Reason to Celebrate | Nehemiah 12:27–47

Christ Church East | A PCA Church in Jacksonville, Florida

Why does the gospel give us a better reason to celebrate? In this sermon from our series through Nehemiah, Keith Dickerson walks through the dedication of Jerusalem's rebuilt wall and shows that in Christ we have a celebration that is neither short-lived nor exclusive.

SERMON RECAP

I. The Cause of Celebration

The dedication began with purification. The great obstacle to worship is sin, and God is too pure to look on wrong. The Old Testament washings pointed to a cleansing they couldn't provide themselves. Jesus spoke of the "baptism" he would undergo at the cross. He took our sin on himself so we could come into God's presence clean. There's no celebration in worship apart from the cleansing work of Jesus Christ.

II. The Object of Celebration

Two great choirs of thanksgiving walked the wall, one north and one south, and met in the house of God. The people rejoiced "for God had made them rejoice with great joy," and the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away. The strength of our celebration depends on its object. When the object is God, our joy doesn't rise and fall with circumstances. Even in suffering, we celebrate Christ's victory, by sight or by faith.

III. The Result of Celebration

True worship doesn't end when the service does. After the dedication came generosity: priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers served with joy and excellence, and all Israel gave willingly. Celebration centered on God produces generosity in serving and in giving.

The gospel is good news for everyone. So let's celebrate by gathering people to rejoice in the sufficiency of Christ.

SCRIPTURE

Nehemiah 12:30

"And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall."

Habakkuk 1:13

"You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong."

Hebrews 9:10

"But deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation."

Luke 12:50

"I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!"

Nehemiah 12:31

"Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate."

Nehemiah 12:43

"And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away."

Nehemiah 12:47

"And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron."

2 Corinthians 9:7

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Also referenced: Nehemiah 12:27–29, 38, 40, 44–45; Matthew 3; Exodus 19; Leviticus 16; Numbers 8, 19

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway.