Tabor Baptist Church

Setting the scene

• Dedicating the wall
• Prepared a wonderful service - two vast choirs
• They processed along the walls and played different instruments
• Ezra and Nehemiah were in two different processions and met in the temple
• They offered many sacrifices and rejoiced with much joy (v43)
• The joy of Jerusalem was headed a far off (v43)

• There is a time and place for rejoicing
• James 4 - joy turned to gloom
• This was a season of joy
• The walls were built in 52 days
• They heard from the word
• They celebrated before The Lord
• They wept and confessed their sins
• They made a covenant (chapter 11) and the people moved back in to Jerusalem
• They dedicate the walls to God

The characteristics of a restored people (v43) ...

Great Sacrifices

• Not to intermarry with foreigners
• Wouldn't trade with foreigners on the Sabbath
• They wouldn't neglect the house of God
• The first fruits of the ground, tree, cattle, flocks and children were to be given to God
• A tithe was to be given to the house of God to support the Levites
• Systematic giving to the work of God
• Principles of giving: 2 Cor 8-9
• Always give first to The Lord
• The peoples were called to give to the temple and the store houses
• The early church gave to the apostles
• We are to support the local church
• A tithe is never commanded in the New Testament, it is a sacrificial giving
• They couldn't have been a town in boom or of plenty and yet they gave great sacrifices to The Lord
• The Macedonians gave out of their poverty
• The early church shared what they had and contributed to their fellow saints
• Generosity is one of the signs of a revived people
• It is more blessed to give than to receive

Great Joy

• The people in the 1804 revival could not stop singing
• This joy is not contrived or put on on
• It is not due to the instruments or the festive atmosphere
• God made them rejoice
• We should never be characterised by sadness but by joy
• The Jews could still be joyful even though they were surrounded by their enemies
• Ps 27:6
• God's joy can be known independent of
  personal circumstances
• When the Christian is secure, God strengthens their joy
• The choir
• 1 Chronicles 16:42
• These were the instruments of God
• 2 Chronicles 29:25 - these instruments were commanded by God
• Cymbals, strings
  and the harp
• This was the worship of God
• 2 Chronicles 30:21 - they sang loudly
• The Levites and priests purified themselves before they worshipped
• The people sang Psalms upon the walls
• We don't know which psalms they sung
• Consider Psalm 135 or 136
• There is a time to hear the word of God and there is a time to praise
• The great goal of the church is worship - John Piper
• Phil 3:1 - to rejoice in God is a blessing

Great Impact

• "The joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off"
• God loves the praise of all types of people
• Think of the singing and joy people give to football
• Have we not got greater things to give God praise and worship for?
• What is the church known for?
• What impact does the church have?
• When revival comes the world is turned upside down and people know about it

Have we not got a glorious message - the good news of Jesus Christ