Nehemiah 12:1-43
Nehemiah 12:1-43
Life is full of highs and lows. This is true of believers and non-believers alike. Just look at the book of Psalms. No book of the Bible covers a wider range of a believer’s life better than Psalms, yet the book is written as a collection of songs and prayers. Why do you think God did that? I think God shows us in Psalms and Nehemiah 12 a pattern of worshiping in the midst of the journey - in both the highs and the lows.
Nehemiah has led Israel to rebuild the wall and has brought priests to serve in the temple again. This is a big deal seeing as they are in the middle of an exile. But this is still a FAR CRY from the days/temple of old. I wonder what it must have felt like to dedicate/worship in a temple that was a shadow of its former glory? Despite how strange it must have felt, Nehemiah and exiled people of God sang, rejoiced, and worshiped the Lord.
Sometimes we feel like we need to be in a good spiritual place with the Lord before we can worship him. Like we can’t praise God until we have met some imaginary requirement, but that’s not true and it’s not the biblical example we are given. Nehemiah worshiped as he longed for God to restore his people. David worshiped in a cave while hiding from Saul. The disciples rejoiced to be counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Paul and Silas worshiped in prison. It’s easy to praise God when we feel like praising God, but he is worthy of our worship in the darkest and hardest moments of our lives (and everything in-between).
“I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 34:1-4
Family Discussion
By: Joe Weaver
Life is full of highs and lows. This is true of believers and non-believers alike. Just look at the book of Psalms. No book of the Bible covers a wider range of a believer’s life better than Psalms, yet the book is written as a collection of songs and prayers. Why do you think God did that? I think God shows us in Psalms and Nehemiah 12 a pattern of worshiping in the midst of the journey - in both the highs and the lows.
Nehemiah has led Israel to rebuild the wall and has brought priests to serve in the temple again. This is a big deal seeing as they are in the middle of an exile. But this is still a FAR CRY from the days/temple of old. I wonder what it must have felt like to dedicate/worship in a temple that was a shadow of its former glory? Despite how strange it must have felt, Nehemiah and exiled people of God sang, rejoiced, and worshiped the Lord.
Sometimes we feel like we need to be in a good spiritual place with the Lord before we can worship him. Like we can’t praise God until we have met some imaginary requirement, but that’s not true and it’s not the biblical example we are given. Nehemiah worshiped as he longed for God to restore his people. David worshiped in a cave while hiding from Saul. The disciples rejoiced to be counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Paul and Silas worshiped in prison. It’s easy to praise God when we feel like praising God, but he is worthy of our worship in the darkest and hardest moments of our lives (and everything in-between).
“I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 34:1-4
Family Discussion
- What is worship?
- Why do you think worshiping the Lord in spiritually difficult times is important?
- What do you think the world thinks when they see believers worshiping in hard times?
By: Joe Weaver
1 Comment
Why is worshiping in spiritually difficult times important? Ps 16:11 tells us that in His presence is fullness of joy. Worshiping thru the difficult times recenters our heart and mind on Him, which in turn brings joy and empowers us thru the difficulty.
When I think of the song “It is well with my soul” and the circumstances under which it was written (the loss of his daughters) to me it shows a watching world that God is worth it- He is worth whatever hardships we face in this life.