Nehemiah 8:1 states that "When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel." Nehemiah had earlier embarked on a project to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and that project was successfully completed (Nehemiah 1-6). However, Nehemiah recognised that this was only one aspect of Israel's restoration; the people needed more than physical restoration- they needed to be reconciled to God. It is commendable that at a time when the Israelites physical restoration was on course and their welfare had improved, Nehemiah still chose to assemble the people to commune with God and be reconciled to Him. As leaders, we must learn to point people to God because He is mankind's utmost need.The Jews in Nehemiah 8 had assembled to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets, which according to the Law of Moses was scheduled for celebration on the first day of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:23). This celebration was a day of rest, where a sacred assembly would be gathered and commemorated with trumpet blasts. According to NIV commentary, trumpets were blown to announce the beginning of each month as well as the start of festivals. In addition, the Israelites would offer burnt offerings of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old (Deutronomy 29:2).
As Ezra, the priest and scribe, read out to the assembly the Book of the Law of Moses, the people begun to weep for the word of God pierced their hearts and revealed their unrighteousness. However, it was a season to celebrate who God was to them, and therefore their leaders (Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites) instructed them not to weep. They said, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" (Nehemiah 8:10). In year 2016, we must desire and pray that the joy of the Lord may abound with us, for we need to be strengthened if we are to fulfill God's purpose for us.
One of the ways of daily experiencing God's joy is by living a lifestyle of praising God.
In year 2016, God desires that we celebrate His goodness. He desires that we rejoice in Him and offer sacrifices of praise to Him, despite the various circumstances that we will go through. As we do so, our praise will arise to Him as a sweet smelling aroma; an acceptable sacrifice before Him.
On the second day of the seventh month, as the Israelites listened to God's Word being read out by Ezra, they realised that they had been instructed to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles by living in booths made of branches (Nehemiah 8:13-18). This celebration was to serve as a reminder to the Israelites, about how God rescued them from Egypt and the time they spent in shelters in the desert (NIV commentary). God is pleased when we remember where He has brought us from. It reveals our heart's gratitude and acknowledgement of God's doing in our lives. Psalms 124:1-8 reveals David's deep gratitude to God for delivering him from harm:
If the Lord had not been on our side— let Israel say— if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,the raging waters would have swept us away.
Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Just like David remembered his victories, many of us need to set aside time to reflect on our victories and "burning bushes". When Moses was in the wilderness, he had a "burning bush" experience where he encountered God in a very personal way. I believe that there were numerous times that Moses felt that God's mandate upon his life was too heavy for him to accomplish; perhaps at times he wanted to quit altogether; sometimes he might have doubted his calling and wondered whether God was still with him. However, the burning bush experience had left an indelible mark upon His inner man, and when all else did not make sense, this must have served as a reminder and encouragement on the faithfulness of God. What have been the burning bushes in your past years? Please note them down in your notebook and let them serve as a reminder and encouragement regarding who God is.
In this year 2016, choose praise over murmuring, grumbling and self-pity. Some may ask, "Why should I consider a lifestyle of praising God?" The following are benefits of praising God:
a. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3)
You and I belong in God's presence, for it is in Him that we live, move and have our being (Acts 17:28). The biggest tragedy in life is not to loose a loved one, or be involved in a debilitating accident, or to be informed that you have a terminal illness. The biggest tragedy in life is to be separated from God's presence. Those who abide in God's presence can surmount any of life's challenges, because they live life with the assurance that the Lord is with them.
b. Praise is an effective spiritual weapon for battle (Psalms 8:2)
Praise silences enemies and avengers. It sends confusion into the devil's camp. It prophetically speaks to principalities, powers, spiritual hosts of wickedness and rulers of this present darkness, calling things that are not as if they are. It helps us declare that Jehovah is our banner in the battle field. No wonder, severally, the Israelites would match into the battle field led by the Levites, who would be praising and sounding musical instruments in praise to their God.
c. Praise directs us to focus on God rather than on our issues
When we are weak, we can focus on God's strength through praise. When we are poor, we can focus on God's riches through praise. When we are sick, we can focus on His healing available to us through the work of Calvary. As we praise Him unreservedly, our faith is released to partner with God in His will for our lives.
d. God created us to praise and worship Him (1 Peter 1:9)
What an honor we have to praise God- not as slaves or servants, but as sons! God has chosen us; made us a royal priesthood; a holy nation; a people belonging to Him; that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.
After the victory over the Egyptians at the red sea, Moses and the Israelites sang in Exodus 15:2, "The Lord is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise him, my father's God and I will exalt him." In year 2016, may God be your strength and your song! Even when God does not make sense, may you choose to praise Him for who He is- His faithfulness is unto all generations. In obedience to Philipians 4:4, may you choose to rejoice in the Lord through year 2016. God bless you!
