城墙奉献礼
尼希米记十二章27至30节，44至47节
27耶路撒冷城墙告成的时候，众民就把各处的利未人招到耶路撒冷，要称谢、歌唱、敲钹、鼓瑟、弹琴，欢欢喜喜地行告成之礼。
28歌唱的人从耶路撒冷的周围和尼陀法的村庄与伯吉甲，又从迦巴和押玛弗的田地聚集，因为歌唱的人在耶路撒冷四围为自己立了村庄。
29a-30祭司和利未人就洁净自己，也洁净百姓和城门，并城墙。
44当日，派人管理库房，将举祭、初熟之物和所取的十分之一，就是按各城田地，照律法所定归给祭司和利未人的分，都收在里头。犹大人因祭司和利未人供职，就欢乐了。
45祭司利未人遵守神所吩咐的，并守洁净的礼。歌唱的、守门的，照着大卫和他儿子所罗门的命令也如此行。
46古时，在大卫和亚萨的日子，有歌唱的伶长，并有赞美称谢神的诗歌。
47当所罗巴伯和尼希米的时候，以色列众人将歌唱的、守门的，每日所当得的分供给他们，又给利未人当得的分；利未人又给亚伦的子孙当得的分。
信息分享
神呼召尼希米所作的工，终于完成了。在举行城墙奉献礼的日子，尼希米便招聚利未人(以色列民中作祭司支派的)一起来到耶路撒冷，带领众民一起唱诗歌颂神。
神百姓的一个特征，就是喜欢唱诗歌颂。诗人说：「他使我口唱新歌，就是赞美我们神的话」(诗四十3)。一个快乐的基督徒，必然会不停地歌颂神。
来到新约，保罗指出信徒必须口唱心和地感谢神(西三16)。你的教会是不是一间热爱唱歌的教会？无论如何，信徒一起唱诗歌颂，始终是赞颂神的重要方式之一。
在奉献礼的进行期间，还有其他人在圣殿参与事奉。当中有守门的和看守奉献的。这些工作虽然并不显眼，但各人都克尽职守。
每件事奉工作的背后，都总有许多信徒在默默支持和参与。站在讲台上作事奉的，可能只得一人；但在幕后，却有数以百计的人在辛勤工作；除了神以外，可能没有人看见他们的工作。新约圣经教导我们，神看见我们在暗中行善，将来必公开地赏赐我们。
神若呼召你以一个隐藏的角色来事奉祂，你是否愿意去回应呢？你现在所参与的事奉，是否为神而作的呢？祂是否还呼召你去做其他的工作呢？你愿意承担吗？
祷告：主啊，求你助我遵从你的旨意，即使你要我去做一件不显眼的工作。
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.