Neh 12:38 | KingComments | STEP | Nehemiah walks behind the second choir of thanksgiving. He is not at its head. Every thought of self-interest is missing. He does not walk there in the spirit of Nebuchadnezzar with the thought: “Isn’t this the great wall I built?” ( ). He knows that he is but an instrument of the LORD. This second choir passes a lot of buildings. Except for the Gate of Ephraim and the Gate of the Guard they are all mentioned in Nehemiah 3 (see there for the commentary on these structures). Possibly nothing had to be repaired at the Gate of Ephraim and the Gate of the Guard. While this choir is walking over the wall, these buildings again come to their attention. We will always have to be reminded of certain truths on our way in separation according to God’s will. Peter is committed to reminding believers of what they have learned ( ). Jude does the same ( ). And Paul does not mind repeating things he has pointed out before ( ). There is always the danger of forgetfulness. This forgetfulness can strike in the width of our life of faith. Then we become careless with the things of God. We become more and more absorbed in the things of this life and no longer worry so much about the interests of God. God’s interests get sidelined and we forget what He has done for us and no longer examine His Word. This forgetfulness can also strike us in the depths of our life of faith. Then we will emphasize certain truths, while forgetting other truths, no longer paying attention to them. And when others point this out to us, we declare “those other truths” as of a lower, less important order or as not applicable to us.

‏ Nehemiah 12:38

The Second Choir of Thanksgiving

Nehemiah walks behind the second choir of thanksgiving. He is not at its head. Every thought of self-interest is missing. He does not walk there in the spirit of Nebuchadnezzar with the thought: “Isn’t this the great wall I built?” (Dan 4:30). He knows that he is but an instrument of the LORD.

This second choir passes a lot of buildings. Except for the Gate of Ephraim and the Gate of the Guard they are all mentioned in Nehemiah 3 (see there for the commentary on these structures). Possibly nothing had to be repaired at the Gate of Ephraim and the Gate of the Guard. While this choir is walking over the wall, these buildings again come to their attention.

We will always have to be reminded of certain truths on our way in separation according to God’s will. Peter is committed to reminding believers of what they have learned (2Pet 1:12). Jude does the same (Jude 1:5). And Paul does not mind repeating things he has pointed out before (Phil 3:1).

There is always the danger of forgetfulness. This forgetfulness can strike in the width of our life of faith. Then we become careless with the things of God. We become more and more absorbed in the things of this life and no longer worry so much about the interests of God. God’s interests get sidelined and we forget what He has done for us and no longer examine His Word.

This forgetfulness can also strike us in the depths of our life of faith. Then we will emphasize certain truths, while forgetting other truths, no longer paying attention to them. And when others point this out to us, we declare “those other truths” as of a lower, less important order or as not applicable to us.