Wednesday
Read: Nehemiah 12:27–43
SOAP: Nehemiah 12:43
And on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard from far away.
Into the Text
The reconstruction of the wall meant a great deal to the people of Jerusalem. It meant protection from foreign invaders and God’s favor on Judah. After the wall was rebuilt, it was time for the people of Israel to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
As part of this celebration, the people gathered in Jerusalem. They dedicated the wall to God and praised Him for the completion of the work and the renewal of the covenant. God had done something great for His people, and they were obedient to commemorate and celebrate His great work.
Their celebration was so great that it could be heard from far away. Even from a distance, people heard the celebration of God’s goodness. No doubt those who had opposed the rebuilding efforts were hearing the great jubilation of the people of God.
How often do we stop to celebrate when we see evidence of God working in our lives? When a prayer is answered or when God performs a miracle in our lives, we often continue without celebrating. It can be easy to forget the wonders God has done for us when we don’t take the time to stop, thank Him, and rejoice in His goodness.
This is not an unimportant matter, for we are commanded to “rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 3:1) and to “delight yourself in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4). God wants us to find our highest joy in Him.
How can we learn to rejoice more in God? It is hard to do when we fill our minds with other things, especially worldly entertainment—things we watch on TV or scroll through on our phones. We must fight against everything that diminishes our joy in God. We cannot delight ourselves in God when our minds are not engaged with Him. Neither can we rejoice in Him when we can’t see how glorious and wonderful He is. But we can—and should—ask Him to reveal more of Himself to us when we read the Bible and meditate on His Words and promises. For “in [His] presence, there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11).