How can we incorporate the joy of Nehemiah 12:35 into our worship today? Scripture Snapshot “and Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, and his associates—some with trumpets—…” (Nehemiah 12:35) What Joy Looked Like on the Wall • Public procession encircling the newly finished wall • Priests and Levites leading with trumpets and cymbals (vv. 27, 35) • Choirs answering one another in song (v. 31) • Loud thanksgiving heard “far away” (v. 43) • Leaders standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the people (v. 38) Timeless Principles Under the Celebration • God’s completed work deserves audible, visible praise (Psalm 150:3–6) • Musical excellence magnifies divine excellence (1 Chronicles 15:16) • Joy is corporate before it is personal—worship joins voices (Acts 2:46-47) • Spiritual purity fuels spiritual joy (Nehemiah 12:30; Psalm 24:3-4) Practical Ways to Weave This Joy into Corporate Worship • Begin gatherings with a “processional” song—musicians entering, congregation rising in unified anticipation • Feature brass, strings, percussion, and choir together on festal Sundays to capture trumpet-like exuberance • Invite pastors, elders, musicians, and congregation to alternate readings and sung responses (Nehemiah 12:31; Colossians 3:16) • Mark ministry milestones—building dedications, outreach victories, baptisms—with special thanksgiving services rather than routine announcements • Encourage visible, physical expressions: standing, clapping, lifting hands (Psalm 95:6; 1 Timothy 2:8) • Share brief testimonies of God’s recent faithfulness between songs to kindle communal gratitude (Revelation 12:11) • Close services with a “joy that carries”—a jubilant benediction song allowing voices to linger, echoing Nehemiah 12:43 Personal Worship That Mirrors the Wall • Start daily devotions by recalling a specific completed work of God and thanking Him aloud • Play worship music that features instruments filling the room, not merely earbuds—let sound fill your space as trumpets filled Jerusalem • Keep a visible gratitude list, adding entries after each answered prayer (Philippians 4:4-6) Guardrails for Authentic Joy • Purify hearts before praising mouths (Psalm 66:18) • Let Scripture shape lyrics to avoid emotion detached from truth (John 4:24) • Ensure volume serves clarity—celebration should proclaim, not obscure, the message (1 Corinthians 14:15) Fruit We Can Expect • “The joy of the LORD is your strength” flowing into weekly endurance (Nehemiah 8:10) • Outsiders hear and are drawn to the God who puts songs on His people’s lips (Psalm 40:3) • A congregation united by shared gratitude stands firm when trials press (Philippians 1:27) Enfolding these practices allows the trumpet-ringing gladness of Nehemiah 12:35 to resound in today’s sanctuary, energizing worship and testifying that the Lord is still completing great works among His people. |
    |