transforming sound

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.