I live in a pretty quiet neighborhood. But the other night, I would have sworn that Transformers... you know, like the ones in the movie with Shia Laboeuf, where on their way though the trees in my back yard. Seriously, it was this ongoing, crazy loud and destructive sort of crashing noise that had me a bit concerned for my safety. I stopped what I was doing, turned down the volume on every device around me to listen. Was it a helicopter, a distant train, a diesel truck on a street nearby? I couldn't identify the noise as anything I'd heard before. Nor was it a consistent sound or volume, as it kept morphing. So I ventured to the back door. First, I just looked out. Then I stepped out to listen and look around. And what I discovered was nothing like I expected. for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off. Nehemiah 12:43 I wonder if way back then... in the day of Nehemiah, some of the people in towns nearby had to stop what they were doing, to turn down the volume on every device around them to listen. Just what made all that commotion down there in Jerusalem that was traveling so far? I bet it was like nothing they had ever heard before. Probably not even a consistent sound or volume, as it may have kept morphing. And I bet they too, ventured to the back door. First, to just looked out. But then to step out to listen and look around. Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. Nehemiah 12:27 NKJV Nehemiah had actually gathered two large thanksgiving choirs which he lined up facing two differed directions down the wall. And he stood in the middle with the leaders of Judah who were raised up on top of the wall. Imagine that! There were instruments and singers... and the vibration echoed off the walls, like an amphitheater, ringing into the hills that surrounded the city of Jerusalem. It was such a grand celebration that neighboring towns and villages could hear the celebration from afar. They certainly had to wonder what are those crazy people doing down there? And God sure likes the attention. Glory, honor and praise we give when we rejoice with gladness over all that He has done. How great it is when we are willing to sing and praise so openly that others actually notice enough to ask what the commotion is all about; opening the door to a conversation where we can let them know all that God has done for and through us. Transformers bringing notice to God, making a joyful noise to be heard from afar. Not quite the same as what I heard after opening my back door... I only wish. Mine was not a thanksgiving choir, nor stringed instruments and cymbals banging. But rather a neighbor's pool party of rowdy 12 year old boys... with surround sound cranked to full blast on the outdoor movie screen which was showing some sort of action flick. So I returned to my bedroom at least knowing I was safe no matter how loud and long it seemed the crashing clatter came and went. And I could still rejoice that though my walls did vibrate, at the monstrous sounds next door, they would not crumble nor fall. But it was a great reminder of the celebration of those who danced and sang around those walls rebuilt at the mercy of God who loved this city of Jerusalem. Word of God train me today... To never neglect the sound of rejoicing. To know that I can bring glory and attention to You, transforming a moment of silence into one of glory from afar.
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January 2019
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