This is the Bible Book Club, the book of Nehemiah.

Welcome to the club.

Last time in chapters 10 and 11 of Nehemiah, the Israelite community signed a promise to keep their renewed covenant with God.

Then Nehemiah turned his attention

to three pressing problems. First, the people needed to agree not to marry their children to those

outside the faith because it opens their families for the risk of idolatry. Second, people needed to

commit to the commandments, which meant keeping the Sabbath. And third, the people needed to commit to the commandments, which meant keeping the Sabbath. And third, the people

needed to commit to financially supporting those who served in the temple and taught the law of God.

Well, Nehemiah's focus was on family, faith, and finances. After addressing those issues,

Nehemiah put together a plan to repopulate Jerusalem.

He documented and celebrated all those who returned to the city.

Well, this is our last episode of Nehemiah.

Scene 1. The Parade of Praise Around the Wall of Wonder.

Chapter 12, continuing in verse 27, at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were

sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication

with songs of Thanksgiving and with the music of symbols, harps, and liars. The musicians also were

brought together from the region around Jerusalem, from the

villages of the Natofothites, from Beth Gilgall, and from the area of Giba in Asma Veth,

for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. When the priest and

Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

So I know we've read of celebrations like this before, but this was a big deal.

The high point of all that Nehemiah and Ezra had worked for, they had done it.

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