses and they are providing me comfort. The Lord himself will fight for you just stay calm Exodus 14:14 and He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4. God has them covered! How nice of you to keep them in continuous prayer. Blessings to you!
I feel like sometimes I definitely don’t rejoice enough! God answers a prayer and I say thanks and move on to the next issue at hand.
I had a long year last year praying and wrestling with my heart and with God. I wanted another child but my husband did not. I had many people tell me to just be happy to have two healthy children. I was happy, extremely happy – but I couldn’t quell the aching desire to continue to grow our family. It was very hard on both me and my man. But everything is in Gods timing and eventually he softened my husbands heart and here I am 5 months pregnant with our third child and 2nd baby boy. It may not seem huge to some people but its huge to me and the whole process helped me grow so much closer to God and gain a better understanding of him and his love! Praise God for his great works of love! I pray that I can constantly look for things to rejoice about and focus more on being thankful and appreciative. God is good!
I was struck today by the thought of such joyous, abandoned worship amidst the danger. Just b/c the wall was completed didn’t mean the opposition melted away like in a movie. The last couple days talked about trepidation to live within the city. There were still enemies all around and among them. And still they worshipped.
May we worship amidst the struggles. Among our “enemies” & amidst the arrows hurled at us by THE enemy. Amidst our pain and confusion, our doubts and our questions. That we would look up and immediately fall prostrate to declare “Holy, holy, holy!”. That “ With Jesus’ help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name.” (Hebrew 13:15). Amen!
So lovely. Thank you for sharing!
I love this insight that you shared. I want my faith to be so strong as this, that I would still rejoice and praise God even in the midst of the danger.
Yes! Yes! God showed me one time that it is Praise that overcomes the darkness! The more we give the sacrifice of praise (and I say sacrifice because it’s not always easy) the more Christ is exhaulted overall and not the darkness and problem. I believe 2 cron 20 is the verse that hit that lesson home for me.
These messages always seem to convict me right where I need it. Sometimes I can be very bad about just simply giving God a thank you and going on my way instead of really taking time to worship God and honor what He has done for me. This was such a wonderful reminder that every answered prayer is cause for a celebration!
Rejoicing that His mercies are new every morning!!
Amen!
There is so much to hold onto in this message today. Am I recognizing each triumph of God in my life through answered or seemingly unanswered prayers? Am I rejoicing in my countless blessings so that all around me will know the source of my joy? Am I doing all that I can to help others know my Lord and Savior? Today, I will rejoice in the Lord for all that He has done in my life and I pray that I will lead others to His joy also.
Ditto and Amen!
It is so good to know that others struggle with this same thing! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you for this perspective! I think sometimes we feel celebrations are too much work or unnecessary, but this is a great reminder as to why they are important.
My heart needed this today, so much. Last night, my family got some pretty devastating news and it’s coming on the crest of an upcoming major surgery next week, me traveling across the country next week, and many other stressful things right now.
I was praying last night for God to provide and bring back joy into my heart, and then this morning, I read about joy being heard far away from Jerusalem as they celebrated God’s providence and their perseverance. Thank you She Reads Truth! This was beautiful and a great start to my day! ❤️