The dedication of the wall was not required by law, but this time of thanksgiving and rejoicing was an appropriate response to all which had preceded. The dedication of the wall is presented morally as following upon the spiritual revival of the people and the repopulating of the city. As to whether chronologically this was so, it is not clear. However, as we find elsewhere in Scripture, God often chooses to present things in a moral order. If all their hopes had rested in the wall, that would have been a dangerous thing. First of all there had to be a work in the lives of the people, and then the wall took on the correct perspective; it could then be dedicated with thanksgiving and rejoicing, “for God” — not the wall — “had made them rejoice with great joy” (Neh. 12:43).
If we merely build walls in our lives, without the correct moral state within (individually or collectively), then the walls accomplish nothing — except to enclose an unsanctified people. This has been very evident with various cults exposed in the past several years. When, however, we are attracted to Christ, and there is a true work and exercise in the heart, then that clear separation that should exist between the people of God and this world ceases to be onerous and becomes something to be thankful for.
The order of purification is instructive — the priests and Levites first purified themselves, then the people, and then the wall (Neh. 12:30). Purifying of things will not make us pure (Mark 7:1-23). Furthermore, purification should be distinguished from the adherence to a ritual or dogma. That we should walk in the truth goes without saying (2 John 4), however, the heart and conscience must also be engaged — else there will not be purity. “The end of what is enjoined is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and unfeigned faith” (1 Tim. 1:5 JND).
The priests had to wash their hands and their feet before entering the tabernacle of the congregation (Exod. 30:19-2119For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: 20When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: 21So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations. (Exodus 30:19‑21)). The hands of the Christian should always be holy (1 Tim. 2:8). The feet, however, must be washed (John 13:5-10). There are defilements that we come into contact with in our daily walk; these must be washed away with the water of the Word (Eph. 5:26). Christ as our Advocate (1 John 2:1) brings before us His Word (Luke 22:61); this leads to confession, repentance and cleansing (1 John 1:82:1).
Two companies encircled the city upon the wall. The first company, lead by Ezra the priest (Neh. 12:31-36), stood on the east side — perhaps adjacent to the temple. The second company stood opposite them with Nehemiah in the rear (Neh. 12:38). It might be supposed that Nehemiah, as governor of the city, would have taken the lead. The day, however, was not about personal honors. Indeed, no matter the office we may have been given of God in the assembly, such things have no relevance when it comes to worship, praise, and thanksgiving.
Trumpets were sounded and the singers sang loudly (Neh. 12:42). How pleasant singing is when it springs from a rejoicing heart. We do not need a choir to sing for us — that does not come from the heart, though granted, it may produce feelings in the heart. Our desire should be for that outward flow of praise to God. One may say, “I can’t sing in tune.” That does not matter to God; it merely says they sang loudly! Not once do we read of musical instruments accompanying worship in the New Testament. Such innovations are contrary to worship in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23). Instead, we are to “offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15). Likewise, anything in singing that draws attention to the singer is inconsistent with the spirit of worship.
The wives and children rejoiced also; so great was the rejoicing, that the joy was heard from a great distance (Neh. 12:43). We have rightly seen the family included throughout this revival. When Moses demanded of Pharaoh that he let God’s people go “with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds” (Ex. 10:9), Pharaoh offered him a compromise: “Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord” (Ex. 10:11). The world desires our children; it mocks the thought of holding a feast unto the Lord. In the communist states of Eastern Europe, children were told that Christianity was a crutch for the infirm and elderly, and that they did not need it. Things are not much different in the West today; the message is the same!
When Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh took their possessions on the east side of Jordan, in the land of Gilead, they were concerned that over time the children of the tribes from the west would say, “What have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel?” (Josh. 22:24). They had reason to be concerned; earlier in that same chapter we read that they “departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh” (Josh. 22:9) — Shiloh, where the tabernacle had been pitched. The further we move away from God’s center, the colder our hearts grow. God would not have us leave our children in this world; He would have us bring them to Him; He would have them gathered about Himself (Mark 10:13-16).
To see the priests and Levites standing in their appointed place was also cause for rejoicing (Neh. 12:44). Likewise, to see the restoration of assembly order according to scriptural principles is an occasion for thanksgiving, not because of who we are, but because of the grace of God. We rejoice that “for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God ... to give us a nail in His holy place” (Ezra 9:8). The singers and porters kept the ward of their God according to the commandment of David and of Solomon (Neh. 12:45). To repeat what has already been noted, this revival — and any revival, for that matter — is characterized by a returning to the old paths, in this case, especially that which was connected with the Temple and the restoration of godly worship (Neh. 12:46).