“At
the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem”, the keynote of the service
was joyful thanksgiving. They gathered together “to celebrate joyfully
the dedication with songs of thanksgiving” (Nehemiah 12:27). “On that
day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them
great joy” (Nehemiah 12:43). They sang “songs of praise and
thanksgiving to God” (Nehemiah 12:46). This joyful thanksgiving is only
a foretaste of the greater joy and thanksgiving of heaven: “There will
be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of
things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). In the city of God, “the
glory of God” will be shining with everlasting brightness (Revelation
21:23). The Church of God will be “prepared as a bride beautifully
dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). The beautiful picture of
the godly wife in Proverbs 31 gives us an outline of what God is
seeking to do in His people. It is summarized in Proverbs 31:30: “A
woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” This is what God wants to
make His Bride, the Church – a people who fear the Lord and bring
praise to Him.
" ... Will you ... come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, We are safe" - safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears My Name become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 7:8-11). “God demands a conversion of the mind and heart as the basis of peace and security (cf. Is 26:3), not the superstitious veneration of a stone building or a traditionally sacred site” ( R K Harrison , Jeremiah ).
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