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his chapter describes for us the musical praise and worship
that went on during the years of the restoration of Jerusalem. There were professional
ministers of music who were designated and paid to sing songs of thanksgiving
as the people went about doing the business of renewing the glory of the city
of David (Nehemiah 12:47). These musicians and singers were "sought after
from all over the land.” Their assignment was to be happy, to be grateful and
to sing with accompaniment (Nehemiah 12:27). And, Nehemiah 12:28 indicates that
the genre of music which they performed was a mix of plain country music and
village music. (Admittedly, those labels have nothing to do with the modern
designations which come to your mind and mine).
Specifically,
at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the singers were divided into 2
choirs which stood facing one another (Nehemiah 12:40). With zeal and joy,
those "singers sang loud" until the congregation was full of joy and
their rejoicing rent the air (Nehemiah 12:42 & 43). Whole families exulted
and sang together with intense emotion as they praised God. Wherever we might
classify their brand of music (if we could hear it today), one thing is for
sure, it expressed the holy gratitude and happiness of God's people. Whether
it's Podunk, sophisticated, hip or traditional: for sacred music to be truly
"good" music as a vehicle of praise, it must be adequate to express
the deep thrill which swells up in our hearts when true spiritual worship is
the business of the hour.
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