David wasn’t the only one to designate people to sing and give praise and thanksgiving before the Lord [1Chronicles 16]. Years later, when the Jews returned from their captivity in Babylon, Nehemiah did the same thing.

When the Babylonians seized Jerusalem and carried off the Jews into captivity, the city was left in ruins. Solomon’s temple was destroyed. The wall which guarded the city was broken down. God put it on Nehemiah’s heart to return from exile and rebuild the wall. Others had already rebuilt a smaller version of the temple.

At the dedication of the wall, Nehemiah brought the Levites from where they were living to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps, and lyres. Singers were also brought in. Two choirs were formed as they went up on top of the wall … Nehemiah directed one to the left and the other to the right. The two choirs gave thanks and took their places in the house of God. Even the women and children rejoiced.  You can read about it in Nehemiah 12:27-43.

Nehemiah reported that “on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.” [v 43 NIV]

“The sound of rejoicing … could be heard far away.” What a testimony! Oh church, is that what the world hears coming from us?  Is that what flows out of our hearts and lives? God gave them great joy. God has given us greater joy in His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Let the world hear today the sound of our rejoicing!