Worshipers of the dedication ceremony

[Nehemiah 12:27-30, 43]

Do you know the origins of the dedication ceremony and the consecration ceremony? The early church didn't have church buildings because whether it was a tent, a palace, or wherever the Lord Jesus was present, it was heaven. The early church congregated freely in homes, in fields, and on mountains. The word "church" comes from 'Ekklesia,' meaning "called-out assembly." The building is never a temple or a cathedral; it is the assembly of redeemed Christians that becomes the temple. After the church began to deviate in the 2nd century, church buildings started to emerge. When Constantine appeared, church buildings became more elaborate, and during the Roman Catholic heyday, so-called cathedrals began to appear. Corruption accelerated even further, culminating in the Dark Ages with the sale of indulgences for St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Nowadays, every Protestant church in Korea imitates medieval cathedrals (Internet). What do you think? How do you feel about 'church dedication ceremonies'?

In the process of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, there were 'workers' and 'watchers,' but now, after the walls have been completed, 'worshipers' are being established, as we can see in today's passage. These worshipers were so devoted to the dedication ceremony that the sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away (Neh. 12:43). As we've already meditated, these Israelites, who experienced the revival of the Word at the Square of the Water Gate in Nehemiah 8-10, witnessed a people dedicated to God and His temple. Now, the dedicated ones only had one thing left to do: dedicate the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem, which God had accomplished through them. Isn't this the right order? It is only right for people to dedicate themselves before they dedicate the walls of Jerusalem. If the walls of Jerusalem are dedicated, but there are no dedicated people, what's the use? What good is a grand and splendid church building if there are no truly dedicated 'workers,' committed 'watchers,' and 'worshipers' who worship God in spirit and truth? So, based on today's passage in Nehemiah 12:27-30, 43, under the title "Worshipers of the dedication ceremony," I want to meditate on what the dedicated Israelites did in dedicating the walls of Jerusalem and receive the lessons that are given.

First, the dedicated Israelites first purified themselves.

Look at Nehemiah 12:30 - " When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall." When the walls of Jerusalem were completed (v. 27), Levites gathered from all around. The first thing they did was to purify their bodies, the people, and the gates. Why did the Levites gather to perform the act of purification first? The reason is that since all humans are sinners, whenever they seek to do anything for the Lord God, they must first go through the process of purification (Park). While it is not explicitly stated how the Levites performed the ritual of purification, scholar Fensham speculates that the priests and Levites fasted, abstained from sexual relations, offered sin offerings, and the people washed their clothes and bathed, among other practices. However, he also mentions that it is not clear what is meant by purifying the gates and the wall (Fensham, Park).

Are we, in today's world, purifying ourselves like the Israelites did during the time of Nehemiah? If we are, what does it mean to be purifying ourselves? I believe we should emulate the "purification of worship" pursued by Calvin, a figure of the Reformation era. Professor Jeong-seok Lee, who wrote the article, said, ‘Religious reform is church reform, and worship reform.’ Calvin staked his life on the restoration of God's glory through the restoration of worship, based on the simple and clear principle that worship, which glorifies God, is corrupted and defiled when it deviates. He distinguished true worship from non-scriptural, erroneous worship taught by the Bible, and criticized Roman Catholic idolatry as a typical example of false worship. He introduced three types of false worship (Internet):

It is worship that teaches human thoughts.

Worship that teaches human commandments, worships that teach human traditions and elementary knowledge of the world, and worships that teach human thoughts through the Word of God. It distorts worship by teaching the thoughts of the time, the spiritual and national traditions, or denominational traditions, and the like, which are distortions of human thoughts. In particular, he designated the 'self-willed worship' in Colossians 2 as the most typical false worship. They practice rigorous asceticism, showing religious rigor in practicing rigorous asceticism, but it is not a commandment of the Lord at all, but self-made religiosity. Religious efforts and worship acts pursued to satisfy one's own religiosity and spirituality, though they may be thorough and admirable in human terms, are false worship before God. It satisfies the religious and emotional needs of the time, reflects the religious traditions of that nation, and fulfills their cultural desires, but it is not true worship, but self-centered self-worship.

It is the worship of the Pharisees.

Calvin reminds us of Jesus' warning to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. He defines worship led by those who sit in Moses' seat as the false worship led by those who, as interpreters of the law, assert authority, impose excessive practices, and sell knowledge without showing real transformation. This is because, in the aspect of being the one who guides worship, the worship leader plays a crucial role. This category includes formal, intellectual, cold, and lifeless traditional worship that does not fear or worship God.

It is theatrical worship.

The atmosphere and ceremonies are elegant and splendid, with majestic music and sermons. However, the leader performs like an actor, leading a worship devoid of true consciousness and a genuine sense of the divine. The congregation enjoys the worship, but there is no genuine encounter with God. Though it is passionate and emotional, it is not much different from attending a play, a concert, watching an emotional movie or drama, or listening to a lecture. There may be moments of ecstasy, but it doesn't impact life in any way. People cherish the experience itself, and it is merely a pseudo-experience manipulated by religious psychology to intensify emotional fervor. Calvin made every effort to glorify God by purifying false worship in the church. This involved removing religious images, abolishing superstitious practices, returning to simple biblical worship, emphasizing the Word, and using plain language that worshipers could understand.

What kind of worship should we offer to God? We need to consider the areas in which our worship needs restoration. As a significant event in our church, we have a ‘Church Foundation Thanksgiving Worship.’ The church's founding day carries the meaning of its birth and is akin to a birthday. Therefore, we dedicate the Sunday worship to God in thanksgiving for the church's founding. The worship format follows the usual Sunday service, but we may invite pastors from sister churches for a special sermon. Additionally, we may arrange for a choir from another church to come and sing in celebration of the church's founding. After the worship, there will be a second part with a shared meal, similar to how the founding church broke bread together, where we'll enjoy food prepared by the church and have a time of fellowship (Internet). Our church will also be holding a Church Foundation Commemorative Thanksgiving Worship next Sunday (July 10) at 4 PM, where we aim to offer abundant praise and worship to the great God who has bestowed immense grace (Ps. 145). We will sing praises and worship in three languages, and after the worship, we will have a fellowship meal with Korean, American, and Latin American cuisines. However, when we consider today's passage, we cannot help but ask whether this is all that matters. The challenge I pose to myself and to all of you is, like the dedicated Israelites in today's passage, to strive to purify ourselves, our homes, and our studies/work/business, as well as the church, until the Church Foundation Commemorative Thanksgiving Worship next Sunday. In other words, let us remember God's immense grace, but also pray that He would make us aware of any unrepented sins before the Holy God. When we come to realize these sins, let us confess and repent, relying on the atonement of the cross. This is the challenge.

Second, the dedicated Israelites praised the dedication ceremony.

Look at Nehemiah 12:27 – “At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres.” Praising the dedication means praising the God who sanctified the dedication. So, how did they praise God? We can consider it in three ways:

They praised with great joy (v. 27).

This was possible because, as mentioned in verse 43, "God had given them great joy." We, too, must offer praise to God with great joy during worship. The reason for this is that it should be because the Lord makes us rejoice greatly.

They praised with songs of thanksgiving (v. 27).

They offered praise with songs of thanksgiving because God's gracious hand enabled them to dedicate the walls of Jerusalem. If it weren't for God's help, Nehemiah, Ezra, and all the Israelites would not have been able to offer the dedication ceremony. We, too, should remember God's gracious hand and offer praise and worship to God with a thankful heart during worship. We should offer not just any praise, but simply praise and thanksgiving.

They praised with various musical instruments (v. 27).

The Israelites praised God with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. As the psalmist also says in Psalms 150:3-5, “Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.” Let us also praise the exalted and great Lord in our church by employing all musical instruments during worship.

Regarding the passage from Psalms 150:3-5, the website "Gospel and Light" states, "Worship in this Psalms is filled with elements of joy and celebration. True worship should be offered in a bright and festive atmosphere rather than in a heavy mood. This is because Christian worship is the worship of the risen and victorious Lord. Jesus said, 'The kingdom of God is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for His son.' Christian worship should be a joyful feast, like a banquet of a victorious king or a banquet where the king appoints a prince. In this sense, we need to restore festive elements in worship. Worship offered in a somber atmosphere with sad faces is not suitable for the victorious Lord." Worship is a festival of thanksgiving offered by redeemed saints to the Creator and Savior. Therefore, worship should restore festive elements. Today, our worship is lacking in many festive elements. We need to restore these elements in our worship.

Third and last, the dedicated Israelites offered the dedication worship in a unique order.

Looking at Nehemiah 12:31-42, we can see that the Israelites, who were dedicating the walls of Jerusalem, were divided into two groups: one led by Ezra and the other led by Nehemiah. The group led by Ezra went to the right on the wall towards the Dung Gate (v. 31) and proceeded on the wall to the Gate of the Fountain and went straight up the steps toward the City of David. The ascent to the wall continued above the Palace of David to the Water Gate (v. 37). The group led by Nehemiah went above the Horse Gate, past the Prison Gate, and on to the Sheep Gate (v. 39). Afterward, these two groups met at the house of God (v. 40) and offered a dedication worship to the Lord. Why did Ezra and Nehemiah offer the dedication worship in this way? Why didn't they just meet within the confines of the Jerusalem temple, instruct the Levites to offer praise and sacrifices to the Lord, and then send everyone home? It seems there were three reasons:

The first reason is that the Israelites personally inspected the rebuilt walls and gates. By doing so, they dedicated these walls and gates to God in a proper manner.

The second reason is because God, through His gracious guidance, used Nehemiah and the Israelites in the reconstruction of the walls and gates of Jerusalem, they wanted to give all the glory to God by personally inspecting and dedicating them.

The third reason may be that they wanted to commemorate and celebrate the completion of this great work in a grand procession, glorifying God for His faithfulness and provision throughout the process.

This act of dedication was a testimony to God's goodness and a celebration of their collective efforts in accomplishing His work.

In summary, the Israelites' unique approach to the dedication worship allowed them to personally engage with and offer gratitude for the reconstructed walls and gates of Jerusalem. It also served as a powerful expression of their dedication to God and a public testimony to His faithfulness.

Is our church's worship in the process of restoring these festive elements? Over the past year, we have focused on the first purpose of our church: "A Church Devoted to Worship and Witnessing to the Lord." In the midst of this, we have sought to proclaim to even unbelievers, "God is truly among you" (1 Cor. 14:25), as we worship and praise God's presence. Are we indeed praising God's presence in our worship? Are we hearing confessions like "God is truly among you" from those who are new to the church or those who have come after a long time? Even if the worship service next Sunday may not be a dedication ceremony, like in the time of Nehemiah, we should, like the Israelites of that era, dedicate ourselves to God and celebrate His presence in our worship.

In Nehemiah 4:3, one of the adversaries, Tobiah, mocked the Israelites, saying that even if a fox were to climb on their wall, it would break down their feeble construction. However, in today's passage, the Israelites are confidently marching around the well-built walls of Jerusalem, witnessing firsthand the solid work they have accomplished. This serves as a testimony for the surrounding unbelievers. It was a great opportunity for the foreigners to witness both the power of God and the reality of faith. As the Israelites marched around the reconstructed walls of Jerusalem, they once again realized that this was not the work of a single individual, but the result of the people having a mind to work (4:6). Therefore, no one could claim ownership over the specific section of the wall they had worked on. It reminded them that the wall belonged to God. Everything, including the wall of Jerusalem, belonged to God and should only be used for His glory. The Israelites, by marching around the walls of Jerusalem, symbolically declared, ‘Yes, we have all worked diligently as part of God's work, but now we dedicate this to the Lord, for His glory alone!’ Another reason was to symbolically proclaim God's blessing through an act of faith. Walking around and illuminating a portion of the building at that time was a declaration of ownership. For example, in Genesis 13:17, when God said to Abraham, "Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee." Another example is in Joshua 1:3, when God said to Joshua, " I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses." The joy with which the Israelites marched around the walls of Jerusalem declared, ‘Just as our forefathers declared this land in faith, we too declare everything God has done for us.’

Is the dedication service of a church the beginning or the end of ministry? Many times, dedication services mark not the beginning, but the end of a ministry. After many church members have labored to build, there are instances where, once the dedication service is concluded, they heave a sigh of relief, settling back into their routines. Vance Havner once shared his impression of a dedication service during one church's ceremony, saying: ‘The church people thought the new building was a milestone, but I thought it was a millstone.’ If we lose sight of the vision ahead and cease to move forward in faith, God's intended purpose can indeed become a heavy burden in our lives, even causing us to stumble. As we prepare for our church worship services, we should hold on to the dreams that God gives us. Let us dream of building God's temple and offering a dedication service for His glory as we move forward towards the future of our church, just like Nehemiah. However, let's not think that once the temple is built and the dedication service is held, God's work is done. We must not turn the construction of the temple and the dedication service into a heavy burden. Instead, it should be a milestone that propels us to attempt even greater things within the realm of our great God. To do this, we must first dedicate ourselves, our homes, our workplaces, and our businesses entirely to the Lord. This is because a dedication service in a church without dedicated individuals is meaningless.

The San-jeong-hyeon Church in Pyongyang, which resisted shrine worship to the end, welcomed Pastor Gi-cheol Joo upon his appointment to the church. In the following year, on September 5, 1937, Pastor Joo completed a new 250-pyeong church building and conducted an inaugural service. During his sermon, he declared that the church would never participate in shrine worship to Japanese idols. At that time, the situation was such that the Japanese flag was being hung inside the church, and they began to force the placement of a kamidana, a Shinto household altar, on the walls. Pastor Joo emphasized the absolute sanctity of the church, stating that no signboard would be hung on this pulpit, and not a single mark would be left. In February 8, 1938, shortly after the dedication service of the San-jeong-hyeon Church, Pastor Joo was arrested by the police. At the time, the Pyeongbuk Conference had passed a resolution to participate in shrine worship, leading to an incident where 1,000 fervent Pyongyang Theological Seminary students vandalized the memorial service for the Pyeongbuk Conference Chairman. Pastor Joo's arrest was related to this incident. After some time, Pastor Joo was released and arrived at the Pyongyang Station on the first Sunday in February 1940. The welcoming of the congregation was enthusiastic, and he immediately entered the San-jeong-hyeon Church, still wearing the same clothes, and prostrated himself before the pulpit in prayer. When it was time for worship, the congregants, eager to see their pastor after a long time, crowded in, filling the church without any room to spare. Japanese police surrounded the church, with some even entering inside. Pastor Joo finished his prayer and stood at the pulpit. With a straight posture, dressed in a white robe and with black hair, he pressed the sounding board of the pulpit two or three times and proclaimed, "Let us worship." After singing the hymn 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God' and beginning the worship, he read the passages from Matthew 5:11-12 ("Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you") and Romans 8:31-39 ("What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.") He then delivered a sermon titled ‘My Five Prayers’:

Grant victory over the power of death, Lord!

‘If it is for the Lord, I am willing to die a hundred times, but what kind of life would it be if I were to live for a hundred years forsaking the Lord? Oh, Lord! Please hold onto this life, so that it may not bring disgrace to You. Even if this body shatters into dust, grant me the strength to uphold Your commandments, Lord. My beloved fellow Christians, let us live as Christians even in life, and die as Christians even in death. Let us not fear death and forsake Jesus ... Do not grieve that this pastor is passing away. I cannot kneel before any other god besides my Lord. I would rather die, even die again and again, than to not remain steadfast in my devotion to the Lord.’

Grant endurance through long-lasting trials, Lord!

‘We can endure suffering that comes suddenly, but the prolonged, enduring suffering is incredibly difficult to bear. Even if it is punishment through being cut with a sword or burned by fire, if one were to die in an instant, they could still overcome it. However, suffering that continues for a month, two months, a year, two years, ten years, is simply unbearable. If it were absolutely unchanging, it might be another story, but it is said that even if one were to take a step back, the pain would be alleviated, and, in fact, they might receive a generous reward. That is why many people stumble. Moreover, how can a feeble person like me endure long-lasting trials? Therefore, I rely only on the Lord.’

I entrust my mother, my wife, and my fellow believers to the Lord.

‘I am over 80 years old, and I have a sickly wife and young children. Where can you find parents who do not cherish their children, or children who do not care for their parents? When I think about my mother, who raised me with great sacrifice, how painful must it be for her to see me suffer and be injured at the hands of others. I have shed many tears and offered numerous prayers thinking of my mother. However, I cannot disobey God's command under the pretext of taking care of my mother. Who in the world doesn't look after their own children, and where can you find children who don't rely on their father? I also have four young sons. How can these children survive if their father dies at the hands of the enemy? My heart aches endlessly at the thought of leaving behind young children and going down the path of death. I entrust my motherless children to the Lord. I have dear fellow believers whom the Lord has entrusted to me. However, I cannot leave them behind and go down the path of death. In the midst of this harsh world, I cannot bear to leave my flock. I entrust these sheep to Jesus, the Chief Shepherd. And now, I will leave this pulpit of San-jeong-jae and follow the Lord. Everyone! It is not uncommon for a person, while enduring the pain of their body, to have a heart as firm as iron when thinking about their parents and wife. Many have turned away from the path of martyrdom upon hearing the cries of their young children. Human attachments entangle me and prevent me from loving my parents and wife more than Jesus. Please grant me the strength to overcome this.’

Grant me to live and die in righteousness.

‘From the moment a person is born into this world, there is a righteousness they must uphold as a human being. As a citizen of a nation, there is a righteousness of loyalty; as a woman, there is a righteousness of integrity; and as a Christian, there is a righteousness of being true to Christ. Oh! The name of my Lord Jesus is echoing on this land. Pyongyang, Pyongyang, the Jerusalem of the East, the glory has departed from you. Oh, Morán Peak, stand tall and weep. Daedong River, Daedong River, let us weep together. I offer this humble life of mine as a sacrifice for the Lord. Is the sword waiting for me? Life is as short as a breath, but righteousness is eternal. My beloved fellow believers, let us die in righteousness and live in righteousness. To forsake righteousness and forsake righteousness towards Jesus is even lower than a wild beast. I die with Jesus, and I live with Jesus.

I entrust my soul to the Lord.

Oh, Lord Jesus! I entrust my soul to You. When I grasp the cross and fall, Lord, receive my soul. Whether in prison or at the place of execution, wherever my life is cut short, please, receive my soul. The house of God is my home, and the kingdom of God is my eternal homeland. Wash my feet that have trodden upon dirty ground, and allow me to walk on the golden path of heaven. Cleanse my soul, tainted by sin in this wicked world, so that I may stand before the glory of God without shame. Oh Lord, I entrust my soul to You. ‘Receive my soul, amen. Pastor Gi-cheol Joo passionately delivered this fiery sermon, and in the end, overcome with emotion, he raised both hands high and vigorously stomped the platform floor, singing the hymn with great fervor: 'Though this world is harsh and I may be weak, if I pray with all my might, I will gain great power.' The worshippers at Mandang all wept together, their hearts moved by the sermon. The fervor of faith burning within Pastor Choo spread to the hearts of all the parishioners at San-jeong-hyeon Church, igniting an even greater fire (Internet).