Nehemiah 12

“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” (v43). To celebrate the repairing of the wall around Jerusalem and the re-establishment of the Temple, Nehemiah gathered together two great choirs (v40-42). The people rejoiced that God had brought them back to their land, and they honored Him by giving their tithes to support the Levites and priests (v44-47). The “remnant” of Israel had survived.

“For long ago in the days of David … there were songs of praise” (v46). Every generation experiences God’s great mercy for themselves, and we respond with songs of praise.