Nehemiah 12:41

Nehemiah 12:41 says, And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;   

Verse forty-two adds, And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.  These two verses name some more of those who were playing trumpets and singing praises to God with Jezrahiah as their overseer.  We still need to be making music and singing praises to God and we should be thankful for those who oversee the music program in our local congregation. 

Verse forty-three continues, Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.  There was a great sacrifice offered that day, and all the people rejoiced with great joy so that they were heard afar off.  We have been given the greatest sacrifice when Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and when we gather to worship Him, we should do so with great joy.  Of course, we should live every minute of our life with great joy.  When we do gather to worship Him, we should do so loudly and proudly so that the lost people of the world will know that something great is happening in the church.  

Verse forty-four states, And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.  Overseers were also appointed to be in charge of the tithes and offerings to ensure that the priests and Levites got their portion according to the law of God.  We need to make sure that those working in the church today have enough support financially to do what God has called them to do.  Those doing God’s work by His calling should never have to beg for support from the congelation that they serve. 

Verse forty- five adds, And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.  The singers and porters were in charge of conducting the services in accordance with God’s law.  Preachers shouldn’t have to be in charge of planning the order of the worship service today, but the other leaders in the church should, making sure that everything is done for God’s glory and in accordance with His law.  Preachers should be free to prepare to proclaim God’s word without being concerned with planning the worship service. 

Verse forty-six continues, For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.  Nehemiah pointed out that this had been the way things were done in the days of David and Asaph, who wrote many of the psalms, or songs of praise to God.  Though David wrote most of them, both were mentioned.  It is not the amount of work we do for God that matters as much as the fact that we are willing doing it. 

Verse forty-seven concludes, And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.  We are then told that for all the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, the leaders of the people of Israel, that they continued to supply the singers and porters with what they needed daily.  They also sanctified the holy things for the Levites, and they sanctified them for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, as well.  The needs of both groups were met daily without them having to be concerned with them, other than the Levites making sure that the priests needs were met.   We as followers of Christ have God’s promise that when we are doing His work under the leadership of the Holy Spirit that our needs will be met.  We are not told that we will be able to lay up great riches here in this lifetime.