城牆奉獻禮
尼希米記十二章27至30節，44至47節
27耶路撒冷城牆告成的時候，眾民就把各處的利未人招到耶路撒冷，要稱謝、歌唱、敲鈸、鼓瑟、彈琴，歡歡喜喜地行告成之禮。
28歌唱的人從耶路撒冷的周圍和尼陀法的村莊與伯吉甲，又從迦巴和押瑪弗的田地聚集，因為歌唱的人在耶路撒冷四圍為自己立了村莊。
29a-30祭司和利未人就潔淨自己，也潔淨百姓和城門，並城牆。
44當日，派人管理庫房，將舉祭、初熟之物和所取的十分之一，就是按各城田地，照律法所定歸給祭司和利未人的分，都收在裡頭。猶大人因祭司和利未人供職，就歡樂了。
45祭司利未人遵守神所吩咐的，並守潔淨的禮。歌唱的、守門的，照著大衛和他兒子所羅門的命令也如此行。
46古時，在大衛和亞薩的日子，有歌唱的伶長，並有讚美稱謝神的詩歌。
47當所羅巴伯和尼希米的時候，以色列眾人將歌唱的、守門的，每日所當得的分供給他們，又給利未人當得的分；利未人又給亞倫的子孫當得的分。
信息分享
神呼召尼希米所作的工，終於完成了。在舉行城牆奉獻禮的日子，尼希米便招聚利未人(以色列民中作祭司支派的)一起來到耶路撒冷，帶領眾民一起唱詩歌頌神。
神百姓的一個特徵，就是喜歡唱詩歌頌。詩人說：「他使我口唱新歌，就是讚美我們神的話」(詩四十3)。一個快樂的基督徒，必然會不停地歌頌神。
來到新約，保羅指出信徒必須口唱心和地感謝神(西三16)。你的教會是不是一間熱愛唱歌的教會？無論如何，信徒一起唱詩歌頌，始終是讚頌神的重要方式之一。
在奉獻禮的進行期間，還有其他人在聖殿參與事奉。當中有守門的和看守奉獻的。這些工作雖然並不顯眼，但各人都克盡職守。
每件事奉工作的背後，都總有許多信徒在默默支持和參與。站在講台上作事奉的，可能只得一人；但在幕後，卻有數以百計的人在辛勤工作；除了神以外，可能沒有人看見他們的工作。新約聖經教導我們，神看見我們在暗中行善，將來必公開地賞賜我們。
神若呼召你以一個隱藏的角色來事奉祂，你是否願意去回應呢？你現在所參與的事奉，是否為神而作的呢？祂是否還呼召你去做其他的工作呢？你願意承擔嗎？
禱告：主啊，求你助我遵從你的旨意，即使你要我去做一件不顯眼的工作。
THE DEDICATION OF THE WALLS
Nehemiah 12:27-30 and 44-47
27 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.
28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,
29 from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem.
30 Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
44 And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered.
45 Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, according to the command of David and Solomon his son.
46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated holy things for the Levites, and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron.
Message
At last the work to which God had called Nehemiah was finished. The day of dedication arrived and Nehemiah gathered the Levites (the priestly tribe of Israel) together to lead all the people in singing the dedication.
Singing has always been characteristic of the people of God. The Psalmist said, 'He has put a new song into my mouth, even praise unto my God'. A happy Christian is a singing Christian.
In the New Testament Paul says that one thing we should do together is to sing with thankfulness in our hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16). Is your church a singing church? It ought to be. It is one way in which you can praise God together.
There were others too who served in the Temple at the time of the dedication of the walls. There were gatekeepers and men who looked after the money that was given. They all had a part, even though it might be a hidden part.
There have always been Christians who have been willing to work behind the scenes. For every one person on the platform, there may be a hundred or more who work without I being seen by anyone except God. The New Testament says that the Lord who sees in secret will reward us openly for the work we do for him.
Are you willing to do whatever the Lord asks you to do, even if no one will see what you do? What are you doing for him now? Is there something more he is asking you to do? Are you willing to do it?
A PRAYER:
Lord, help me to be willing to do whatever you want me to do, even if no-one will ever know.