Page 100 - Principles of Leadership - Nehemiah

portion of the book of Nehemiah is extremely critical to understand to help us understand how the Holy Spirit
may choose to usher in another revival.

Before we begin this study of worship, we need to realize that Nehemiah is not giving us a pattern to follow. If
so, we would need to assemble two different choirs, march in different directions around our community, and
then meet up at the building we have set aside for worship. What is intended in this study is not a model to
follow; however, basic principles are given to help guide and sustain worship.

1. The Purpose and Nature of Worship

The first principle that we discover in this passage is the purpose of worship. In Nehemiah 12:27 At the
dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sent for the Levites wherever they lived and brought them to
Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing accompanied by cymbals, harps,
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and lyres. The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem. From this passage, we can glean that the
main aspect of these people's gathering was to celebrate God's graciousness in restoring their city and families.
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They celebrated Thanksgiving. Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall, and I appointed
two large processions that gave thanks. I want to remind you of what was said in Nehemiah 3:5 when he
wrote that the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help. Can you imagine what was
going on in the hearts of these Tekoite leaders when Nehemiah brought them up on top of the wall? Oh, the
shame they must have felt!

Then in verse 40, the two thanksgiving processions stood in the house of God. So [did] I and half of the
officials accompanying me, as well as the priests: But notice from the following verses that the Israelites did
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not view this as an event, but rather they viewed their thanksgiving as a lifestyle that should be practiced.
45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and
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gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph,
there were leaders of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Thanksgiving seems to be a missing element in the lives of so many Christians today, yet it is the common
practice of so many Biblical characters, even in times of deep trials. Look at the Apostle Paul and Barnabas and
how they were able to give thanks to God in the midst of extreme trials. Acts 16:22 Then the mob joined in the
attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with
rods. After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them
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securely guarded. Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the
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stocks. About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were
listening to them. Notice the last phrase of these verses, and the prisoners were listening to them. Also, notice
the phrase that Nehemiah uses about their worship processional. On that day, they offered great sacrifices
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and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. The women and children also celebrated, and
Jerusalem’s rejoicing was heard far away. Notice who is credited with giving them great joy. Because God had
given them great joy, their testimony was heard far away.

When we realize that worship is to glorify God, he will give us songs in the night seasons of life. Psalm 77:4 You
kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak…

6 I remembered my songs in the night. God has the amazing ability to give songs in the night seasons of life, and
when he does, remember that this will become a testimony to all who listen. Therefore, those who teach and
lead worship need to realize that they have a responsibility to strike a clear note of celebration, thanksgiving,
and joy in their classes and worship services right at the beginning. Christians are reminded of why we are
present and how we should worship.

2. The Traditions of Worship
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