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Monday, 5 October 2020
Why is this night different?

Question of the day: Hey Rabbi, you're a bottom line guy. So, what's the bottom line for Nehemiah 12?

Answer: There was a great celebration... Nehemiah 12:43b "The joy in Jerusalem could be heard from far off." But what were the people (Israelites, Levites, and Kohanim, men, women and children) celebrating? They were celebrating the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem.

The wall of Jerusalem is not just any wall. It's the wall around the city of God's presence, the city that houses God's house. Why do we have walls on our houses? I was once told it is to keep the weather out. (The roof is just a horizontal wall.) But, it's much more than that. Yes, a wall keeps the weather out, but it also keeps everything and everyone else out. It keeps unwanted people out and it keeps unwanted critters and bugs out, at least that is the intent.

The wall of the city marks the outer boundary. This boundary reveals the edge of authority. The city authority has authority within the walls of the city and has no authority outside the wall. The same is true of the wall of your heart. The heart of a believer in Yeshua is part of His kingdom, but marks a boundary. Within its walls, Yeshua is King and His authority reigns.

1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Ruach ha-Kodesh who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"

When we become believers, we are dedicating the wall of our heart to God. This is a great occasion to celebrate, and all of heaven joins in the celebration. Luke 15:10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

What follows this verse is the parable of the two sons. There was a party when the rebellious son returns. Luke 15:22-24 "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him! Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let's celebrate with a feast! For this son of mine was dead and has come back to life--he was lost and is found!' Then they began to celebrate."

In Nehemiah 12 there is a great celebration when the city is dedicated to God after the wall was repaired. In our lives, Yeshua mends our broken down hearts and the wall around our hearts is repaired. The work is complete, and this also is an occasion for great celebration, both on earth and in heaven.

Posted By Rabbi Michael Weiner, 10:00am Comment Comments: 0