Rebuilding with A Praise

And so this is the words and story that we see throughout the book of Nehemiah...

And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” Nehemiah 4:18-20

Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. Nehemiah 7:1-2

So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns. And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns. Nehemiah 7:73

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:5-6

Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. Nehemiah 9:5

For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron. Nehemiah 12:46-47

Do you see it?  The singers? The trumpet players?  The raising of hands?

Look at the importance of music in the realm of worship and the rebuilding of the wall.  There are at least 18 references to singers and 8 references to giving thanks.  Worship and Praise was not just an optional accessory – serves a core function.

Their first act upon return was to build an altar on the original Temple site, in the midst of the ruins. Under the open sky they erected an altar to God and began to worship and offer sacrifice as the Law of Moses had bid them. This is most significant, for the first act of a heart that really desires to return from wandering in darkness and the ways of the world to real fellowship with God is to erect an altar.

The altar is the symbol of divine ownership and involves sacrifice, worship and praise. The sacrifice is that of our right to run our own lives; worship is the enjoyment of the restored relationship where the heart is ministered to by the only One who can fully meet its needs; praise is that of a rejoicing heart.

In the Old Testament, we see that David discovered that God inhabits the praises of His people. In other words, the very presence of God dwells in the midst of His people as they praise Him (Psalm 22:3).  Psalms. 29: 1-2 says it like this “Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in holy array.”

What Is Worship?  The word worship comes from the old English word that means "worthship”
Simply stated worship is our human attempt in declaring God’s worth.  With that definition in mind, we don't worship God for what we get out of it, but to give God the honor that is due him, recognizing his worth, his value, his place in our church, and his claim on our lives.”

When the saints won the superbowl the city threw them a parade because they were worth it. They even gave Drew Brees a nice raise because he was worth it. You don’t have to know all there is about God to begin to express to Him His worth to your life. Not all of the saint fans that were there celebrating knew all of the stats of Drew Brees, all they needed to know to be a part of the celebration was they had won.

Maybe that is all you know-He has won- You can begin to declare how victorious He is. You can begin to describe His worth ship.

Let me encourage you to come to worship prepared to worship.

Pray before you come so you will be ready to pray when you arrive.
Sleep before you come so you will stay alert when you arrive.
Read the Word before you come so your heart will be soft when you worship.
Come hungry. Come willing. Come expecting God to speak.
Come anticipating a memorable experience with the Creator of the universe. 

Worship Rebuilds What Has Been Broken and Tears Down Any Wall that Stands in our Way.

Psalms 100

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Today would you worship?  Today would you praise?

Let's Rebuild With a Praise today.