This time next month the frivolity of Christmas will be in full swing! Our reading today in Nehemiah describes an event of true joy. All the efforts to make Jerusalem secure had been completed and Nehemiah and Ezra arranged a great celebration in which the Levites took the leading role because, their responsibility as the priestly tribe.

We read how Nehemiah and Ezra “sought the Levites in all their places to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgiving and with singing, with cymbals, harps and lyres” (Nehemiah 12:27). Nehemiah “appointed two great choirs to give thanks” (verse 31) who went in different directions on the walls after which “both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house (Temple) of God” (verse 40). “And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away” (verse 43).

This was re-establishing practices of the past. “Long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers and thanksgiving to God” (verse 46). Looking forward we see how some of these events foreshadow a future time. Speaking of the Temple, Jesus said, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’” (Mark 11:17).

The visions of the coming kingdom recorded in Revelation state the redeemed “will be priests of God and of Christ and reign with him for a thousand years” (20:6). The singing reflects the joys in the time of Moses. In Revelation we also read, “And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed’” (Revelation 15:3,4).

Do you recall yesterday’s closing thought? Those who “are on the Lord’s side” now, will be there. Make sure you are on His side.