Once the Thanksgiving turkey disappears and the pumpkin pie plate is licked clean, my wife turns on the Christmas music. We listen to carols of all varieties deep into January. Not that I’m complaining, I also enjoy the music of this season.

Music was important to the ancient followers of Yahweh as well. David and Solomon wrote psalms and put them to music. Musicians performed at religious festivals and in the temple. But over years of falling away from God, which led to their eventual subjugation, the people of Israel and Judah lost their practice of praise.

When Zerubbabel and Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple, they reinstituted the role of the musicians: For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers.

The worship experience for many in Jerusalem was like Christmas without the carols. Imagine the joy of hearing the music of faith fill your ears for the first time.

Songs of praise and thanksgiving point us to the power, majesty and goodness of God. The musicians at our local churches follow in a long line of shepherds pointing us to the Lord. Thank them when you get the chance.

In the meantime, crank up volume. Give thought to the lyrics of your favorite carols. Let the hymn writers and musicians of the past lead you to an invigorated experience with our Savior.

Nehemiah 12 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Aaron Burden