Concerts….

 Concerts….

I have attended concerts, music shows, church music for as long as I can remember….we had college productions, community concerts, western music, military bands, Christian artists, music shows in the big casinos in Nevada, parades, church music concerts/choirs, music recitals, plus high school and college choirs…music , music, music…it can sooth the soul, cause you to rejoice, reflect and tear you down as well….

Nehemiah 12 talks about the assembly singers, instruments for the dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem…

 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites 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. 

The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall. I had the leaders of Judah 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. and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. 

Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 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 site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east. 

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, 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. The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. 

The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 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. 

For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Neh.12.27-31,Neh.12.36-40,Neh.12.42,Neh.12.43,Neh.12.46

Can you imagine the amount of rejoicing after a grueling time of building the wall? 52 days…then the amount of rejoicing…

God alone gave them strength to start, continue and finish…with Nehemiah directing, then the reading of God’s Word by Ezra…

What do we have to rejoice with now, how do we do it? Music is still part of our worship whether in church, driving down the road..

Just going outside in the early morning or evening…the birds, crickets, frogs give voice to praise…

Thank YOU….

Praise to the Lord….

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=praise+to+the+lord+the+almighty+the+king+of+creation