55-Days Devotional Journey - Day 52
July 22, 2025 (Tuesday)

Scripture:
And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.

Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate. And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph; and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. At the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate on the east.

The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Gate of Yeshanah, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me; and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader. And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.
Nehemiah 12:27-43 (ESV)

Reflection:
What a scene of celebration! After months of hard work and opposition, God's people finally dedicate the rebuilt wall with an explosion of joy - singing, instruments, and thanksgiving echoing through the city. This wasn't just polite applause; it was wholehearted worship that could be heard for miles. Their joy flowed from recognizing God's faithfulness through every obstacle.

True kingdom joy isn't dependent on circumstances but springs from remembering what God has done. When we pause to celebrate His victories - both big and small - it refuels our passion for the mission. Joy isn't just the reward at the end; it's the renewable energy that sustains us for the work ahead. The Jerusalem choir didn't know it, but their songs of joy became witness to surrounding nations of God's power and goodness.

Reflection Question:
When have you experienced deep joy in God's work? How might intentionally celebrating what God is doing renew your strength for current challenges? What "song of joy" might your life sing to those around you? How might we celebrate our 55-day-long devotion journey together?

Prayer:
Father, fill my heart with the kind of joy that overflowed from Jerusalem's walls - joy rooted in Your faithfulness, not my feelings. Teach me to celebrate what You're doing even in the midst of ongoing work. May my life radiate such authentic joy that others are drawn to Your goodness. Let my service flow from a heart that remembers and rejoices in all You've done. In Jesus' name, Amen.

By Pastor Joel Tang