I didn’t expect him to be there. Kind of surprised he showed up . . not just once, but four times. It’s been 600 years since he was physically on the scene. But when it’s time to rejoice . . . when it’s time to praise . . . when it’s time to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving . . . it’s time to do it just like David.

I’m reading in Nehemiah 12 this morning. The walls of Jerusalem have been rebuilt. The opposition has been withstood . . . the scoffers silenced. What’s more, the people of God have experienced revival . . . the Word rediscovered . . . the Word preached . . . the Word taught . . . the Word heeded and obeyed. And now it’s time to celebrate. Not in recognition of their own abilities and accomplishments, but in the goodness, grace, and great power of the God they serve. The temple is back in business and the walls of Jerusalem stand . . . all because God brought His people back. Back to the land . . . back to Himself. Time to rejoice and give thanks . . . and time to do it just like “David the man of God” had commanded.

Nehemiah 12 isn’t about David, but his name shows up four times . . . twice as “David the man of God.” And what impresses me is the legacy left through this man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22). How integral he was in establishing this part of the temple activity. When it’s time to dedicate the wall, Nehemiah gathers all the Levite musicians and singers to Jerusalem and tells them to “go for it!” . . . just as David commanded (Neh. 12:24, 45) . . . and with the musical instruments “David the man of God” used (12:36). When it was time for the singing of songs . . . for the declaration of praise . . . for the giving of thanks . . . do it like David did.

And it reminds me that our modern worship isn’t something new . . . it’s just the latest form of something ancient . . . something God has ordained throughout the millennia to be part of what His people do when they get together. It is the natural response of the people of God to the wonder-inducing works of God. Though the slicing and dicing of animals ended at the cross, this form of sacrifice continues today . . . “let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name” (Heb. 13:15). And it is an offering that will continue throughout eternity (Rev. 4:9-11). And so, when Nehemiah sensed it was time to thank God for the work He enabled to be done, Nehemiah did just as David the man of God commanded.

And so they celebrated . . . “with gladness, with thanksgiving and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.” Today the instruments are a bit different. The cymbals have been surrounded by some “skins” and become a drum kit . . . the harps are now the strings of a piano (or the digitized equivalent) . . . and the lyres have given way to the guitars. But what should not have changed is the gladness, the thanksgiving, and the singing.

And unlike the worship service in Nehemiah 12, our choir doesn’t gather on the wall around the temple, but our choir IS the temple . . . “a holy temple in the Lord . . . a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Eph. 2:21-22). The glory of God dwelling where the people of God are worshiping.

Gladness . . . thanksgiving . . . singing . . . just like David commanded . . .

“And the singers sang . . . And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.” (Nehemiah 12:42b-43 ESV)

May the joy of the people of God be heard far away . . . today, as it was that day . . . for His glory . . . amen?