Nehemiah 12:38-47: a reflection

38The other company of those who gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people on the wall above the tower of the furnaces, even to the wide wall, 39and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate; and they stood still in the gate of the guard. 40So the two companies of those who gave thanks in God’s house stood, and I and the half of the rulers with me; 41and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. 43They offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even far away. 44On that day, men were appointed over the rooms for the treasures, for the wave offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them according to the fields of the cities the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who served. 45They performed the duty of their God and the duty of the purification, and so did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the commandment of David and of Solomon his son. 46For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the portions of the singers and the gatekeepers, as every day required; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

At the dedication of the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem, the celebration is overwhelming. Two great choirs process on the walls, giving thanks with instruments and song; great sacrifices are offered; and the passage says, they rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even far away. The joy of God's people was so great and so exuberant that it carried, heard even by those at a distance.

Notice that their joy was heard far away. This was no muted, private gladness, but an exuberant, overflowing joy in God, so full that it spilled out and was heard even by those far off. God had made them rejoice with great joy, and that joy was not contained; it overflowed and reached beyond them, noticed even at a distance. Genuine joy in God has a way of overflowing and being heard.

That says something about the joy God gives. When God fills his people with genuine joy, it is not meant to be muted or hidden, but to overflow, to be noticed, even to reach and draw others. A people rejoicing in God with great joy is a witness that carries far. Do not hide or mute your joy in God. Let it overflow, be expressed, be heard. When God gives you joy, in his salvation, his goodness, his works, let it spill out in exuberant thanksgiving that others can see and hear. The joy of God's people, when it is genuine and full, is heard far away, and can draw others to the God who is its source. Rejoice, and let your joy overflow.

Lord, at the dedication of Jerusalem's walls, you filled your people with such great joy that it overflowed and was heard even far away. Fill me with that kind of joy in you, and let it overflow. Keep me from a muted, hidden gladness; when you give me joy, in your salvation, your goodness, your works, let it spill out in exuberant thanksgiving that others can see and hear. Genuine joy in you has a way of overflowing and drawing others; make my joy in you a witness that carries. Do not let me hide or mute my joy, but rejoice in you with great joy, letting it overflow. Fill me with joy that is heard, and draw others, through it, to you, the source of all true joy.